The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-08-25
burst of tears, that the screen should be

burst of tears, that the screen should be
hers.
81 will send it to you--in the even
ing" said she piteously.
eff you will wrap bit of brown pape
around it, I'll take it now," suggested
Miss Harper, who believed firmly in the
ancient adage of the "bird in the hand
being worth two in the BUSH"
And 80 the scarlet hamingo was car
ried away in the triumphant arms OF Miss
Ann Azalea Harper,
"After ALL" soliloquized she, 81 got ii
for nothing. For pa said the old mahog'
any bookcase he took off them was worth
third more than all the rent they owed,
and any one but fool like that little
whimpering Mrs. Moore would have
known it perfectly we'll. And I'm sure
it'll suit Aunt Hepsy to '"T.".
While poor Mrs. Moore was sobbing
bitterly before the empty place where
her beloved screen had stood, she felt as
if all the sweet associations of her early
gouth had been wrenched away.
"Mother-dear mother! why are you
crying?" questioned Mabel, hurrying
into the room. SIS your neuralgia head
ache worse? Oh, mother! where is the
old screen? I have brought Miss Mill
man to see you about it. She says she
will give you $50 for it, if"
81 have sold it," said Mrs. Moore,
"for $40, to our landlords daughter. Or
rather I have let her take it away in pay
ment for the balance Of the rent we owed
them"
"She has deceived you, mother!" cried
Mabel, coloring up with honest indigna
ton. 1--WE owed her not a single cent.
Oh, dear, mother, if had only been at
home"
Miss Millman, stout, short, grizzle-
headed lady, stood still in the center of
the room, looking sharply about her.
Don't fret, Alice Moore" said she.
''rears never yet did any good. You
may depend upon it, this woman's cruel
deceit will yet recoil upon her own head.
What is your landlords name ?"
Harper" said Mrs. Moore. "Ebe-
nezer Harper"
"Oh," said Miss Millman.
And then she went away.
II think she grows more eccentric
every day." said Mabel, looking after the
retreating figure of the stout lady.
erich people have a right to be eccen-
trio if they please" sighed Mrs. Moore,
still looking at the empty place where
the screen had once stood.
"Dear Aunt Hepsy," said Ann Aza-
lea, radiantly, 1--WE come to wish you
many happy returns of your birth. And
here's little present-the satin screen l
promised YOU"
"Eh ?" said Aunt Hepsy.
my own work." said Ann Azaleai
land do so hope you will like it,
"Humph" commented the old lady.
"I've worked day and night to get IT
finished" said Ann Azalea, fervently.
"Ann Azalea," said the old lady, sud
denly becoming inspired with some de-
gree of animation, "where do you expect
to go to when you die ?"
Dear Amt" said Ann Azalea, II
don't in the least understand YOU
because you are telling perfect It's
sue of lies, each one more outrageous
than the other" said this painfully frank
old lady. 1.-The screen isn't your own
own work at all. The satin was painted
by an old school-friend of mine fifty-odd
years ago. You cheated her out of it the
uby UclOIc ycStCIuny W lcS uAoA PASSS
of swindling that would have disgraced
a mock auctioneer. And now you may
go and carry it back to her-Mrs. Moore,
No. Lilac court-with my compliments.
And. Ann Azalea,-"
Eyes, aunt" said the detected young
lady.
s'You needn't trouble to come back
here again. If adopt an heiress it
must be some one who is pure and good
and truthful-not such one as you!
And I'm rather disposed to think that it
shall be Mabel Moore"
And so Miss Ann Azalea Harpers
grand scheme resulted in utter failure.
The screen was borne ANONYMOUSLY
back, and Mabel Moore is now her aunts
adopted darling. And Papa Harper, in
stead of tenderly consoling his daughter,
says gruffiy:
ITS all your own fault"