The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-06-15

|
He was youth of some 20 years, thin,
haggard, his hair unkept, and his
clothes disordered and weather worn.
He took off his battered old hat, and
stood trembling before Miss Marias
awfnl gaze.
You're fine sight!" she said, slow
ly and CONTEMPORARY, as her eyes
scanned him from head to foot.
The water was dripping off from his
her spotless floor. She stood few
moments regarding the wretched fig
ure, then moved quickly over to the
fire.
'Sit down and dry yourself" she
commanded, pushing chair in front
of the flame.
The young fellow obeyed, shivering
He bent over the blazing logs while
Miss Maria went out into the kitchen.
She stirred up the fire in the stove.
1t was almost out, but revived suffi-
4 GENTLY to heat some tea left from sup
per. She poured out cup and carried
it to her unexpected and most unwel-
come guest.
Drink i'll" she said, CURLY. He
drank it eagerly, and second cup
which Miss Maria brought him with
some slices of bread and butter.
| "Now," she said, when he could eat
no more, you can stay here tonight.
Then what?" She was sitting opposite
him, stern and unbending.
The food and warmth had given him
courage, and he met her glance without
shrinking. His expression was not bad,
only weak.
'"The warden was always good to me,
and when I was coming away he gave
me letter to his brother in New York
that he said would help me to get work,
and to make new start"
He took letter from his breast pock-
ct and handed it to his aunt.
Miss Maria's face relaxed a little
after reading it, and her voice was a
degree less frigid, as she said: "And
you are going to New York;"
81 started trying to earn enough
money to take me there, but I've
tramped and tramped, and could only
find few odd jobs here and there.
didn't intend to come through the town
| here at ALL did not want to meet any
one that knew me. l stayed all day
in that old cottage on the Ferris place.
1 intended to skirt along by the river
road as soon as it was dark, but it
rained SO hard and haven't had any
thing to eat since yesterday morning,
so came here"
| There was a silence, broken only by
the cracking of the fire and dashing of
| the rain against the windows. "Well?"
| said Miss Maria, at last, interrcgatively.
| Her companion moved uneasily in his
chair, cleared his throat, and said, hes
itatingly:
IF you will help me to get there,
Aunt Maria, I'll pay you back, honest
will, as soon as l get work. I'll be
sure to get it in New York. I am GO
ing to try to make something of myself
4 know I've not given you cause to be-
lieve me-Tve given you lots of trouble
it was the bad company-you said it
would all end badly-EPve thought
about it all often when 1 couldn't sleep.
But am going to keep straight now,
Aunt Maria, IL" His voice broke
and he dashed his hand across his eyes.
Miss Maria rose hastily. "Your
clothes are dry now" she said, grimly,
"I'll fix you up bed in the hall room!"
Her nephew looked pleadingly at her,
but her glance was not responsive, and
he followed her silently from the room.
After Miss Maria returned to the sit
ting-room half hour later, she sat for
long time in deep thought. Then
rising quickly went to the door and
looked out. 1t had stopped raining.
She took her bonnet and shawl from a
closet, and put them on with almost
fevcrish haste.
The lamp was burning dimly, but the
dancing light from the fireplace SHIN
mered on the brass candlesticks. She
reached out her hand to take one down.
II can't" she whispered and burst into
a passion of weeping. How could SHIT?
They had been her great-grandmoth
er's. But he was her dead brothers
son land there was no other way.
Sic resolutely brushed her tears
away, put the candlesticks under her
shawl, and went out into the night,
Looking the door behind her.
The next evening, in new clothes
AID with money in his pockets, Martin
Fenshaw was on his way to New York
70 begin life anew, and Miss Maria's
brass candlesticks were embellishing
Mrs. Antrim's colonial room.
II wonder what made her change
her mind!" Mrs. Antrim was saying to
her husband, as they stood admiring
the room. Il had given up all hope of
ever getting them. l think that she is
poorer than ever this winter; she
looked so pale last night, and as if she
had been crying. l wanted to give her
| ten dollars more than l first offered
| her, but she would not hear of it.
Maria always was queer. am glad
| that / have them. Now the Hunts
| L