Struggling Upward, or Luke Larkin's Luck

on in the village that the Larkins had in t

he way it

s. She seldom went beyond the limits of Groveton, which was her world. She had learned the business of dressmaking, and often did work at h

n, having occasion to take something from it, when, with a light step, Miss Sprague entered the room. The

, effusively. "I knocked, but you didn't hear it, being upstairs, and I took the

red Mrs. Larkin, but he

tents which she was anxious to hide, but that Miss Melinda's sharp eyes had a

ed herself, with eager curiosity. "Can she have property th

ng of the trunk showed her that the widow wo

nk I saw anything,"

get anxious an

inda," said Mrs. Larkin. "I

up here, I beg you won't m

nothing that

t down into th

d Miss Sprague, in a to

ell, th

at favorite of mine,"

anly boy

help to me," sa

akes care of the scho

es

pay does

lar a

be able to kee

inda?" asked the widow

d on the school committee, and Squire

el

n Tim appointed janitor in place of Luke, and I heard that

lt with Luke?" asked

said Luke had had it for a year, and now

te sure of t

lled by her first name, not as a tribute to her y

d it from Mrs. F

s well as Luke. He has never

ch, but Mrs. Larkin did not smile at her mistake. She was too much troubled at the news she had just heard. A dollar a week may seem a

ything of this," said the widow.

r all," said Melinda. "I am sure Tim Fla

hat Luke had been janitor long enough, and hoped Tim would get the place. She was in the habit of sid

ard of this threatene

h was partly respons

he squire to solicit h

entioned the ma

in been janitor at the

ear. Why d

d to the dutie

ake fires and sweep the floor," a

en here to ask me to

's p

it, pa," said R

e is well fitted

, but Luke puts on airs. He f

s. Larkin nee

Flanagan," s

is Tim? I have hea

aid the young aristocrat. "But I'm quite disgusted with Luke. He was at Florence G

she d

attend a party with such a suit. His coat and pantaloons were both too s

his own, to appoint Tim Flanagan. He was hoping to be nominated for representative at th

oint Tim, pa?"

It seems only right

is a principle of

. "It isn't a very important place, but Luke will be sorry to

ge street. He did not often stop to speak with our