The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-05-17
BY HENRY RIDEHU.

"Heaven knows I am anxious enough
to earn my own living"
"And 1, too," said Ella. eve
know nothing about such busi-
ness"
"But you can learn, I suppose"
said Aunt Medlaw.
"But we can learn" said Eda,
hopefully.
And in less than a week the little
thread and needle store around the
corner, which had presented a grim
aud suffered front for some days,
was reopened. and two pretty girls,
dressed in black, were posted behind
the counter.
Mrs. Mopson sent her two little
boys to match skein of green worsted,
and enquire for peppermint tatfy first.
The widow Hope purchased little
hosiery and three cheap pocket hand
kerchiefs. A small girl came to ask
the time of day and an old man
bought pair of suspenders, all with
in an hour-and Eda and Ella began
to think they might. in time, de-
velop into commercial characters OF
note.
To be sure, business waxed rather
dull toward the end of the day, but
just at dusk a tall, nice-looking young
man came in to buy a card of pearl
shirt buttons. Ella took down box,
and they were quite long time in
selecting the prettiest pattern and
most appropriate size.
"I forgot one thing" said the
young man, after he had contracted
for an eighteen-cent Investment. 81
must have them sewed on. Could
you do it?"
"I'll try" said Ella, laughing, 'if
you'll bring the shirts around"
SO the young man brought his
shirts, and sat down to wait, while
Elias needle flew deftly in and out.
He was in hurry, he told her-he
was foreman in the printing office OF
great daily paper, and worked at
nights, when the rest of the world
was asleep, like bat or an owl.
In the meantime Ella was trying to
suit an old lady in green spectacles,
who wanted some ribbon, whose color
she didn't exactly know, whose width
she wasn't certain about, and whose
quality she had not yet made up her
mind concerning. But Elias patience,
tact and good temper were inexhaus-
tible. At last the old lady was suited,
and went away rejoicing, leaning on
the arm of her nephew, who had
manifested extraordinary interest in
the shade of the drab ribbon.
"That's a nice girl, Oswald" said
she. "Do you know, almost think
she might suit me as companion.
She seems so very good-humoredl L
wonder if it would do to ask her If she
would like such u situation"
81 don't see why not, said Oswald
Grey, thinking he had never seen
softer gray eyes or prettier hair.
"Shall we go back?"
"To-morrow will be time enough, "
said Mrs. Martiguy.
On the morrow she came back.
'Didn't the ribbon suit?" asked
Ella.
"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Martiguy
"the ribbon was all right. But there's
something else want.
"What is that?" asked Ella limo
Gently.
"a companion to read to me, take
care Of my canaries and play drowsy
old tunes on the piano when L fee
sleepy. 1 give five hundred year,
Saturday afternoons and board! VIII
you Gomez"
Eda looked at her sister. Five hun
dred a year seemed great sum for q
girl who never yet had earned five fol
herself.
'Yes, go, Eda," said Ella. 81 cal
manage the store by myself easily
enough. And" in a whisper, 'I've
taken a contract to make half dozer
new shirts for Mr.. Lessner, we to hnc
material.
"Who is Mr.. Lessner?"
| "Oh, the printer. L can do 1T a
odd minutes, when there is no one IL
} the store!'
l At the end OF the month Eda came
: to report to her sister.
"Well, Eda, how do you like it?'
said Ella.
2 ooh, so much! Mrs. Martiguy i
. queer, but abe is so kind. And-an,
Oswald Grey, her nephew, is YER
polite"
. "Is he?"
t "Yes," said Eda, lingering at bo
r of hooks and eyes. 81 like him eve
so much, and he likes me. To tel
the truth, Ella"
n ''I see, said Ella, putting her arm
{ around her sister, she wants you t.
/. be his companion. For life, eh, Eda?
n "How do you know9' faltere
u dimpled Eda.
"Oh, TIM not quite fool" sal
!. Ella. "But now I've get soinethin