Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-01-23
REBECCA'S PLAN.


81 wouldn't mind losing the money, .
said gentle Mrs. Orme, IF it wasn't for
Clara's music. !" And she wiped tear
or two from the eyes that were still blue
and bright.
wei. would. then, !" said Rebecca,
who stood in the middle OF the kitchen
floor, brandishing her china towel as if
it was an aggressive weapon of warfare.
Nobody wants TO see their little savings
made ducks and drakes of. If you had
took my advice, Mrs. Orme, you never
would have give it TO your city cousin
to invest, but KEEP it in the county bank,
whers it Is safe and sound, even if il
didn't draw sucha high interest. But
you always was foolish about money. .
At this Clara Urme fired up, as q dove
might resent the attack Of some warlike
hawk on the maternal nest.
s.Rebecca, said she, 'sbe silenti You
shall not speak so to mamma"
Wei. isn't it the truths" said Re-
becca.
Mamma, don't mind her, " pleaded
Clara, putting both arms around the
gentle widows neck, and laying her vel
vet cheek against the flushed forehead.
LET the music 60. After oil, what does
little money signify2"
''Child, you speak like baby said
Mrs. Ormc. Money means q great deal
more than you think
But nevertheless she was instinctively
comforted by the magnetic touch of her
child's cheek, tho coaxing sweetness of
her voice. And although Rebecca, the
"hired help, still stood there scOlding,
the sting had all gone out of her reproofs.
Rebecca had lived with them since Clara
was baby. It was her way to scold.
And in spite of the sweet sophistry of
Clara's excuses Mrs. Orme admitted to
herself that Rebecca was more than half
right. She never should have given
that thousand dollars to her cousin, the
city broker, to invest in South Central
Pacific when South Central Pacific was
running up to such dazzling figure that
everybody hastened to share its splendors.
what goes up must come down, her
old uncle Lemuel had always said, and
she should have known that South Cen
trail Pacific wasn't sound" But there
was no use crying for spilled milk. The
money was gone in the South Central
Pacific collapse, and all the city cousins
regrets couldn't bring it back And
after all they didn't mind a little economy,
if only it wasn't for Clara's musical edu-
cation; the lessons from Madam Queschi
would have to be stopped now, and how
could Clara ever expect to be great
pianist if
But Just then the kitchen door swung
open, and little Bell came in, carrying
her apron full of wild grapes, with a
glory Of late sunshine aroun,7 her, and a
fringe of blue asters stuck like deep
amethyst plumes in the shabby ribbon Of
her old straw hat.
ssOh, mother, mother she cried,
breathlessly, sssee what have got And
there is city lady down at old Mrs.
Nickelsa's buying all those funny wooden
chairs that Peleg was just going to split
up into kindling wood, and the broken
clock too, and the spinning wheel up
garrett
Mrs. Orme and Rebecca looked at each
other with . sudden Frightening Of their
eyes
"Old furniture, eh!n said Rebecca.
"And you was a-talkin' Of sellin' yourn
ct auction, to 60 up TO town, and be
near the woman that gives lessons to our
Clara. It amt noways likely they'd
fetch much at vendoo sale. Amt this
good chance for you. Mrs. Orme9''
Yes, suppose 50, said the meek
widow, with q doubtful fiutfer ut her
heart ssPut on yonr hat, Rebe0ca, and
90 down to Mrs. NiekeIsa's and see what
son can do.
.Mamman cried Clara, surely you
never will sell the old chairs and bed
steaaslp
MY dear, something must BE done. =
said Ms. Orme, with varying color ii
her soft face. sc viii cost me panu
t3 part with tie old things. but. after
all, j deserve % be punished FOL nv folly
il that South Central paciic business.
and you know We conldn4 do anything
With snch los az old furniture Ia q CITY
Gak. Hush Don't make me coward
when need most to be brave
But - she sat there in TIC Low cailed
bsooding old kitchen. with TIE yellow
Ssrtsmber glow around her tie yine