The Southern herald., 1915-09-17
CyPID'S Own COOK
By ELLIS Browne.

Vnen the lawn had been shorn velve
turf, the paddock alive with horses
, the stables, now desolate, trig anC
properly tended, with a livery coach
mans family in the cottage near by
: That was before the boom times
whose collapse had swept awav the
greater part Of the Gordon fortune
Eiinor said passionately to herself
sometimes that Providence in mercy
should have taken her and her father
along with the money. Not that she
was cowardly-her case was that of
one who cannot swim carrying a he.
loved burden beyond strength un-
aole to assure its safety, still more
unable to let 1t drop. Without meta
phor, she had to live and keen a sem.
Diance of decent comfort upon the
narrowest possible income and that
not independent, but the dole Of
Klnsfolk better off. She could do
nothing to supplement 1t. nor could
she dispense with 1t. Bitterly she
told herself that if life were but trans.
ieraDle she would gladly part with
her expectation of days to some rich
dotard for money enough to assure
her father care and comfort while he
lived. 'O ~
Although shattered, John Gordon
was not old-barely turned fiftv He
might well go on to eighty after the
habit of his blood. So long as he
llved she was bound to care for him
helpless as though in prison. There
fore in her black moods she thought
longingly of death-not as one who
underValues life, but as the one door
OF escape into limitless freedom. One
uraD day was so like another the
lengthening or shortening of daylight
TOOK on the nature of an event.
Ihere were no happenings. Regu- |
larly as the month end came tho |
monthly check from her uncle. In re-
turn she sent an itemized account Of
now the previous months money had
Deen spent. Uncle Jabez had a no.
ton she had inherited extravaganza
from her dead mother. He had.
somehow, a notion that his brother
mad imbibed from that same source
the recklessness in finance that had
stripped him bare.
at first the Uncle had permitted
Eiinor to let the coachman's cottage.
ana thus get a slightly larger in
come. But finding that she had been
20 dishonestly soft-hearted as to for
give quarters arrears on account
d sickness, he had taken the matter
INTO his own hands-with the result
u having the house stand empty al
most ever since.
One day, busy in copying her re. ,
urn, taking special pains to make
ne copy fair, Elinor was startled to :
AVE her uncle walk in without knock. Z
ng, nod to her father, huddle beside :
he smothered fire, turn to her and 8
ay grumpily: i.
I'm giving you chance you don't g
eserve-see that you improve n a
lave let the cottage for six months /,
roVlded its environment is found
greeable. Two men tenants-art- r.
'ts-I have agreed you shall give I,
lem breakfast-also dinner-when q
ley want 1t. That won't be regular v
-stlll 1t will help. You will give II
lem the best of everything-they are ir
aylng enough to deserve it. Ne! h,
ney will not pay you. shall attend W
that part. But l have opened an
count for you at the market with h,
lggins-they tell me he has the best n,
oceries. Moreover, shall send in e,
me from my own merchant-you'll
ceipt and account for every bottle ri
It, II my brother wants a glass r,
w and then, let him have it. A ha
'man should stick to water" tn
Never fear but 1 shall stick to Sc
Elinor said, choking. She had m,
zen and stood, white and shaking
SIDE the moth-eaten desk, but made
lselt say more temperately; II
lease, uncle, won't you give me a -
Tie broader chance? We have so -
lch room here@-let me fill it with %
MINER people. 1t won't be much
re trouble-of course, shall have
have help"
help! think mott" Uncle ia 80
snarled. "Help-to eat up all o. 81
profit in sight? No, young wom- 49, 49,
youH do the work yourself Often an- ~
'ugh you've whimpered how YOU 90 90.
nted to work" sat
do want to work, but-in some eoI "l
er way" Elinor nerved herself 70 s1n @
: Il have so forgotten pride s"I. ln
ont mind being a servant, but I a." |
mind being a servant without s .as
yes." sou
Upon my word! OF all the in. 'a'
tltude!" Uncle Jabez began acidly a.e ~
lis brother rose suddenly-it was VoF
lom he said anything in family VI
ncils- Now, in almost his old voice cei'
'ower he cried "Jabez-this can't eAcl
You forget yourself. My dauga. .-e
snail serve no strangers. MOI pen
t forget what we owe you.-jt ,s pair
who forget what you owe your Ul u
d." 'NN- the
What owe II bas Lor4 ,,... This
poorhouse these last saI,o,, 80 s-.An I'm that
70 roared back. Kept you here 'ne
he house that you mortgaged for smel