Elsie's Kith and Kin eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 283 pages of information about Elsie's Kith and Kin.

Elsie's Kith and Kin eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 283 pages of information about Elsie's Kith and Kin.

He had not told her of his good fortune—­the sudden, unexpected change in his circumstances:  he wanted to keep it secret till he could see the shining of her eyes, the lighting up of her face, as she learned that their long separations were a thing of the past; that in future they would have a home of their own, and be as constantly together as Lester and Elsie, Edward and Zoe.

But his mind was full of plans for making her and his children happy by means of his newly acquired wealth, and he had not been able to refrain from some attempt to do so at once.

“I don’t want papa to waste his money on me, either,” Lulu said.  “I’d rather never have any pocket-money than have him do without a single thing to give it to me.”

“Dear child, I know you would,” Violet said.  “But take what he has sent, and be happy with it; that is what he desires you to do; and I think you need have no fear that he will want for any thing because of having sent it to you.”

“Let me see that, won’t you, Maxie?” Lulu asked, following her brother from the room.

He handed her the check, and she examined it curiously.

“It has your name on it,” she remarked.

“Yes:  it is drawn payable to me,” returned Max, assuming an air of importance.

“But,” said Lulu, still examining it critically, “how can you turn it into money?”

“Oh!  I know all about that,” laughed Max.  “Papa explained it to me the last time he was at home:  I just write my name on the back of that, and take it to a bank, and they’ll give me the fifty dollars.”

“And then you’ll keep half, and divide the other half between Gracie and me.  That will be twelve dollars and fifty cents for each of us, won’t it?”

“No, it isn’t to be divided equally:  papa says you are to have fifteen dollars, and Gracie ten,—­because you are older than she is, you know.”

“But she’s better, and deserves more than I,” said Lulu.  “Anyway, she shall have half, if she wants it.”

“No, she doesn’t,” said Max.  “I told her about it; and she thinks ten dollars, to do just what she pleases with, is a great fortune.”

“When will you get it, Max?”

“What,—­the money?  Not till after we go North.  Grandpa Dinsmore says it will be best to wait till then, as we won’t care to spend any of it here.  O Lu!—­you are going along, I suppose?—­what does papa say about—­about what you told him in your last letter?”

“You may read for yourself, Max,” replied Lulu, putting the note into his hand.

She watched his face while he read, and knew by its expression that he was sorry for her, even before he said so, as he handed it back.

“But perhaps papa may change his mind, if you keep on being as good as you have been ever since you left that school,” he added.  “But you haven’t told me yet whether you are still to go North with us, or not.”

“Yes:  mamma Vi says I am.  She says papa says in his letter to her, that they may do what they think best with me for the present:  and they will take me along.  It’s good in them, isn’t it?”

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Elsie's Kith and Kin from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.