The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-08-11

severely repeated Ann Azalea, 81 may
as well stop in at the constable's on my
way back and put on the distraint at
once"
Mrs. Moore clasped her thin hands
in a-sOrt of nervous horror.
If poor Mabel, who had gone out so
buoSantly to carry home her little par
Gel of finished work, should return and
find the minions of the law in posses
sion!
II am a selfish creature" she told
herself, ''to prefer my own inclination
to dear Mays happiness!'
And SO she told Ann Azalea, With a
burst of tears, that the screen should be
| hers.
Il will send it to you--in the eyen-
ing," said she, piteously.
''If you'll just wrap bit of brown
paper around it. I'll take it now," sug-
gested Miss Harper. who believed firm
ly in the ancient adage of the 'bird in
the hand being worth two in the BUSH"
And so the scarlet fi1mingo was car
ried away in the triumphant arms of
Miss Ann Azalea Harper.
"After ALL" soliloquized she, II got it
for absolutely nothing. For pa said the
old mahogany bookcase he took off
rent they owed; and any ono but
fool like that whimpering little Mrs.
Moore would have known it perfectly
well. And Tm sure it'll suit Aunt
Hrpsy to Tr'
While poor Mrs. Moore, sobbing bit
terly before the empty place where her
beloved screen had stood, felt rs if all
the sweet associations of her early
youth had been wrenched away.
"Mother-dear mother! why are You
crying?" questioned Mabel, hurrying
into the room. 'Is your neuralric
headache worseP Oh. mother! where
is the old screenp I have brought
Miss Milman to see you about it. She
says she will give you thirty dollars
for il, if
81 have sold it," said Mrs. Moore;
''for ten dollars. To our landlords
daughter Or rather l have let her
take it away in payment for the balance
of the rent we owed them"
''She has deceived you motherv
cried Mabel, coloring up with honest
indignation. 1--WE owed her not a
single cent! Oh. dear mother, if l had
only been ut homer
Miss Milman, u stout, short. grizzle-
headed lady, stood still in the centre of
shS win stOouO HcI.
Don't fret, Alice Moore" said she.
''Tears 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
Harper" said Mrs. More. '.Ebe-
nezer Harper"
''Oh" said Miss Milman.
And then she went away
81 think she grows more eccentric |
every day." said May, looking after the |
figure of the stout lady.
erich people have right to be &C.
centric if 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"
'.Ehp" said Aunt Hepsy.
''hy own work." said Ann Azalea.
':And 1 do SO hope you'll like it,
''Humph!' commented the old lady.
"rve worked day and night to get it
inished," said Ann Azalea, fervently.
..Ann Azalea," said the old lady,
'uuueuiy occohiIHS iHSI'iTcu Win SOiue |
iegree of animation, ''where do you
expect TO go to when you diep'
Dear Aunt" said Ann Azalea, 81
lon't in the least understand your
because you are telling perfect
issue of lies, each one more outrageous
han the other" said this painfully
rank old lady. ''The screen isn't your
,wn work at all. The satin was paint
ID by an old school-friend of mine, tif-
Y odd years ago. You cheated her out
# it, the day before yesterday, by
egular piece of swintlling that would
lave disgraced mock auctioneer.
And now you may go and carry it back
o her-Mrs. Moore, No. Lilac Court
With my compliments. And, Ann Aza-
ca
"Yes, aunt" said the detected young
ady.
''You needn't trouble to come back
ere again. If l adopt an heiress it
must be some one who is pure, and
.Ood, and truthful-not such n one as
ou! And Pm rather disposed to think
hat it shall be Mabel Moore.''
And SO Miss Ann Azalea Harper's
rand scheme resulted in utter failure.
he screen was borne ignominiously
ack, and Mabel Moore is now her
units adopted darling. And Papa !
larper. instead of tenderly consoling g
is daughter, says gruffly:
''lt's all your own faultr'
{
Dumas Pere as Financier.
One fine morning shoemaker calls