The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-05-12
WEALTHY.
By M. ATWOOD STUART.

Egyptian darkness and stopped sud
denly.
The fare Of many lights, the rum.
lie and roar of traffic, and the throngs
OF people in the streets, proclaimed
the station to be city, and q great
one.
The passengers whose changing
place OF destination is was, poured
out, pushing and jostling against a
stream of people coming in, for the
train was through one and the time
limited.
Among the last to roach the plat
form was young girl, clad in mourn
ing, evidently a stranger. She looked
about her wonderingly, as though
with the commotion and noise and
confusion she could hardly think.
Presently, by the intercession of the
station master, she secured q carriage
and rode away.
By'and-by she reached her destina-
tion, and because she so desired, in the
cour of events sho found herself in
tho presence of the master of the
house. In his hand he held the letter
brought him by his careful hcnchman,
who stated that the bearer waited be.
low. Having perused the letter, the
edict had returned that she appear
before him.
"Havo you como etraight from
home?"
"Yes."
"How long has it takcn you?"
She told him.
And what is your namo?"
Wealthy"
"Humph! Don't fit your present
A pause. -..
"How old arc you?'.
Sixteen my next birthday"
'Umph!"
Another pause.
Well, Dorothy, I suppose We shall
havo to lot her stay"
Let her stay! and tho pale orphan
gfl, mere child, without father or
mother. was his own brothers daugh
'er, a stranger in a strange land al
most. homeless and renniless; and
'hc Cummings could have housed a
regiment, and were fairly rolling in
wealth,
trembling with the strangcness
ol tne reception, scarcely comprehend
'lS the right and the wrong of the
Mnole matter, and already homesick,
"mid little Wealthy stood with down
east eyes brimming over with tears,
~ane shey SO positively decided her
MRS. Dorothy Dunning put down
Come with me, "shc said. Wealthy
.oitowed to an apartment containing
'.o beds. Hore she was told she
might sleep. ''This bed will be
yours" indicating the bed containing
oae chlld, "and you can have the care
~ ~ 'nese three children, pointing to
,ne other, in which were two, three
ooys IN all, sleeping soundly.
You can dress them in the morn.
ing, hear their prayers, and open the
.oU,n 10 air. Then come to me and I
VIII tell you what next to do"
wealthy silently acquiesced by an
uchnatlon of the head.
!. nels alone, she gave up, heartbroken,
. real, genuine grief.
oh, papa. papat" she sobbed, as
~ c.ept to bed at last. weeping.
roor little Wealthy!
80, on the whole, 1t is quite as well,"
ssla S Mrs: Dunning, when she went
~; ~, 70 tho drawing-room. "We will
aa,s.ssnarge a..s the present nurse for
..suu!' Rob and Joe. and she can
na."s .ss instead. She told you she was
-'.rny .. 10, and she looks capable"
ner name will do very we'll for
S.Nsn'' remarked Lou, the oldest
Li.S4gn'er, ioa4g and young lady of the family, /.
.S Sv.,ng over the top of her music
Ahem!-hardly a servant You
w. ~s' remember she is your cousin,
.oa .now," said Doctor Dunning,
suc'ng slight twinge of con.
~. one needn't try CONSUMING me-"
''ered Lou. turning awav to har