The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-10-22

of a November evening was falling
and a misty rain had commenced
when the old woman knocked al
the door of a. room on the upper
floor of one Of the mean houses
1t was opened by a young girl, very
plainly dressed, who had evidently
been basting gentlemen's clothing
for an elderly woman running "a
sewing machine. =. ~,
j. Good evening" said Aunt Mabel,
looking at the sweet, fair face; i'can
I sell you some threads and needles
very cheap? I've got some pretty
ribbons, too ...u iii.
Come in!' the girl said gently;
you are cold, and your shawl is
wet
1T has just set in to rain, . was tile
answer, 'and I'll'be glad to rest a
llttle.' iii .a.a, .f.j ~: 'a.'" -. .
And then,: to her own surprise,
Aunt Mabel found the room reel
ing, and herself growing very faint,
after her long fast and unaccustom-
ed fatigue. , .. -..:,,,
She is i'll! Aunt Lucy, GOMEZ
the girl cried, and Aunt Mabel
knew no more tor some minutes.
When she revived, she found her.
self lying upon a bed in an inner
room, her shawl and hood off, her
dress loosened, and her hostess
bathing her face in cool water.
Are you better?' she asked gen
tly. 4 am sorry I have no wine CT
cologne water, but I will have cup
of tea for you presently . :,
,sWine and cologne ant for the
likes of u.s. said the invalid. I'm
cold and starving, honey lJnoi.
I'll have something for you to
eat in a moment. Don't try'to sit
up '"'i
'~IAnd Aunt Lucy, coming in, en-
forced the gentle command. TO-
4Ill sit here, May, while you get
cup of tea and some toast for the
poor body she said: 'Ah, it's hard
to be old and poor she added, as
May left. Iknow it myself
sYour niece, marm?' said the
pretended pedlar, looking after
May. .,: r..s .r.t#
My brothers child. She's been
like a daughter to me since her
mother died, though I can help her
but little, for I'm sick, off and on,
the biggest part of the year. ...''
'Shc is very pretty gre '"'.
She's better than that; she's
good,' was the earnest reply. 'ller
father died when SHE was sixteen,
and her mother only lived a year
after, Since then May and I have
lived together, sewing and keeping
house as we best could in these
three little rooms. Well and the
old woman sighed, we've never
frozen nor starved, but we've been
pretty near both, more than ence.'
sMayn said her charge; that is a
pretty name ''n'o.&-... ,,<''',.i
Tier namc.is Mabel She is called
for her mothers sister, a rich lady
Rich!. Why don't she keep her
then? :...
Il don't think she knows how
poor we are May,is too proud tc
write to her for help, and she's been
in Europe foryears.'', ".."-. ''1,s
Now said a CHEEKY voice, as
May re:entered, see if you can sit
up and cat this 'T''d .'i.''"'''' =,
A very simple meal. Only a cup
Of tea-cheap tea ~too--a stice Of
toast, an egg and a baked apple;
but Aunt Mabel thought no meal
had ever tasted SO delicious to her
But trying to, rise, she found the
giddiness returning, and was forced
to lie down again. .,k.....
10 'What Shall | do? she said pit.
eonsly. 4 cannot stand up
Lie down then,' said May. I'll
60 tell your friends where you are
if you wish.'- ..; .r>n a.. .,,.,
Il have no friends ...t..a,..
Then you had better lie still till
morning ........ h.~., o..
'But this is your bed
aunt Lucy will lie beside you
and I shall do nicely on the lounge
in the other room. DO you think
you can sleep?'" ...-:-' .. ",'
sYes. lam very tired
And when she was alone, Aunt
Mabel did sleep soundly. She did
not know the hour when she awoke,
but through the open door she could
see her niece and Aunt Lucy sew
ing Busily, and hear them IN low
conversation.
sAnd now, when you know she
has come,' said Aunt Lucy, will
you not let your Aunt Mabel know
how very poor we are, !,
Never was tue firm reply. 4
shall call because she is mothers
sister, but 1 will never fawn upon
any rich relative.'
But, May, I thought you were
very fond of her.
i was such little girl when she
went away said the sweet, CHEEKY
voice, sthat 1 scarcely remember
anything but a gentle face and a
'l,;uI voirc. but her letters to dear