Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1901-05-16
CHATTER fY.

Scarcely three hours had passed since
the dark, moist earth was heaped upon
the humble grave Of the widow and her
son, when again, over the village Of Chic.
opee, noated the notes Of the toilinE bell,
and Immediately crowds Of people, with
seemingly eager haste, hurried toward
the Campbell mansion, which was soon
nearly flled.
On marble table ln the same room lay
the handsome coffn. and Ii Il slept young
Eila. Gracefully her small waxen hands
were folded one over the other. while
white, hHlf.opened rosebnds were wreath
ed amons the curls OF her hair. t.Ehs IL
too beautiful to die, and the only child.
too" thought more than one al they look.
ed hrst at the sleeping clay and then at
the stricken mother. who, draped In deep.
est black, sobbed conyulsively. And yet
she was not one-half 40 desolate a. was
the orphan Mary, who In Mrs Bender's
kitchen sat weeping over her sister Alice,
and striving 10 form words Of prayer
which should reach the God Of the father.
less.
my mother, oh! my mother" she cried,
as she stretched her hands toward the
clear blue sky, now that mothers home.
why didn't die, too?'
There was step upon the grass, and
looking up. Mary saw standing near her
Mrs CAmpbell's English girl, Hannah.
She had always evinced a liking for Mrs.
Howard's family. and now after hnishina
her dishes, and trying in vain to speak
q word OF consolation TO her mistress,
who refused 10 be comforted, ahe had
stolen away 70 MIRA. Bender'a, ostensibly
TO see all the orphans. but In reality 20
see Ella, who had always been her favor
lite.
The sight Of Mary's grief touched Han.
nah's heart, and sitting down by the lit
tie girl she tried TO comfort her. Mary
felt that her words and manner were
prompted By real sympathy. and after q
time she grew calm, and listened while
Hannah told her that "as soon as her
mistress got so anybody could 90 near
her. she meant TO ask her to take Ella
Howard to Gil the place OF her own
daughter"
They look as much alike as two
beans" said she. "and s'posin' Ella How.
ard amt exactly her own flesh and blood.
she would grow into liking her, know"
That night after her return home Han
nah fingered for long time about the
parlor door, glancing wistfully toward
her mistress, who reclined upon the sofa
with her face entirely hidden By her
eambric handkerchief.
'It's most too soon, guess" thought
Hannah. "T'il wait till tomorrow.
Accordingly next morning. when, as she
had expected. she was told TO carry her
mistress toast and coffee to her room,
she fingered for awhile. and seemed so
desIrous of speaking that Mrs. Campbell
asked what she wanted.
"Why, you see. ma'am. | was going to
say word about--ahout that youngest
Howard girl, She's got to go to the poor.
house and it's pity, she's SO handsome.
Why couldn't she come here and livef
Ill take care of her, and 'twouldn't be
nigh so lonesome"
At this allusion to her bereavement
Mrs. Campbell burst into tears. and mo
toned Hannah from the room.
"I'll keep at her till fetch it about,
thought Hannah. But further persuasion
from her was rendered unnecessary, foH
Mrs. Lincoln called that afternoon, and
after assuring her friend that she never
before saw one who was SO terribly af
ficted. casually mentioned the Howards
and the extreme poverty to which they
were reduced
Here Mrs. Campbell commenced weep
ing. and as Mrs. Lincoln soon took heI
leave she was left alone for several
hours. At the end Of that time, impelled
by something she could not resist, she
rang the bell and ordered Hannah to 60
to Mrs. Bender's and bring Ella to her
room, as she wished to see how she ap'
peared.
fsTto ha continual