The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-03-14

chow hard it is to be poor"
"My child" said the widow, with
quivering lip, edo you think that
have not learned that lesson long ago p
"Well, mother, it's too bad for mi
to add to your troubles by complaining,
confessed Bessy. "But it always seem
worse when Mrs. Fanting comes to Sc,
u.s."
"She means well, my DEAR" sale
Mrs. Jewett.
"Then l wish she'd mean ill.," sale
Bessy, tempestuously. "Just for /;
change, mother. What business ha
she to lecture you, I'd like to know,
about using white sugar in your tea
and wearing lace around your neck in.
stead of linen2 Why can't she say
pleasant things instead of unpleasant
ones7 declare, I could almost have
boxed her ears when she asked you how
much rent you paid, and expressed hel
opinion that you had no business tt
live in such house as this
sShe did not know that Mr.. Pa
dee gave us the use of the house for tax
ing care of it until it was sold," apollo
gized Mrs. Jewett.
"And I was sorry you told her,
said Bessy. "What business was it o.
hers, l should like to know
"My dear, my DEAR" soothed tht
gentle widow.
"Hush - said Bessy, lifting her fin
ger, "there she is now Twice in ont
day. 1 declare this is too overpower
ing !"
Mrs. Jewett and Bessy were sitting
together in the little back room. AL
though it was early twilight no lamp!
were yet lighted, feeble fire of care
fully husbanded Goals glimmered faint
ly in the CRATE, and shone upon the an
tique furniture which was all that re
NAMED to Mrs. Jewett of the ole
abundance. Into this nutshell of ;
room Mrs. Fanting rustled with strong
smell of patchouli and an overwhelming
amount of orange-colored feathers anc
sealskin furs.
"I hope don't intrude," said she.
eyes you do" whispered Bessy Sc
that only her mother can hear.
"Not at ALL" said Mrs. Jewett faint
ly.
"But it just occurred to me-" observ
ed Mrs. Fanting unbuttoning her seal
skin jacket and tanning herself vehe
mently, "that I should like that ole
family clock of yours"
Bessy glanced apprehensively at the
old brass faced clock whose carved toI
nearly touched the ceiling, and whose
monotonous "tick, tick" measured the
seconds like an unseen finger in the
dusk.
"Of course you would be glad of ;
chance to sell it," went on Mrs. FAINT
ing. elbow very warm you do keel
the room Can't you open window P
"You forgot" interposed Bessy
''that you are sitting with all you
wraps on and that mother has cold
No, we can't open window"
Mrs. Fanting cast a vicious look to
ward Bessy. She and that young per
son never did agree. There was Away
tacit antagonism between them. Sh'
turned brusquely to Mrs. Jewett.
"About the clock" she resumed
Chanting has taken a notion to hav,
an 'Old Clock on the Stairs There
landing half way up where it woulc
show beautifully from the hall. Ant
he says it must be a genuine old-fashion
ed one, too. What will you take fo1
that one2" pointing her finger to thu
brass faced clock.
Mrs. Jewett started almost as if sht
had been struck.
ell did not think of selling it,
said she. "It belonged to Grandpi
Jewett, and
"That's all nonsense" said Mrs
Fanting. "You can't expect to keel
all these old traps. Why, the yer!
storage of them would cost you to-
much. And, besides, Fanting want
the clock. He will give you twent,
dollars for it."
81 could not sell it for that" sai(
Mrs. Jewett. "Doctor Sibley woul(
have given me fifty for it before we lef
Oldvale. )"
"Then you were a fool for not selling
it to him." said Mrs. Fanting, with ;
coarseness that brought the angry Grim
son to Bessy's cheek. "You can't ex
pect to get any such price for it here
where people know the value of things
But, since you are relation, I dom
think Fanting would mind giving yo1
twenty five.'
81 cannot sacrifice it for any sucl
sum as that" said Mrs. Jewett, decid
edly.
''In that case you may keep it," sait
Mrs. Fanting, rising to her feet, ant
waving the fan back and forth NOR
energetically than ever. "There ar
plenty of old clocks to be had at By
ington's for reasonable prices. And
hope you may never live to repent you
obstinacy."
She rustled out of the room with
out further ceremony, leaving Mrs. Jew
ett and Bessy looking at each other.
81 am SO sorry" said Mrs. Jewett.
"Mother, why should you be sorry ?
cried Bessy. "For my part am rathe
glad that Mrs. Fanting has received
check. But isn't it strange, mother
Byington's is the very place where Dr.
Sibley advised us to send the old cloc
to be sold. Well speak to the express
man tomorrow. For we must hav
money, dear mother, and 1 would starv
sooner than ask help from Mrs. FAM
ing"
/ Mr.. Fred BYington himself. the so