The day book. [volume], March 17, 1913, Image 13

About The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
THE BRONCHO BpS TER
By Florence Lillian Henderson.
The Fowlers were not very good to
Elsa Bruce. She realized it. but in
her patient, cheerful 'way tried not to
mind it. Mrs Fowler was herstep
aunt, Elsa was an orphan, and, aside
from old Grandfather Bruce, she had
no near relative in the world.,
Mrs. Fowler was sour as vinegar, a
chonic grumbler,, parsimonious and a
slave driver. Within that narrow
bosom of hers she cherished the idea
that she was philanthropically shel-
' 'M've got a Great Scheme."'
tering Elsa, the poor shorn lamb, in
a truly Christian way. In reality she
was making a drudge o her. Elsa
anywhere else would have been haiL;
ed as a Jewel of industry and econ
omy, and liberally, paid for. her apt,
tireless ability as cook, "nurse and
housekeeper. "
"I must keep on, ,if, only, for your
sake, dear grandpa,'" Elsa was1 won't
to say when the' old. man "rebelled
at. the onerous duties' imposed upon
her. "I don'tvmindth,e work, if they
would just treat you witfi a little more
thoughtful'ness."
"It's a shame!" stormed -the old
man. "I. gave- my step-daughter the (
property here for providing me with
a home the rest of my life, and it's
just hardened her into a pitching, un
grateful miser:"
"Well, grandpa,',' said Elsa bright
ly, "some day I may be lucky enough
to find some one willing to marry me,
and I won't go unless I can take you
along with'me."
"You're too good for any husband
under a royal prince," declared
Grandpa. "If the old days of chivalry
were back again there'd be all kinds
of gallant- knights jousting around
herje to carry you off."
Elsa laughed at the ridiculous idea.
She spoke some cheery words in her
heartful way, and then went to her
"own room for a- good crying spell.
A knight:-errant Elsa already had,
indeed, bu't'in a decidedly humble and
unromaritic way. Tliere was' not a
mor,e manly young fellow in the town
than Bert Lkwton, but he was poor.
His ambition was to become an elec
trician. In Fairview activity in that
line was just beginning to show itself.
His pay was small, and so little could
he save that,, although Elsa and he,
were engaged, the" wedding day
seeined a long way ahead.
"If f hadn't 'been so foolish as to
give my property away to that selfish
step-daughter of mine," Grandpa
Bruce told his venerable chum, John
Davis, "I'd set that .deserving young
couple upin housekeeping double
quick." Old man Davis wasxdependent on
the bounty of a son, and none too
much in love with the life itself. One
afternoon Bruce met him with an ex
cited, mysterious lopk on his" face and
a crumpled 'newspaper in 'his hand.
He drew him aside to-a convenient"
tree trunk.
"Davis,'1 he announced jubilantly,
Tve got a great scheme, and I want
you to hehme out
r,.;..-.. . . ; .