Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-03-28
help WANTED
lcoNTINUHD FROM 1sr PAeE.]

enclosed photographs Win thelr coW'
munications, some of which Elmer, with
rather extended acquaintance in that
direction, was able at once and conf
IDENTIFY to identify as fancy pictures,and
the others, he declared ungallantlv,
would do excellent service as burglar
alarms. The whole invoice went into
the waste basket, and Elmer gave him.
self up to despair for one night, at least
But the blind goddess was evidently
disposed to be on the side Of Hymen in
this experiment., and so it happened
that the second morning the ADVERTISE
ment fell under the notice Of young
lady, the middle sister Of large family,
living in modest but genteel comfort in
an uptown residence, and brought a
smile Of relief to her pretty but some,
what anxious countenance.
There! really believe l could an.
swere that she unused, after reading it
a second time. u like the way it is
worded. and ! would be willing to guar.
antee that its author is a thoroughly
sincere and hon orable man. 1certainly
know all about housekeeping and home
making, aud Nellie could take my place
here at home, and while my accomplish.
ments are not of an exceptionally brill.
liant order, I thiLk they would come up
to the requirements. At any rate l
shall make the experiment Of answer.
ing it.
Accordingly she opened her desk, and
ten minutes later letter written in Il
firm, clear, but graceful hand, and con.
tanning few modest but straightfor.
ward statements, was signed and placed
in an envelope. Then, putting on her
hat and cape. Alice Snowdon took her
letter to the post.
By some singular trick Of fate, 1t was
the very last one in the pile that was
brought to Elmer the next morning,
and after be had waded through an as
sortment very similar to the collection
Of the day previous. he was about to
toss the final envelope in the waste bas
ket unopened, when bis glance fell upon
the address. Something in those clear,
we'll formed characters seemed to
breathe hope to him. and opening it
carefully, he read it through, then q
second time. and then drawing paper to
him, dashed off a request for an inter-
view, giving his name, address and ref
erences, and feeling. strangely, very
much as if he we're the applicant the
time.
We need not say that the intirview
was highly satisfactory on both sides,
and that Alice entered upon her duties
at salary that to her seemed princely,
and which enabled her to fulfill the de-
sire of her heart-to send her Youngest
sister, Lilly, to college. twas not long
before Elmer's friends discovered that
he had housekeeper. as they called
her, who combined the most thorough
and comprehensive knowledge Of all
that pertained to creature comfort, with
the taste, refinement and good judg.
ment that only a lady could boast. and
which appeared to perfection on the
first social entertainment he gave at the
end of three months of the delightful.
regime that had followed her arrival,
when, robed in gown of soundless silk,
faultlessly fitting, without an ornament
save her own lovely hair and a knot of
yiolets at her waist, she moved about
the beautifully appointed rooms doing
the honors like one TO the manner
born 1t was not the least of the grat
ifications Of this slightly malicious
young man to move about among his
guests in such an adrot manner as to
catch many of the invidious comments
suggested by jealousy or envy, and as
often as his eyes wandered to Alice and
noted her unruffled bearing, her exqui
site tact, and impartial hospitality and
attention to the wants Of every guest,
and the perfect self-possession and re-
finement with which she carried herself
through the ordeal that some of the
guests. at least, made no attempt to
soften, a purpose formed in his mind,
which indeed had been there in potency
from the first interview he had had
with her.
Accordingly, the next morning, one
Of the servant maids conveyed to Miss
Snowdon note requesting her to favor
Mr.. Wilson with brief interview in
his study, where she found him tumb-
ling over some papers on his desk in a
somewhat distracted manner.
Miss Snowdon,' he began abruptly,
y want to tell you that my insertion of
that advertisement that brought you
here was an experiment, and that after