The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-09-18

up tne neeuleS, tne Wdrliltn VI VIC uho'
the comfort of the great chair, and the
calm that had fallen after storm, all
induced slumber.
In fact, Aunt Betsy had been fast
asleep for more than half an hour,
when she started wide awake, to see a
spectral form at the window, and to
hear spiritual rappings on the panes.
In an instant more the ghost had re-
solved itself into poor woman, whose
pale face was made CHASTITY by black
hood, and who, seeing the teapot and
Aunt Betsy's amiable face in conjunc-
tion, 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-
BILE words and a 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
fit, 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 Betsy?"
"Oh, Rebecca," said the good old la
dy, "a person has been here begging a
cup of tea. Her husbands dead, her
so, = IN Texas, and she's walking twen-
ty mics to try and find daughter
who married man named Smith, lif-
teen years ago.
"Oh, yes" said Mrs. Ruffit, who was
only sentimentally sympathetic with
herself. IL see-the old s'ory! And
you gave her all the small change you
had in your pocket, and she went away
to spend it at the next g!n-shop. You
are such soft-hearted goose, auntie.
1 only hope she didn't steal anything
Good gracious, Aunt Betsy! where
is my new dress?"
"You took it upstairs with you,
Becky" said Aunt Betsey.
Mrs. Rufit ran upstairs with more
celebrity than could have been expected
of fair, fat, and fve-and-forty, and
was heard to open sundry closet doors.
to rush about wildly. and to Shrek.
Then she reappeared in the sitting
room.
"It's 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.
81 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, I'm sure you took il
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. Ruf1it fell into the arm
chair, fortunately as strong as it wa:
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 thing ir
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 thu 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 bewailine
her loss and rocking to and fro.
"a dress that cost me ninety dollars
before it was made and twenty-five fol
The making" sighed Mrs. Rutfit. 81
can't afford another like it this win
ter, and Colonel Cowes was to be al
the Dumsdays'. and he admires me
very much, Aunt Betsy, and it's most
annoying. I'd calculated on it tive
weeks, and you must beg and pray q
tipsy tramp to come and take tea with
you on purpose to have my dress stol-
en-"
II didn't beg and pray her. She
asked me for little tea, and she
wasn't tipsy." sobbed Aunt Betsy
"Oh, Rebecca Rullit, how. cruel you
arev'
II suppose you expect me to dance
for joy" said Mrs. Ruffit. 81 must say
that's too much to expect; but l might
be not only robbed, but murdered, il
you could only give all the money you
liked to drunken tramps. That's your
monomania, Aunt Betsy, and l must
say it if you kill me-"
Then began woful quarrel, in
which all the reproaches that could be
uttered on either side found vent.
The ladies wept and sighed and be-