Arizona weekly enterprise., 1882-12-09
AN ANGEL UNAWARES.

''Its old Miss Peck again." said Fan ny Meade with a grimace, as she leaned perilousiy over the edge of the stairs to survey the hallway and front door be- low.
 "Old Miss Peckr' echoed Lizzy, the fair, plump blonde of the family. And there I've been and put on my dotted Swiss apron with the pink bows, think ing that it was Captain Filletr'
 'And Lucy's letting her in, and buy ing tape and buttons of her, as true as you liver' ejaculated Fanny, in very audible whisper.
 And then the two elder sisters retired to their room and had their laugh out, while Lucy-innocent, round-cheeked Lucy, whose heart was open to every appeal of want or suffering, took the wretched old woman into the kitchen, dried her wet shawl by the fire, brought a footstool so that she could warm her poor feet, and even made cup of hot fragrant coffee for her to drink.
 "Buttons?" said Lucy. "A penny a card. Well, I'll take two sizesr'
 "Pshawr' said Fanny, who had by this time brought her scented crimps in to the room. You can get any amount of buttons at Lvnn's store for less. She's cheating you, Lucy"
 'ButnOt such buttons as these, young lady" said old Miss Peck, getting up from her chair to curtsy. ''These but tons are fine-fnished, and warranted not to cut the threadr'
 Lizzy who was leaning against the vx-inHs,uy ar,inx-i,or tho old centricities, next attracted Miss Peck attention.n
 And couldn't sell you anything, my bonny beauty?' said she in coax ing tone. Ribbons the color of your eyes? Or bottle of rose-oil to bring out the burnish of your hair?'
 '.No," said Lizzy pettishly, T don't want any of your wares Don't tease SO for goodness sake.
 i've got some life pills here." said the old woman, lowering her voice to $ mysterious whisper. ''While you take lem regularly, you'll never die! There, catnip in 'em, my deary, and witch hazel, and herbs and roots as nobody knows of but me! They'll keep the roses in your cheeks and the spring in your H0tIS, Lll luc-pll WIilJ II OnLJ NOu II give 'em a fair trialr'
 "Why don't you try them yourselfP'' said Lizzy saucily. ''There isn't ni;::ol roses or spring about you"
 Il found out the spell deal too late in life, deary," said Miss Peck, hunt ing among the treasures of her basket "Only shilling box, dear-and fifty in box''
 II declare, Lucy, it's too bad" sait Fanny Meade angrily, ito let thi steaming, muddy old creature into thu clean kitchen, and then let her tormen people so as to buy her trash! Why, Mis- Peck's Life Pills are the laughing stocl of the neighborhood."
 The old woman caught her tatteret cotton umbrella in one hand and he basket of wares in the other. ''rll go," said she. Don't send fo the constable. Yes, yes, I'll go." And Lucy could hardly pursuade he | to remain long enough to receive tn compensation for the rolls of tape an cards of buttons which she had alread sold.
 ''There,'' said Lucy pityingly, as sh saw the half-emptied cup of coffee sti standing on the table, ''the poor thin; didn't even finish her coffee. Ho1 could you speak so sharply to her, Far ny?"
 "She's perfect nuisance" said Far ny. It's high time that some one taugl her her place. We can't have ou kitchen turned into refuge for all th tramps of the neighborhood."
 Lizzy and Fanny Meade retired earl that night. They always retired earl when it rained and there wassno chanC of any beaux to enliven the tedium the tagging hours. And Lucy. the fan fly Cinderella, was left to lock the door bar the shutters. and see to the gener safety of the house before she went her own apartment, which opened ol of the dining-room.
 Lucy was Mir. Meade's daughter by former wife-a quiet, pale-faced, sob little thing, as unlike Lizzy and Fam as grey moth is unlike two brillia purple butterflies. Lucy "didn't minC hardships; and Lizzy and Fanny ma' the house ring with their lamentatio if they so much as pricked their pret pink fingers.
 And so-for Mir. Meade was a siler stolid, elderly gentleman, who devot himself to the not particularly profitat businces of tho law an1 to0E pn OOfi