Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-16

| On, MISS liNpoi
But we don't want to be ekorbitant,'
graciously went on Ann Azalea. " 30,
sooner than be nj the expense OF n law
suit. I'll take some trihe or other in
nav. That screen, forinstanco," with her
greedy eyes fixed on the pictured flight
of tho scarlet nnmingo. Ten dollars
is deal of money, and the screen is an
old-stylo thing, but l wouldn't mind
calling things even, just to ease your
conscience, if"
"I couldn't-oh, couldn't !" cried
poor Mrs. More, the tears coming into
her eyes. at was work l did as girl
My own poor mother sketched in the
green rushes and grass with her own
pencil, and-and if any one is to have
it, it is already promised to an old fam
| lily friend, who is to pay twenty-five
dollars for it,"
,'Very we'll, said Miss Harper, rising,
with an ominous toss of her head.
"Then, if you really mean to swindle
US"
Miss Harper!"
"If you really mean to swindle us"
severely repeated Ann Azalea, IL may
as we'll stop at tho constable's on my
way back and put on the distraint ut
once"
Mrs. More clasped her thin, hands in
sort OF nervous horror
If poor Mable, who had gone out so
buoyantly to carry home her little parcel
of finished work, should return and find
the minions of the law in possession!
81 am a selfish creature" she told
herself, "to prefer my own inclination
to dear Mays happiness!"
And so she told Ann Azalea, with
burst of tears, that the screen should
be hers.
81 will send it to you-in the even
ing" said she, piteously.
"It you'll just wrap bit of brown
paper around it, I'll take 1t now, sug-
gcsted Miss Harper, who believed firmly
in the ancient adage Of the "the bird
in the hand being worth two in the
bush"
And so the scarlet hamingo was car
ried away in the triumphant arms OF
Miss Ann Azalea Harper
"After all, soliloquized she, "I got
it for absolutely nothing. For pa said
the old mahogany bookcase he took off
them was worth a third more than all
the rent they owed any one but a
fool like that whimpering little Mrs.
More would have known it perfectly
well. And I'm sure it'll suit Aunt
Hepsy to a Tw
While poor Mrs. More sobbing bit
terly before the empty place where her
beloved screen had stood, felt as il all
the sweet associations Of her early youth
had been wrenched away.
Mother-dcar mother why arc you
crying?' questioned Mabel, hurrying
into the room. Is your neuralgia
headache worse? oh, mother where
is the old screen? have brought Miss
MilmAn 70 sec you about it. She SAYS
she will give you thirty dollars FOR it.
| if"
81 have sold it," said Mrs. More !;
for ten dollars. To our landlords
daughter. Or rather have let her take
it away in payment for the balance of
the rent We owed them"
"Sho has deceived you, mother ("
cried Mabel, coloring up with honest
Indignation. ave owed her not',a single
cent Oh, dear, mother, if / had only
been at homo !"
Miss Milman, a stout, short, grizzle-
headed lady, stood still in the center Of
the room, looking sharply about her.
Don't fret, Alice More" said she.
"Tears never yet did any good. You
may depend upon it, this woman's de-
ceit will yet recoil upon her own head.
What is your landlords name r.
Harper said Mrs. More. "Eben-
ezer Harper
/ "Oh !" said Miss Milman.
And then she went away.
II think she grows more eccentric
every day. said Mabel, looking after
the retreating figure OF the stout lady.
" Rich people have a right to be &C.
centric II they please" sighed Mrs.
More, still looking at the empty place
where the screen had once stood.
Dear Aunt Hepsy," said Ann Aza-
lea, radiantly, "Fve come to wish you
many happy returns Of your birthday.
And here's little present-the satin
screen promised you"
"Eh ?" said Aunt Hepsy.