The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-28
Most of the building had fallen to de-

shut up, and abandoned to the tender
mercies of blue mold and rats.
"Quesr she don't live with her broth
er's wife" said the ncighbors. "But
those SEWERS were always queer; and
Mrs. Mark Sewer amt easy to get along
with"
AS poor jamie knew to her cost, Mrs.
Mark Sewers final grafton was yet ring
ing in her ears.
"Pve left off being astonished at any
thing now, jamie Sewer" said she. "a
college-educated girl like you, to go and
shut yourself up in an old OWLS nest, with
a half-crazy creature like Mrs. Ball"
"You won't have us here!" said jamie,
half smiling.
"Of course I won't!' said Mrs. Mark.
"There are mouths enough to feed with
out YOU, let alone Mr.. Ball, who is
nothing to nobody"
"But some one must take care OF
herr"
There was a good place found for her
in the 'Tabitha Home if she'd have
stayed there. But you've chosen to as
sumo the care of her; now let US see how
long it wi l last.
"And you needn't think" she added,
~viciously, 'that Stephen Ball is coming
back from Manitoba to reward you, like
the faithful lovers in story-books. lie
can't care take of himself, much less of
you."
II don't expect him to come back"
said jamie, calmly. II would not marry
him if he did. A man who leaves his
cd grandmother to the cold charity of
strangers, is scarcely the man who would
make a good husband. Because I was
engaged to him once, it doesn't follow
that l care fer him now. I don't! But
old Mrs. Bail is helpless and alone, and
lam not going to desert her"
Every WE'LL" said Mrs. Mark, edo as
you Please. But, mind you, don't expect
any help from Mark"
So Mrs. Ball sat before the wood-6re
in the old mill, and knitted and dozed.
Thank fortune, there was plenty of
wood in the pine thicket, and jamie was
strong and active to bring it in.
And jamie herself cogitated what was
t, be done, as she watched the dancing
blaze.
eff the house wasn't all tumbling
down, I'd take boardcrs," said jamie.
"Since the silk mills have opened, there
are plenty of women and girls who would
be thankful for a good home. Or, the
Grove seminary isn't far from here-1
could board the young ladies who find
the distance from the village too great.
But the roofing is out of repair, and"
Just then there came a tap at the door.
It was one OF the seminary girls, her
blue eyes sparkling from beneath the
border OF her scarlet hood.
ooh, if you please, Miss Sewer, don't
be vexed," said Aurora Atkins. "But if
you'd sell me one of those lovely mince-
pies, and a bottle of your homemade
root beer, I. should b. SO glad. Lucy
Smith had a piece of pie here yesterday,
and she says it was too utterly delicious
for anything! Please, Miss Sevier!"
JAMES first impulse was to give the
little mince pie to the plump schoolgirl,
but she remembered that it was the last
in the larder, and that their slender stock
of money was nearly gone.
IL dent know how much tits WORTH"
said she.
eve give a quarter fer them at the
bakery" said Aurora. miserable dried
up, tasteless things, too! A quarter for
mince, and fifteen cents for the squash
and apple-pies. And fifteen cents for
lemon-soda and ginger-pop.
81 should like to make you a present
of it," said jamie, coloring a little;
shut"
ooh we don't want you to give it to
us!" said Aurora. "We're not such
greedy monsters as that. We shall be
only too thankful if you will sell it to
US, dear Miss Sevier"
So jamie packed the plump, raisin-
pie into a box, with q bottle of
birch-beer beside it, and took the forty
cents, with a curious ms of embarrass-
ment.
"What a goose I amp she thought.
"Does the artist turn red all over when
be pockets the check for his pictures?
Docs the author feel ashamed when he
receives the payment for his story or
poem? The pie sis mine-the work of
nv own hand. Why should I hesitate to
sell it for what it is worth? This forty
cents will buy more than one thing which
we need, and l am thankful that l have
been able to earn it.
At dinner. time there was nothing but
the remains of yesterdays chicken pot
pie. Poultry was not an expensive lux
urv since jamie raised her own fowls.
"Ain't there no mince-pie?" said Mrs.
Ball, wistfully.
She was only a seventy.year.old child,
after all, and she missed her tidbit.
II have sold the pie, DEAR" said jamie.
II will make some more tomorrow. But
here is a little paper of rose-scented
snuff, and some more blue yarn for you
to knit"
And old Mrs. Ball forgot her troubles,
and chuckled over the snuff and the
yarn.
That afternoon Janet went out into
the fields, and gathered a great yellow
pumpkin and a store of juicy red apples.
And the next day she baked all name
Of pies, finishing them high and early
before the stream of school girls and
factory workers began to flow past.
And she put them in the front window,
labeled "For Sale."-
"Bless me-" said old Mrs. Ball, when
jamie led her down strirs in a clean cap
border and a neat calico gown, to begin
her days's work of knitting, "what be
you goin' to do"
'Im going to make money" said
jamie, %cheerfully.
1t was quite an artistic window. There