The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-08-18
A FRIEND in NEED.

it excepting perhaps, its name.
The Dolitels 49, bachelor brother,
maiden sister and widowed mother
occupied the topmost suite of the apart
mcnts, and two contiguous rooms over
looking an empty and airy courtyard
were tcnanted respectively by pretty
salcslady and u pale young music
teacher. They had been neighbors for
a year or more and they had all become
quite ncighborly rogether.
"Only Maud Kaync is so much more
sociablc and obliging than the music
teacher is" the Dolitcls used to say
among themselves
"Rachcl Leonard may he just rs gen
orous and sympathetic, even ii she is SO
undcmonsirativc, Mr.. Kit DOlitcl was
inclined to maintain.
ooh, she amt sympathetic Il Bit
disscnicd the maiden sistcr-a diminu-
tive and colorlcss parsonage with some
what charactCrlcss features. "Whilc
mamma was 50 alarmingly i'll she never
came near us-though to be sure she
did send to inquire if she could be Of
service. But Maud-thc dear soul! was
in and out constantly, and always adj
NlSiHS SblntlhlhE w l'lll US
"Hcr advice was no sacrifice to her,
Bachelor Kit said. "And if ] were
alarmingly ill., fancy | should not
care to have anybody in and out con
stantly, chattoring and gossiping. P"
"And her chatter did sometimes
rather torture my poor weak head, -
said Mrs. Dolitel, who was still an in
valid land she advised nothing which
was really helpful. But she intended
everything kind-Maud would do any
thing in the world for friend. -
"She quite insisted should take that
lovely Zouavc jacket-it was II present
TO her, too; and to be sure do not need
il Il bit, said the somewhat rapid Miss
Dolitcl.
1T cost her nothing" the brother
commented, with an amused twinkle in
his fine, frank gray eyes. And she
cannot wear it hcrsclf-slly blue en-
broidercd in silver does not emincntly
become Il sallow brunette !"
"She is always insisting we shall
take some tritc from her said the
mother, ignoring the sarcastic com
mcnt; "and ! had much rather she
would not. But she can afford to make
.ho cSrtoirl,, oa,ns a GOOD dool moro
money than Rachel does"
"Teachinr music is not ALWAYS n
lucrative vacation" Kit observed
soberly.
"OE but Rachel does not care TO
make Gifts TO any onc-she is such a
misery LITTLE creature" said the sister,
"Shr actually bccrudrcs the kecpiuu of
her norrot Maud sovs -
"IJoud must hnyebepn iolinn.. " Mrs.
Dolitcl intcrposed. "Shr would NOT be
| likely to bcGrldrc the llcepinc of fl net
| like ibot-it * n wonderfully iDtellircnt
and rarely TAUGHT bird. and valuable
beside. One of her pupils would rive
her a handrcd dollars for IL any day. g"
and She would not PAR with il for
n hundred times that sum. She has
nothing else to love. she saws. She is
nm uncommonly silly girl. | think" the
NOT particularly brilliant Miss Dolital
said with little shrur of her diminu
tive shoulders.
and She has need cnouqh of money.
tool am persuaded of that. She has
worn nothing but shabby old cashmere!
ever since She has been in the house, .
Mrs DoIitpl soid. in Il suddenly altered
and foilinr tonc and sbc abruptly DION.
nod tLr noodlcworl, which for some
moments She hnd held in nm uncertain
oort of a way
You have been cXering yourself
too much, :" said XII. anyiously regard.
ing The changing countenanjc of hi,
fragile parent
"You are i'll again. mamma" the
DAUGHTER cried. os sbc hurried 70 tbg
sofn where the invalid 'reclinrd
now faint and rosninr. ms sDasm artei
srosm Of pain wrcnchcd her Weakened
frame
And III again she was indoed-so III
that for dave and days sh, Inv in /,
dnrlkcrcd room. to which tbt exceed
ingiy sociable and oblirinr Maud I[ayns
''o'' -. 80 - "