The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1901-11-14
CHAPTER vIII.-tContinued.)

usual, and her cheeks flushed with VIC
lent exercise. As soon as she came NJ
she began with. "Oh. my, amt hot and
tired, and | can't stay a minute, either
for | ran away. But | had such good
news TO tell You, that | would come. You
are going to have a great deal better
home than this. You know where Rice
Corner is, the district over east?
Mary replied that she did. and Jenny
continned I'VE all went over there yes
terday to see Mrs. Mason. She's real
nice lady, who used to live in Boston,
and be Intimate with ma. until three or
four years ago when Mr.. Mason died.
We didn't go there any more then, and
| asked Rose what the reason was, and
she said Mrs. Mason was poor now, and
ma had cut her. and when | asked her
what she cut her with she only laughed,
and said she believed | didn't know any
thing But since then I've learned what
Ii meaps."
What does 2" asked Mary and Jenny
replied:
III person dies and leaves no money.
no matter how good his folks are, or how
much you like them, you mustn't know
them when You meet them in the street,
or you must cross over the other side II
you see them comingi and then when la
dies call and speak about them, you
must draw a great, long breath, and won
der how the poor thing will get along,
she was so dreadfully extrayagant.' I
positively heard mother say those very
words about Mrs. Mason; and what Is so
funny, the washwoman the same day
spoke of her, and cried when she told
how kind she was, and how she would go
without things herself for the sake of Civ
Ing to the poor"
After n moments pause Jenny proceed
ed This Mrs. Mason came into the
country and bought the prettiest little
cottage you ever saw. She has lots of
nice fruit. and for all mother pretends in
Boston that she does not visit her, just
az soon as the fruit Is ripe she always
goes there. Pa says it's real mean, and
he should think Mrs. Mason would see
through It."
ibid you go there for fruit yesterday ?"
asked Mary.
"Oh, no." returned Jenny. Mother
said she was tired to death with staying
at home. Besides that, she heard some
thing in Boston about a large estate In
England, which possibly would fall to
Mrs. Mason and she thought il would lie
real kind to go and tell her. Mrs. Mason
has poor health. and while we were there
she asked mother II she knew Of any good
little girl she could get TO come and live
with her; one she said, who could be
quiet when her head ached, and who
would read to her and wait on her at
other times Mother said she did not
know of any, but when Mrs. Mason
went out TO get tea, l followed and told
her OF you, and the tears came into her
ayes when l said your folks were all dead,
and you were alone and sorry. She said
right of that she would come round and
see you soon. and II she liked you you
should live with her."
So saying, she ran of; Mary, having
gathered her cowslips, sat down TO think
Of Mrs. Mason, and wonder II she should
ever see her. That afternoon, when the
dishes were all washed, she, as usual,
stole away to her books. She had not
been long occupied ere some one called
her, saying Mr.. Knight was downstairs
and wanted TO see her, and that there
was a lady with him.
Mary readily guessed that the lady
must be Mrs. Mason, and carefully brush
ing her hair and tying on a clean apron,
she descended 10 the kitchen. where she
was met by Mr.. Knight, who called out,
"Hallol my child. how do you do? Pears
to me you've grown handsome. II agrees
with you TO live here, / reckon. but III
venture you'll be glad enough to leave
and go and live with her, won't youT
pointing toward lady who was just
coming from Mrs. Parker's room and to-
ward whom Mary's heart instantly warm
cd.
"You see," continued Mr.. Knight, Zone
of the Lincoln girls has taken a mighty
shine to you, and It's queer. too. for
they're dreadful stuck-up folks"
"If you please, SIR" said Mary, inter
rupting him. Jenny isn't a bit stuck-up."
"Umphr returned Mr. knight. "She
does not belong to the Lincoln race, then,
| guess. know them, root and branch.
Lincoln's wife used to work in the fac
tory at Southbridge, but she's forgot all
about that and holds her he,'' dreadful
high whenever she sees me. But that's
neither here nor there. This woman
wants you to live with her. Miss Mason,
this is Mary. Mary, this is Miss Mason"
The introduction being thus happily
over, Mrs. Mason proceeded to ask Mary
a variety of questions, and ended by say
Ing she thought she would take her, al
though she would rather not have her
come for few days, MS she was going to
be absent. Miss Grundy was now inter
rogated concerning her knowledge of
work, and with quite consequential air
she replied: perhaps, ma'am, 1t looks
too much like praising myself considerin'
that I've had the managin of her mostly,
but / must confess that she's lived with
me 40 long, and got my ways so we'll
that she's as pleasant a hammered, good
tempered child, and will scour as bright
aknife as you could wish to see"
Saturday came at last, and long before
the sun peeped over the eastern hills
Mary was up and dressed. Just as she
was ready to leave her room she heard
Sally singing in a low tone, "Oh, therell
be mourning Nourning - mourning -
mou,nng Oh, there'll be mourning when
Mary's gone away"
About nine o'clock Mr., knight drove
up alone, Mrs. Mason being sick with
nervous headache ~ should have been
here sooner, said he "but the roads is
awful rough, and old Charlotte has got
a stub or somethin' in her foot. but
where's the gal? Amt she readyT"
He was answered by Mary herself, who
made her appearance, followed by Billy
hearing the box. And now commenced
the leave takings, Miss Grundy's turn
coming first.