The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-25

ana hut he had come to stay. That
NARCOTIC woman was Interested in q
.bousand charities. and. in course of n
,I.I, OF inspection TO the orphan asylum
n which she had recently been made n
director, she was struck by one small
,,rc that she encountered as she went
,woopIng up and down through the
bullding, condemntng and approving In
her downright way.
"Who Is that boy?" she demanded OF
tho mntron. abruptly. pointing him out.
Tell me something about him. He
scems TO have more individuality than
tho others, whom you are making so
uurh alike as so many little bullets run
IN Il mould q.
OIL Of anger at Mrs. Hopkins frank
snnakIng, yet aIt those millions COM
pecd respect.
IN by an aunt without home or n pen
ny. He Is n clever little chap. Very
handy about the house, You didn't
S1nrea 10 know Of any one who would
ike n boy to wait on table, answer the
door and SO on. He woul5 be real use
mi In the right place"
Mrs. Hopkins looked ngaih at the lad.
md his eyes met hers with the wistful-
ness that had already appealed to her.
"TIl take him myself" she said. with
The sudden impulse OF generous ma
iure unable to turn away from the
nand held out for help, md Willie felt
mai fairy godmothers were no more
creations OF imagination when. an hour
later. he drove off in the carriage with
his new friend. was walking into a great
clothing establishment. fitted to n sphinx
and span claret- colored lsult, bristllnE
with shiny buttons. and Ilnally trans,
portcd to n vast. luxurious house, to be-
come n part OF its noIscless. smooth
running machinery.
OF course, James and John. the foot
men. bullied him first. The house
maids, however made a famous pet Of
him. and the old Eray-haired butler took
him under his own particular protec-
lion. which meant great deal in the
way Of privileges. AS for the young
ladies', they laughed over him inordi-
nately till they began to find him ex-
t-rruely useful when 1t came to running
TO and fro with notes and messages, for
they had 500 dear, particular friends,
and In the course Of few weeks he
crew so necessary to their social exist
ence that they wondered how they had
gotten along without him. n Pages be-
came popular. There was a run on the
o-phan asylums. which were deleted OF
,ba!r shining lights. but Willie remained
The paragon. Other boys.:well recon-
mended, turned out imps of satan. and
he alone seemed to be quiet, oblIging
and really anxious to I'll his place we'll.
Besides his gratitude to Kind old Mrs.
Hopkins knew no bounds.itIn the rush
and hustle OF her busy life she found
time for few words with him now and
then, the judcious praise and encour-
asement that rewarded his efforts 10 do
right and warmed the cookies OF his
childish heart. For the three girls, too,
he entertained prodiglous admiration:
fairy visions OF loveliness. they fitted
about the beautiful house. filing 1t with
laughter and gayety. TheSikept him
busy. but he liked that. and many L
bright quarter. many handful OF bon
boHs. many charming story book re-
warded him. for they were their moth
er's own daughters, as open-handed and
considerable as she was herself.
But. strange to say. 1t was upon plain
Miss Nellie. the eldest. stout,qulet, con-
sdered hopelessly dull and uninterest-
Ing b. society that his tenderest afrec-
ton at length became fixed. He was so
sorry for her! Somehow. she seemed TO
be almost as friendless as he was him
self. The notes that came, that he very
soon discovered meant Invitations and
popularity, very seldom included her.
Ste sat TIP IN her own room over book
time and again while the drawing room
below swarmed with young people, all
sorts OF fun was going on. yet no one
appeared TO miss her. or even to be con-
scious OF her absence. Whentthere was
dinner party. and Willie. hidden In
the hail. watched the gay company
passing by, he perceived Miss Nellie al
ways on the arm Of some prosy old gen.
utnan. instead OF being escorted by
one Of the merry. good-lookIng youths
assigned to Miss Edith or to pink and
white Miss Madge. who was the young
est Of nil, and had Just come out. And
she wore sober black and gray gowns
no g!!ttcr!ng spangles or shimmering
blue and rose color hung in her ward
'ooe. for Miss Nellie had accepted. with
gentle resignation, the middle age that
had been thrust upon her gradually. rs
sister after sister grew up far pret.ier
han she. livelier, more attractive and
more warmly welcomed by thgi. world.
She was only thirty-fve. not green
o!d age In these days. had she asserted
herself. But she was shy and modest,
and when 1t dawned upon her that she
vas being releSated to the background.
she took her place there meekly and
without protest. The young men who
visited the house treated her with scant
Ceremony. For the most part they were
APPARENTLY obvious OF her existence, and
seldom rouchsafed her more than a
careless "A, good evenin'. Miss Hop
Ahs. or 4 passing comment on the
weather. TIL poor Nellie's heart grew
sore and smartlng within her, and when
Robert Graham, as true q knight as
ever laid lance In rest. beginning TO
, fancIe after lovely Madgc. took his az
NFnhon tea at the Hopkins house four
% Nv" times n week. the Difference he
pad 10 the silent elder sister fld1lthat
UeaF soul with passionate gratitude She
zane to feel n little CULVER of delight at
ue sound Of his loud. CHEEKY voice In the
Hal!; She looked forward all day to the
I'VE minutes ut tea time when he
Drought his cup to be rcplcnished and
tsook Joking and laughing at her side
Us she had been young and charming.
ana she sat by her fire night after night
w the hour grew late thinking about
I'in and wondering wistfully why the
!steS had chosen tc leave out Of her life
d! mat woman knows makes 1t most
ToTth living. S!!J
Her glass suggested that 1t rnlEhtzbe
otc4uSe she had no beauty. All, zone
.etSon thought her large colorless fhce
angelic. In Willies eyes II always
SDfc a look Of heavenly sympathy, un-
Outstanding. and 1t never turned toward
nun Without 4 friendly smile. The little
r'ge made coniidunt OF her. She
anew all about his dear aunt who had
,tNrrl"a to keep home for him and
t't him destitute and dcsolntc when
Il LII. III l. l. L. l.