Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-09-26

/ NoiAi thdO Hdu Idlien dIter a storm, ~
induced slumber.
In fact. Aunt Betsy had been fas
asleep for more than half an hour
when she started wide awake, to see
spectral form at the window, and t
hear spiritual rappings on the panes
In an instant more the ghost had re-
solved itself into a poor woman, whose
pale face was made CHASTITY by black
hood, and who, seeing the teapot and
Aunt Betsy's amiatle face in coniunc
ton, had bethought her to ask for a
cup of tea.
Aunt Betsy was kindness itself. She
opened the door to the woman and
made her sit near the stove and COM
forted her not only with tea and bread
and butter, but with raspberry jam,
and finally went to the door again to
speed the parting guest with amia-
Die words and silver coin.
"Ah, poor thing" she said to herself
as she went into the cozy sitting room
again, How hard it is for her"
Hard for whom ?" asked Mrs. Ruff
ilt' who had returned to the sitting
room well wrapped up in the big
dressing gown, which somehow seemed
more voluminous than ever. whats
hard for whom, Aunt BetsyP"
"Oh, Rebecca," said the good old la
dy "a person has been here begging a
cup of tea. Her husbands dead, her
So n Texas, and she's walking twen-
ty mics to try and find a daughter
who married man named Smith, fif.
teen years ago.
"Oh, yes, said Mrs. Ruffit, who was
only sentimentally sympathetic with
herself Il see-the old s'oryl and
you gave her all the small change you
had in your pocket, and she went away
to spend it at the next gin-shop. You
are such a soft-hearted goose. auntie
only hope she didn't steal anything
food gracious, Aunt Betsy where
is my new dress ?"
"You took it upstairs with you,
Becky" said Aunt Betsey.
Mrs. Ruffit ran upstairs with more
celebrity than could have been expected
of fair, fat, and five-and-forty, and
was heard to open sundry closet doors,
to rush about wildly, and to shrek.
then she raanneared in the sistAsas s.
Its not up therer' she shrieked, !
wringing her hands. "Oh, Aunt Bet
sy, tell me you've put it somewhere |
Don't say it's gone.
Il don't see how it can be gone"
cried Aunt Betsy, flying wildly up and |
down, shaking the curtains, looking
behind the sofa; even opening the six
inch drawer of little workable
"Oh, Rebecca, Pm sure you took it
with you! I'll find it. Didn't you put
it in the parlor?"
Away the ladies flew, with queer lit
tie squeals and means.
Every spot in the house was ran
sacked, even the coal cellar; but the
dress was not found.
At last Mrs. Ruffit fell into the arm
chair, fortunately as strong as it was
capacious, and sobbed:
This is what has come of your alb
surd foolishness for drunken beggars,
Aunt Betsy. That woman has stolen
my dress"
"She couldn't-she hadn't a thing in
her hand" said poor Aunt Betsy.
Then conscience told her she had left |
the woman alone for five minutes
while she took out the jam.
1t was all discussed over and over
again, and the fact that in Miss Betsy's +
absence the woman had put the new
dress through the window and picked /
it up when she went out, was fully es-
tablished.
The police were notified, descrip,
tion of the woman and dress put into
their hands, and note of regret writ
ten to the Dumsdays.
Mrs Ruffit was persuaded to take
some tea and toast. and sat bewailing
her loss and rocking to and fro.
"a dress that cost me ninety dollars
before it was made and twenty-five for
he making" sighed Mrs Rufit. Il
can't afford another like it this win
ter, and Colonel Cowes was to be at
the Dumsdays'. and he admires me
very much, Aunt Betsy, and it's most
annoying. Id calculated on it two
weeks, and you must beg and pray
tipsy tramp to come and take tea with
you on purpose to have my dress stol-
en-"
q didn't beg and pray her. She
asked me for a little tea, and size
wasn't tipsy," sobbed Aunt Betsy
'Oh, Rebecca Ruflit. how cruel you
arer'
Il suppose you expect me to dance
sor joy,' said Mrs. Ruffit. 81 must say
hats too much to expect; but / might
De not only robbed, but murdered, If
1ou could only give all the money you
liked to drunken tramps. That's your
Aunt Betsy, and | must
'ay it if you kill me-"
Then began a woful quarrel IN
which all the reproaches that could De
Uttered on either side found vent.
The ladies wept and sighed and be-
noaned themselves.
They spoke of parting. They shook