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Heiress Hunting

Heiress Hunting image
Parent Issue
Day
27
Month
January
Year
1888
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Slie must be sick, aid ICttie Hall to lerself "ur tlse sha would hV ban ter long ago. Peor Justitie! Somebüw thius ar arranged very strangely in this worlal! I enn't understand wliat it all mean, nor what I har done that 1 should bo rich and courtad, wli. Ie Jtist no Mnynurd, who was nij lassniRte at Mme. Paulini's, trinas Iressei for a living. She isn't to blama secause her guardián was a Tillain. I Hcscive no credit for the sklllful management of Unole Crotchley. wheroby my dollars all became eagles. I only wih she would let me dmrte with her- bat she has too much of the Marnard blood in her veins for that! I'll go and sea her." And Ettie Hall ran op stairs into a little boudoir to tle oh her bat. Jast as she carne out the maid brought up a card on a silver salver. Ktiie's tell-tale ejes sparkled as she glnnced at the Roman lettered inscription on the on e gide: MARKHAM FEKXLET. And tlieu taking it up, perused on the reverse the following words: May I accompany you to the opera to-nightP Florlne has a box and SalteriUe will sing. Yours, ever devotedly. M. F. "Piense, ma'am," said Barbara, the maid, "the man is waiting for un answer." Lttie caught up a sheet of pink note paper, monogrammed in gold, and hurriedly scribbled upon it the one word "Yes." '(.Ivo that to him," she ssid and hurried off. Justino Maynard's Httle room was no luxuriously appointed nest of laoe and gold and Axminister. Bare and ïohl, and poverty-stricken, its cracked walls and sloping roof gained no plow froru the rosy sunset; and Justine herself lay on the bed, with hands pressed to her throbbing forehead. "Onfy a headache, dear," she said, essayino; a faint smile, as Ettie Hall hun -cd toward her. "That is all. And I have been a little worried with the landlord; ho will be back presen tly for the money that I shall not be able to give him. If he would vrait oaly until lo-morrow." "Let me pay hitn, Justine." "I am not a beggar yet, Ettie- nay, do not look hurk I know how tender and large souled you are; but I have oever yet accepted charity, eren from o dear a friend as yon, and I nevar will- no, not if I die first. Tomorrow I can take that satín dress home and receive $10 for raaking it That will et me all right I should hare returned it tonight, but this pain makes a mere cliild of me." Ettie lurned, and for the first time law a folded dress upon the table - a robe of wine-colored satin, riohly trimmed with costly threat lace, for Justine Maynard éarned her bread by the to Isoino plying of hor needle, a ilrcssmakor, poorly paid, and stung by niany a chance word and sneer. "Justine," she said, 'Tve an idea I'll ake this dress home for you. I'll pet the money and bring it back." "Nonsense. Ettie!" "Very (Jood sense, on the contrary." And Ellie deftly placed lt within sheets of brown paper wrapping and tied it up. "Come, where is it to goP" "To Miss Fernley, in Middleton square. Oh, Etlie! bow can I ever pay you all your kindness?'1 EtLio was tylne a dark brown veil so closely over her hat that Justine Maynard never saw the deep dye on her clieek. She was almost sorry she had ull'ored to take Florine Fernley's new dress home. For a eecond her resolutiou wHvered, and then she reproached herself for even that soonds indecl■ion. "I'll be back rery ioon, dear," ihe eaid, stooping to press her oool iips to Justiue's fevered brow. "And I'll bring the money, too, or I mistak my own talf nt at the dobt-eollectinjr. business." She hurried away with the bundie neatly balanoed in her arms, and walked rapidly, lest her resol ution should fail her. It was not a long walk, for Ihe Fernley's 11 red in Middleton square, but a few blocks distant And Ettie went up the steps of the marble-fronted mansion, wondering lf she coul il see Markham. Ett.e Hall was not certain, but she was beginning to suspect that she liked the handsome young fellow, whose dark eyes and jetty caris were such a counterpart to her own blonda beauty. Nor was she altogether displeased with the curious adventure whioh was leading her toward him. A smart, blue-ribboned maid camo to the door. Yes, Miss Fernley was at home," and with a supercilious i&solence which made Ettie' s blood boll. tho girl pointed up a dark stairway. "Jnst up thero and you'll flnd her. First door.to theleft." Miss Ettie Hall followed the directions and found herself in a twilight apartment, where draped mirrors, and sweet, faint scenti betrayed manifold mysteries of a young lady's toilet. "What's wantlngP Why oan't I have my nap in peaoe?" querulously demanded Florlne Fernley' voioe. "Oh, it is that everlasting dressmaker. Mark! Mark! I want $10" " So do I- $10,0001" retorted a familiar volee from the next room. "But I can't have all I want" "You borro wed 20 of me to hlre that nonsemical opera box." "That was business, my dear." "Business! Nonsenset Give me vaj money, I say," fretted Florine. "Yes, business, my girl. Heiresshuntiiifr is as much business as speoulating on Wall street, and the fair Henrietta is a fish that won't junip at any ordinary bait." "Hunhl" cried Florine, sharply. and then turning to the soi-distant dressmaker, che said; " It isn't convenient to pay you to day. Cali again next week or the week after." Excuse me," answered Ettie, in a low but resolute roice; "I must hare the money now." ' "Must!" retorted Miss Fernley, as she aagrlly rang the bel). "Mary, show this person out!'' "I decline to leare the dress unless I I ara paid for it," said Ettie, firmly. "Now, look here, you dressmaking girl." said the liana vulee of Markham Fernley, as he adranoed from the inner apartment, "none of your impudence. Lenve the dress, or I'll send for a policeman and teach you your proper plnce in short "I would not do that, Mr. Fernley," aid Ettle, who had by thii tima reoorered her slf-poeson coruplaUly. "I im not a 'dressmaking girl,' but I intand to collect tlie inoney that bit friend has earned. Struck by oma accent of her tena. Markham Fernly pauiad a secend, than lighted the gas. Kttie Hall deliberately threw back her Teil. Th fair Heiirietta," the quitad, with a shrug of her shouldert. "Miss Hall !" "You have said it And now let me Siave the money for my friend, Miis Maynard." "Certainly, - certainly," stammered j Markham Fernley. fumbling in hil ! pocket-book. And " "Xhank you," with a regal Inclinaation of her head. "Good erenlng." "But you will let me accompany you lome?" he pleaded. "I hall do notliing of the sort," she resolutely replied, as she deposited the bill safely in her little silrer portmonnie. "And let me advise you. Mr. Fernley, to waste no mora of your raluable time and powerful Intellect in he unsatisfactory business of "heiresshunting.' " That wai the last that he erer saw of Henrietta Hall.

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Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Democrat