The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-05-22
a FILE.

1t was two days after Aunt Priscilla 5
funeral. and Sue and | were sitting to-
gether by the kitchen fire, with that hush
still over our spirits which follows a death
and burial. All the afternoon we had
been busy in getting the house to rights.
not meddling yet with the things which
had been hers, and were now ours, but by
dint Of open windows, sunshine, and fur
niture busted and rearranged trying to re-
store to the rooms that familiar look which
they had lost during these weeks Of anxiety
and trouble. \ few days more and we
must face a future which was full of ter
rors. Meanwhile custom as well as incli-
nation accorded a brief respite in which to
think of her who was gone, and of each
other, with the clinging fondness of those
whose lives, never before parted, were about
to separate.
Sue sat on a low stool, her head against
the chimney jamb. 1t was the chimney of
Aunt Priscilla's youth: She never would
alter it-one of the wide, old fashioned
kind, with pot-hooks and blazing logs, and
bake oven at one side. The soot-blacken-
ed bricks and faint red glow made a back
ground for my sisters head, with its great
twist of fair hair and lily-like slender
throat. Sue is very pretty, prettier than
anybody | ever saw. | recalled a picture
as | looked at her--a picture of Cinderella
sitting in just such an attitude by the
chimney side. She was equally picturesque
at that moment; as far as looks &C, equally
worthy of a prince: but, alas. no fairy
god-mother was likely to emerge from the
apple room for her benefit. Aunt Pris,
who in a small way had enacted that part
chair, which we had no heart to sit in,
swung empty in its accustomed place, type
of a like emptiness which we were con-
scious of in other things, and would feel
for a long time to come.
Neither of us spoke for a while. We
were tired and spiritless, and John Slade
was coming presently to talk over things,
SO we saved our words.
IT.. Sldue JOnn Was sue ) lover.
Their poor little engagement had been
formed two years ago. How many years
it was likely to last nobody could guess,
bnt they held on to it bravely. and were
content to wait. Pretty soon. as we sat
waiting, his step sounded without OH the
gravel, and with a little tap-courteous,
but unnecessary, for the door was never
locked-he entered, gave Sue a gentle kiss,
me another; and sat down between us in
aunty's rocking chair. 1t was a comfort
to rave him do that. The house seemed
less forlorn at once.
well. children, how has the day gomez"
he asked.
Pretty well" replied Sue. 1--WE have
been busy, and are tired tonight, | think.
I am glad you are come. John, dear. We
are getting lonely and dismal, Cree and
l."
Lucretia is my name, but Sue and Aunt
Priscilla always called me Gree"
John adjusted a stick on the embers,
and with one daring poke sent a tongue of
bright flame upward before he answered.
Then he took Sues hand in his broad
palm, and patting it gently, said:
Now, let's talk over matters. We
ought to decide what we are to do, VIC
three.
The .'three' was very comforting to me-,
but John always is a comfort. He was
made so, Aunt Pris said. And he GER
tainly carries out the purpose Of his crea-
ton.
'.Did your aunt leave any will?" he went
on.
"Only this" and | brought from be-
tween the leaves of the big Bible where
we had found it, a half sheet of note paper.
on which dear .Aunty had stated, in her
simple form. tina she left all she had TO be
divided between her two %nieces, Susan
and Lucretia Pcndexter. Squire Pack
ards name and Sarah Brackett's, our old
washerwoman. were written below as wit
ncsSes.
Very we'll" said John. That's good
in law. | fancy. or. if not, you are the
nearest relatives, and it's yours anyway.
What property did your aunt own beside
this house,
She had an annuity of $3.50 a year, and
$50 more from some turnpike. That's all,
except the house and furniture. and there
is a mortgage of 5000 on that. Squire
Packard holds it. The annuity stops now
doesn't it,
John looked as though he wanted to
whistle. but refrained.
"Your aunt was Il clever manager. he
said-''a capital manager. she made a very
little 90 a great way, didn't she? | don't
know any one else who could live on $500
q year with mortgage interest taken out.
You have always seemed cosy and comfor-
table.
We always nave been. But we had
the garden, you know, and the ow; that
gave us two-tlirds our living. .Aunty
was a wonderful ~housekeeper, though.
Isn't it a great deal cheaper to feed wo-
men thar men? She always said so.
II suppose it is. Men are carniverous.
A diet of tea and vegetables don't suit
them very well; they are apt to grumble
for something more solid. Well, my dear
oirls our summing UP isn't very satisfac-