The Colorado statesman. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1895-1961, 1915-06-19

| Hes come back. and has rented
the old Trevor place. He's to bring
his wife and family with him, and
wants the house in order by Tuesday.
Tell Nellie to make the palace of it
she knows so well how to do, and the
pay will be extra liberal"
She'll just delight in the task"
said Miss Matilda. Poor child What
housewife she would make! But
no! no! Work has come to me as my
portion she says, the Lord knows
best, and I'm thankful / know how to
keep my hands busy. AS to the beaux
I'm only poor, Woodworking girl,
she says. They are after the dainty
ones that wear gloves"
How are you getting on, Nellie?"
inquired Griggs, two days later. invad-
ing the domain over which Nellie was
| queen for the time being.
Happy as a lark, and right in my
clement" chirped the dear little crea-
ture, amid her tubs, dust, rags and
brooms. MY! but 1t was dirty How
| does it look?"
You may well be proud. compli-
mented Griggs.
Floors, walls, ceilings and windows
were spotless The windows shone
| like the finest plate. The next day
| when Griggs dropped in, the garden
| and yard had been put in trim. The
| next, when the furniture arrived, Mel
lie seemed in a state of mad bliss. She
worked till midnight, never firing Of
| getting draperies and wall ornaments
in their most tasteful positions
The following morning the children
| arrived in an automobile. The chauf-
feur explained that Mr.. Rayner had
been delayed, and would arrive that
evening. Long before then, well fed,
well amused, the little ones had come
| to love Nellie as II she was some older
sister
The lights were on, the supper table
set when Arnold Rayner went up the
| steps. He paused to peer beyond the
screen door into the room where one
golden-haired cherub lay asleep in
Nellie's arms, the other seated on a
stool at her feet, while Nellie told her
q pretty fairy story
| A great tide of feeling overcame the
| lonely-hearted man. He seemed to
stand on the threshold of comfort,
peace and rest, denied his sad soul
for many year. The tears came to
his eyes, but through them he saw as
| though in a dream, the sweet, bright
| face of the neatly attired girl who
took as her motto, "Laborare est
! orare."
"Oh, sir, you startled us!' said Mel
10 =, hA IL
denly opened the door. Then she
glanced past him wonderingly. Did
not Mrs. Rayner Gomez"
There is no Mrs. Rayner," was the
subdued reply. my wife died six
years since"
| When Nellie left after the evening
meal, Mr.. Rayner sat for long time,
gravely reflective. A cheering light
seemed to have departed. Griggs
came in 1t was to describe his ad-
miration of the bustling Nellie, her
keen enjoyment of setting the house
in order.
she has certainly made things
homelike," said Mr.. Rayner. Then
he sighed, but his face expressed
| pleasure as Griggs praised the sterling
| usefulness anu lnleiilBeuCe Oh lne III
tie toiler.
He came across Nellie a few days
later, and lifted his hat to her as
though she were the highest lady in
the land. Miss Matilda got to running
over to see that the children were
comfortable. They cried for Nellie's
company, and she, too. had to come.
They were clinging to Nellie, roll
licking like happy elves. one after
noon as Mr.. Rayner appeared She
started to cross lots homewards. He
halted her.
Nellie" he said gravely but earnest
ly, you fill my home with gladness
every time you come here. Won't you
fill my heart as well? I need you. l
want you, and-I love you"
And, with a fiuttering' sob of great
joy, Nellie nestled into his arms, feel
ing that heaven had been very, very
| kind.