The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1902-01-17

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anywhere to be near and take one more
look at the dear old furniture as it pass
| ed into the hands Of strangers. At last
! Mrs. Campbell promised that black Ezra,
who had accompanied her from Chcopee,
| should go and report faithfully all the
proceedings, and then Jenny consented to
remain at home; though all the day she
seemed restless and inpatient, wondering
how long before Uncle Ezra would re-
| turn, and then weeping as in fancy she
saw article after article disposed of to
those who would know little how to
prize it.
About five o'clock Uncle Ezra came
| home, bringing a note from Ida, saying
that the carriage would soon be round
for Mary and Jenny, both of whom must
surely come, as there was pleasant sur
| prise awaiting them. While Mary was
reading this Jenny was eagerly question
| ing Uncle Ezra with regard to the sale,
which he said went off uncommon well"
! going chiefly, he reckoned, Ito a tall and
mighty good-lookin' chap, who kept bid
ding up and up, till he got 'em about
where they should be. Then he'd stop
for someone else to bid"
"Who was hep asked Mary, coming
forward and joining Jenny.
Dun know, miss; never seen him
afore,' said Uncle Ezra, but he's got
heaps of money, for when he paid for the
! pianner he took out a roll of bills near
about big as my two fists!'
"Then the piano is gomez" said Jenny,
sadly, while Mary asked how much it
| brought
'.Three hundred dollars was the last
bid l heard from that young feller and
somebody WHO was biddin' agin him said
| twas more'n twas wuth."
1T wasn't, either" spoke up Jenny,
rather spritedly. 'It cost five hundred,
and it's never been hurt bit"
"Alr Bender bought that little fiddle of
yourn," continued Uncle Ezra, with Pc
cular wink, which brought the color to
Jenny's cheeks, while Mary exclaimed:
"Oh. I'm so glad you can have your
! guitar againi"
Here the conversation was interrupted
| by the arrival of the carriage, which
came for the young ladies, who were soon
on their way to Mr.. Selden's Mary won
| dering what the surprise was, and Jen-
ny hoping William would call in the even
ing. AT the door they met Ida, who was
unusually merry-almost too much so for
! the occasion, it seemed to Mary, as she
! glanced at Jennys pale, dispirited face.
| Aunt Martha, too, who CHANGED to cross
! the hall, shook Mary's hand as warmly
as if she had not seen her for q year.
| and then with her broad white cap
strings flying back, she repaired to the
| kitchen to give orders concerning the sup
per.
Mary did not notice it then, but she
afterward remembered that Ida seemed
quite anxious about her appearance, for,
following her to her room, she said, You
look tired, Mary. Sit down and rest you
awhile. Here, take my vinaigrette-that
will revive you" Then, as Mary was
arranging her hair, she said: Just puff
out this side little more-there, that's
right. Now turn round, want to see
how you look"
"Wel, how do ~ asked Mary, facing
about as Ida directed.
Il guess you'll do" returned Ida. 81
believe Henry Lincoln was right when
he said that this blue merino and linen
! collar was the most becoming dress you
could wear, but you look well in any
thing. you have so fine a FORM"
| Don [ DcleNe all neI uulltIy, Sulu
Jenny, laughingly. "She's only compar-
ing your tall, slender figure with little
dumpy me; but I'm growing thin-see," !"
and she Tapped her dress two or three
inches in front.
"Come, now, let's go down." said Ida.
"And I'll introduce you to Jennys sur
prise first
With Ida leading the way, they entered
the music room, where in one corner
stood Roses piano, open, and apparent
ly inviting Jenny to its side With joy
full cry she sprang forward, exclaiming,
|'"Oh, how kind in your father; l most
| know we can redeem it some time. I'll
teach school-anything to get it again"
/ Don't thank father too much," an
swered Ida, "for he has nothing to do
with it, except giving it house room, and
one quarters teaching will pay that bill!''
"Who did buy it, them" asked Jen-
ny; and Ida replied:
Cant tell you just yet l must have
some music first Come, Mary, you like
to play. Give me my favorite, Rosa
Lee with variations"
Mary was passionately fond of music,
and, for the time she had taken lessons,
played uncommony well. Seating herself
| at the piano she became oblivious to all
else around her, and when a tall figure
for moment darkened the doorway,
while Jenny uttered a suppressed ex-
clamation of surprise, she paid no heed,
nor did she become conscious of third
persons presence until the group advanc-
ed toward her, Ida and Jenny leaning up
on the piano and the other standing at
her right, a little in the rear. Think
ing, If she thought at all, that it was Will
liam Bender, Mary played ON until the
piece was finished and then observing
that her companions had left the room.
she turned and met the dark, handsome
eyes-not of William Bender, but of one
who, with a peculiar smile, offered his
hand, saying, Il believe need no intro
duction to Miss Howard, except slight
change In the name, which, Instead OF