Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-10-22
q cannot help i, : said. Janie.

would not stay there
: But what do you expect to do will
her now?p sharply interrogated Mrs
Montague.
Il don't knowp sighed jamie.
"You can't keep her2n n.
Il must. if no one else will"
That is absurd nonsensoio said Mrs
Montague. She is no relation Of yoursl'
"No," said jamie 'sonly an ole
neighbor."
Mrs. Montague shrugged her should
ers.
81 have done all that can do" sale
she.
And SO she departed, shaking the dusi
Of the old mill off her Paris-boote5
feet.
The old mill was all that belonged Il
jamie Sewer. Long since the wonderful
power of steam had taken all the custom
away from the old wheel, whichwas now
mouldering away in the ceaseless rush Of
the water.
Most Of the building had fallen to de,
cay, as buildings do when the tenants
cannot afford necessary repairs.
But there were still two or three habi-
table rooms in the south wing, and there
jamie lived, with the rest of the house
shut up, and abandoned to the tender
mercies of blue mold and rats.
''Queer she don't live with her broth
er's wifem said the neighbors. ssBut
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 oration was yet ring
ing in her ears.
"Pve left off being astonished at any
thing now, jamie SEWER" said she. ga
college-educated girl like you, to go and
shut yourself up in an old owls nest, with
a half-crazy creature like Mrs. Ball!n
'sYou won't have us here9n said jamie,
half smiling.
''Of course I won'ti" said Mrs. Mark.
'There are mouths enough to feed with
out you, let alone Mrs. Ball, who is
nothing to nobody"
"But some one must take care of
her2"
"There was 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 will 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. He
~An't N :, ~~-> .AlA nf himself. much less Of
you.
'I don't expect him to come back, !"
said jamie, calmly. 81 would not marry
him if he did. A man who leaves his
old grandmother to the cold charity Of
strangers, is scarcely the man who would
make good husband. Because l was
engaged to him once, it doesn't follow
that care for him now. I don'tl But
old Mrs. Ball is helpless and alone, and
am not going to desert her, y
Every well" said Mrs. Mark, edo as
you please. But, mind you, don't expect
any help from Mark"
So Mrs. Ball sat before the wood-fre
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
to be done, as she watched the dancing
blaze.
eff the house wasn't all tumbling
down, I'd take boarders," said jamie.
sSince the silk mills have opened, there
are plenty of women and girls who would
be thankful for good home. Or, the
Grove seminary isn't far from here-I
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 tap at the door.
1t was one OF the seminary girls, her
blue eyes sparkling from beneath the
border of her scarlet hood.
"Oh, if you please, Miss Sewer, don't
be vexed, I" said Aurora Atkins. "But if
you'd sell me one of those lovely mince-
pies, and bottle Of your homemade
root-beer, should be 50 glad. Lucy
Smith had piece of pie here yesterday,
and she says it was too utterly delicious
for anythingi Please, Miss sevierl''
Janie's frat impulse was to give the
little mince- pie to the plump school girl,
but she remembered that it was the last
in the larder, and that their slender stock
of money was nearly gone.
Il don't know how much tits worth, =
said she.
Owe give quarter fer them at the
bakery. said Aurora. Miserable dried
up, tasteless things, tool A quarter for
mince, and fifteen cents for the squash
and apple-pies. And fifteen cents for
lemon soda and ginger pop.
Il should like to make you present
Of it" said jamie, coloring little;
''but-''
'sOh we don't want you to give it to
us!" said Aurora. .sWe're not such
greedy monsters as that. We shall be
only too thankful if you will sell it I'd
MS, dear Miss Sevier!''