The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-10-12
"~" BLOOMSBURY, PA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER u. 1883.

hour WIN an unerrlnB nanu. "And
really, your name is such a peculiar
one. Jane, or Martha, or Eliza, would
have been more to my taste. Perhaps,
however" with keen, sidelong glance,
"you have been on the stage2' y
NO. said Plume. 81 was teacher
when Oswald married me- But what
did you mean about the advertising
columns Of the papers y
"Situations, you know" said Mrs.
Piercy, reaching over to the raisen box.
bridget, you have been at these raisins,
as true as / live! There's half of em
gone since was here last"
"No, mum, haven't" sharply res
ponded Bridget, who was used to these
kitchen skirmishes. "Sure l never lived
in house before where they counted
the raisins and the Jumps o coal, and if
| don't suit, mum, it's months warn
ing from to-day, if yes plaze."
"Situations !" repeated Plume, half
afraid of Bridget's warlike demtanor,
half puzzled at her sister-in-law's
words
"Yes,' said Mrs. Abel, tartly paying
no attention to Bridget and her skillet
--"in a glove factory, you know, or
fancy store, or even as nursery COVER
ness or attendant to some elderly in-
valid For, of course, you know with
another of those oblique looks that
made poor Plume feel so uncomfortable,
"you expect to work for your living.
We are not rich enough to support all
our relations. Abers salary was reduc-
ed last year, and no one knows how
strictly / have to economize in order to
make both ends meet. And a strong
young woman like you ought to be
ashamed to sit down on sickly man
with family, like my husband, be-
cause"
"Stop-oh, stop!" said Plume, lifting
up her hands, as if TO ward off some
invisible terror "He said / was well
come. He told me"
"That's just like AbelH said Mrs.
Piercy, scornfully. "He'd take in all
creation if he could. He never stops
to think whether he can afford it or
not"
81 am sorry that l int, ude, said
Plume, with dignity. at shall not be
for long will look at the newspaper
at once"
"Yes, that's a deal the best plan, as.
sented Mrs Piercy, ungraciously. "Of
course, you won't mention our little chat
to Abel. He might be vexed; and,
after ALL I'm only speaking for your
good"
Plume looked at her with an express
sion of face which somehow made Mrs.
Abel Percy feel as if she were shrink
aing up like withered walnut in its
shell.
"Yes, l know said she "But you
need not be afraid; l am no tale bearer,
to make mischief in any ones family"
Mrs Piercy felt very uncomfortable
after this little conversation was ended.
"How she did look at mel" thought
she. "But l only spoke the truth, after
all. We can't be burdened with her
support, let Abel talk as he pleases.
And no matter what she says, l believe
she has been an actress! No one but
an actress could ever put on such royal
ways as that y
| Half an hour afterward, when the
bell rang and some one inquired for
Ms. Oswald Piercy, Mrs Abel nodded
her head to the cake she was taking
out of the oven.
Company already" said she, "and
1 lap1o / liun Wnll
if this is the way she intends to 60 on
the sooner she suits herself with {
situation the better"
| Mrs Piercy had been secretly anx
ious for an opportunity of quarrelinG
with her sister-in-law. Here it was a
last, and when the old gentleman will
the glossy broadcloth suit was gone
she bounced into the parlor with a re,
lspot on either cheekbone like signal
| of war.
$50 you have been receiving com
pany, Mrs Oswald 2" said she.
"Yes," Plume innocently answered
| 'Gentleman company, tool! erie,
Mrs. Piercy.
"It was Mr.. Van Orden, my hus
bands lawyer" explained Plume.
ooh, dare say!" said Mrs. Piercy
"All that sounds very well but l hav
the character of my house to look tc
and
'He is coming back with carriage,
hurriedly spoke Plume. 81 am to go t
his wife's house at once. Mrs. Va
Orden is willing to give me the shelte
which my own husbands relative
grudge me p
81 wish her Joy of her bargain, / al
sure," said Mrs. Abel Piercy, with
toss of the mountains of false hair tn;
crowned her head.
Il And 80 the two women parted, in n
spirit of amity.
81 dare say she'll go straight to II
store" thought Mrs Abel, "and inver
a pitiful story for my husbands benefi
And Abel will make a great fuss-Ab'
was always soft about his relatives
but shant mind it. ! always hay
), been mistress in my own house, and
always intend to be, Oswald's wido
! or no Oswalds widow
Nevertheless, she could not hel
> feeling a little apprehension when h,
husband came into tea. For whe
Z Abel really was angry, his anger sign
fed something. But to her surprise |
entered all smiles, and rubbing h
: palms gleefully.
$50 Plume has gone," said he.
8 "Yes," said Mrs Piercy, pretendir
!. to be busy with knot in the secor
child's shoe. "She has gone. But ho
did you know it?'
n "Van Orden stopped at the store
tell me, answered Mr.. Pierc
I "Suange, wasn't it? And quite !
ff mantle, too"
,r "What on earth is the man talkil
le about2' said Mrs. Piercy, aroused
last into something like active intere
u "Why, didn't Plume tell you7
> seems that those last investments I'll
IA poor Oswald fancied he had beggar
4 himself with have turned up trur
ii cards after all. And Van Orden te
:, mo that Osuala's uy;dou, Ia ,ro,