Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-27
NEXT came Mrs. Emm ons.

srieved at this ere sfiiiction that's be
fell you'll"
''Thank you, Mrs. Emmonsl" said
the girl, mechanically.
"I've come to ask you about your
| plans, added the plump widow. BE.
cause, IL you have no other intentions,
I'll be glad u. have you help me with
the homework. I'm goin' to have q
house full o. summer boarders, and
there'll be deal more work than me
and Elviry can manage. OF course
you won't expect no pay, but q good
home Is what you need most"
''Stop aminutel" said Joanna "Am
to understand that you expect me to
assume the position and duties of q
servant, without servants wages?"
"You'n be member ofthe family, 4"
said Mrs. Emmons; "and you'll set at
the same table with me and Elviry."
II am much obliged TO you," said
Joanna, but I must decline your kind
offer"
And Mrs. Emmons departed in
wrath, audibIy declaring her convic-
tion that pride was certain, sooner or
later, to have u fall.
II have plenty of friends" said
Joanna, courageously, or rather dear
grandpapa had. I am sure to be pro-
vided for"
But Squire Barton looked harder
than any flint when the orphan came
to him.
Something to do, Miss Foxp" said
lie. "Well, that's the very problem
OF the age-womsn's work, you know;
and amt smart enough to solve il.
Copying? No, our firm don't need
that sort Of work. Do I know Of any
one that does? N-no, I can't say I do;
but II / should hear Of an opening,
I'll be sure TO let you know. Aheml
I'm little busy this morning, Miss
Fox; sorry can't devote more time
to you. John, the door. Good morn.
ing, my dear Miss Foxl I assure you,
you have mine and Mrs. Barton's
prayers in this sad visitation of an in.
scrutable Providence"
Old Miss Grunge, who had fifty
thousand dollars at interest, and who
had always declared that she loved
dear Joanna Fox like daughter. sent
down word that she wasn't very well,
and couldn't see company.
Doctor Wentworth, in visiting
whose invalid daughter poor old Par
son Fox had contracted the illness
which carried him to his grave. was
brusque and short. The doctor was
sorry for Miss Joanna, of course, but
he didn't know of any way in which
he could be useful. He understood
there was kid.glove factory to be
opened on Walling River soon.
"No doubt Miss Fox could get
place there; or there could be no OBJ.
lection to her going out to domestic
service. There was a great deal OF
false sentiment on this subject, and he
thought"
But Joanna, without waiting for the
result Of his cogitations, excused her
self. She would detain him no longer,
she said; and abe went away, with
flaming cheeks and resolutely re.
pressed tears.
When she got home. she found one
of the trustees Of the church awaiting
her. He didn't wish to hurry her, he
said, hut the clergyman didn't want to
live in such ruinous old place; and
it was their calculation, as the pArson.
age was mortgaged much beyond its
real value, to sell it out, and buy
new frame house, near the railroad
station, with all the modern convent
ences, for the use OF the Rev. Snas
Speakwell.
"Am TO be turned out of my
homer said Joanna, Indignantly.
Deacon Blydenburg hemmed aud
hawed. He didn't want to hurt no
ones feelings; but ~ to her home, II
was we'll known that to al intents and
purposes tho old place had long ago
passed out OF Parson Fox's owner
ship; and they were willing to accord
her any reasonable length of time TO
pack up and take leave OF her friends
say week.
SO Joanna. who could think of no
remaining friend but her old COVER
ness, who had long ago gone to New
York TO fight the great world for her.
self, went down to the city, and APP
pealed to Miss Woodin in her extrem.
ity; and Miss Woodin cried over her,
and kissed her and caressed her, like
an old maiden aunt
"Whst am I to do9" said poor. pale
Joanna. 81 cannot starve!'
There's no necessity for any one
starving in this great, busy world"
said Miss Woodin, cheerfully. "All
one wants Is faculty."
Joanna shrank alittletfrom the hard,
stereotyped word, which she had so
often heard from the lips OF Mrs.
Emmons. Miss Sabina Sexton, and