South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-07-20
An Expensive Lesson.

4 one was u handsome, OverdreSScd wO.
man, with good dead Of false hair
trizzed and pulled and braided Oh the
top of her head, and q complexion / hal
bore remote witness TO the constan,
use of cosmetics. And Mr.. Piercy, al
his end of the table, was evidently i'll
at case, as he broke his eggs and nib
bled diligently at his roll.
But what was to de, my dear?
said he, after q brief silence which was
by no means peaceful.
Dor shriliy retorttd Mss. Percy
'Why, what do other people dor Arc
we to keep home for the INDECENT
poor? Or refuge for the widowed
and fatherless =
My dear, my DEAR pleaded Mr..
Piercy, who was small mau, with
thin hair end spectaclea, 'you may be
widow yourself, some day.
And if | am, l shall not 90 beg
Sing among my relatives, that you
may depend on said Mrs. Piercy.
and, after all, she isn't any relative
OF yours-only your brothers wife
Ia like TO know what earthly claim
she has upon you declare, the more
Think OF II t G more I am amazed at
the woman'5 presumption. Her very
name is aggravation, too. 'Plume
Percy indeed. I'll wager my new
acepin that she was secoud-rate &c.
;rcss when she married your brother.
No, Mr.. Piercy, it you think that l.
But here the torrent of the lady's
eioquence was cut short by the uncx-
pcctcd appearance Of the scere of the
very subject OF hc- objurgation-a
tall, pretty woman OF about four and
twenty, whose wavy, golden trosses
aud delicate!y fair complexion con.
trasted wildly with the deep mourn
ing weeds she wore.
a veil down to her feet mentally
CALCULATED Mrs. Abel Piercy. And u
six.inch bias band ,oi the very best
CORTLAND Grape onler gown. / won
der who's expected to pay for all
this?'
Abel riotcy, the kindest- hearted of
little mon, welcomed his brother s
widow with genuine hospitality; but
Matilda, his wife, looked askance at
her, with no friendly smile upon her
cCunteuarce.
OF course you Will consider This
your home,' said Mr.. Piercy, as hc
made haste to draw chair close to
Tie fire.
Until you are able to cult yourself
somewhere else crisply added his
Wits.
Tie widow said little; she only
looked, with large. wistful eyes, from
one TO the other. rs she SIT there, the
morning sundliihe turning her fair
locks to braided masses of geld, the
peGrIy deIicgcy of her skin arousing
| the Iivc!iest envy in Mrs. Abei's
heart.
Though Of course, it's only some
French balm, or Circasslan cream or
other, that | haven't heard Of said
she to herself.
Dat, after Mr. Piercy had buttoned
on his ovcrcoat and gloves, he came
back to the breakfast room, while his
~ife was putting up the children's
school lunches in the pantry.
j an: not much o. taller, Plume
said lie, in an odd, hesitatlng way !;
but you arc welcome, my dear-very
welcome Audi hope you viii try to
feel at home. Don't mind Matilda
inst at first. Shes a little peculiar.
Matilda ia, but J 90 assure you she
'Mr Percy! uttered II sharp, warn
ing voice, at this instant, from tire
threshold, SIS it possible that you hav-
en't started YETI And you know
how particular Bulge and BodIey are
as TO your getting to the store at nine
precisely
mir Piercy turned pink all over
Yes, my dear-yes,' said he, I'm
quito sure to be in timer
And off he started on gefdfc trot.
When he was gone, Iume took off
her bonnet and veil removed her man.
tie and gloves, and w.nt into the
Kitchen.
Cannot / do something to help you,
Sister Matilda?' said she, pieadingIy.
Mrs hbel Piercy looked, with cold
blue eyes and lips primly compressed,
az the fair face, which was Younger
ard lresher than ever without the let
'black oirc;et of the bonnet, and the
slight, graceful figure before her.
mo, thank you said she. Il am
not used TO have fine ladies III ny
Kitchen
But if you will lend mo en- n.
prom
No, | thank you, Mrs. Oswald
Piercyy repeated tie housewife. You
will find the newspaper in the hall.
Perhaps the advertising columns may
interest You
We arc sisters said the young VII
dow, with Puivering lip. viii you
not call me Pmme?'
'Oh, no, we're no relations at ali. in
reality oaid Mrs Abel oiercy, weigh
ing oGt ounces OF sugar and pounds
OF flour with dn unerring band 'And
really, your name is such very De.
culiar one. Jane, or Martha, or Eli
Nv, would have been more TO my taste