Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-10-07
IN a GARRET.

"uSu oau 4uhc MotSy utcdp nav
ing lived twenty years beyond his
allotted time. the neighbors were very
curious as to the existence of q will.
For if there were none "the girl"
would have to give up their home and
"do something for a living" The
little farm. which had yielded a COM
Portable living for three persons, when
sold aud its proceeds divided among
ten would give but pittance to each.
1t was generally conceded that sit
would come hard on the girls"
Squire Marcy was always a good
provider." said Mrs. Denison to her
husband. who hoped to administer"
the estate If no will was found. "Sabra
nor Cynthy, neither Of 'em have ever
been stintsd. They'll feel it dretfally
if they've got to give up their comfor-
table home and come down to earning
their own bread and cheese"
Il shall advise these girls to bring
in hill said Mr.. Dsnisnn "a hill for
their services. The probate cosrt will
allow it quicker'n lightning"
The girls won't bring in no bill"
said his wife; "Sabra told me that if
her father didn't set enough by them
to provide for them, she should not
make any claim on the estate"
That's just like 9 woman. said
Mr.. Denison, testify.
But no will. and 10 evidence that
the old gentleman had ever contem-
plated one, could be found. Mr.. Deni-
son received the coveted appointment,
and the settlement Of the estate by
law went forward.
Cynthia and Sabra were the children
of their fathers third wife. A delicate
creature she had been, who accepted
Squire Marcy's offer because. homeless
and friendless, the prospect Of home
tempted her. But her home was made
wretched by eight children. sons and
daughters of her predecessors, some Of
them nearly as old as herself. coarsely
organized. quarrelsome, but agreeing
upon one potato make life as intol.
cradle for their young step mother az
! possible. She could not bear up un.
der their petty prosecutions. In
few years she ives laid to rest with the
other wives. leaving her two little
girls to fight their way the best they
could. It had been hard life for the
children at FIRST. but one by one the
older ones haddrifssd away, and finally
the Westsra fever seized upon them
all. and they went. one after another
to make homes on the broad, fertile
praities. So for many years the sis.
ters had lived happy, peaceful lives in
the old homestead Of their father.
/ They were quiet, gentle women. in
heriting q poetic temperament from
their mother. They loved the old
house and the woods about it. They
knew where the earliest spring flowers
grew, and where to find the brightest
autumn leaves. They would not have
dared to let their nsighbors. who dis
approved openly Of their "traipsins
about all over the woods" know what
treasures OF pressed leaves they hat
carefully put away. Not for worlds
would Miss Cynthy have told of tn,
timid attempts at aower-painting sh,
sometimes made. 10 the solitude of bel
own room. They had not felt mucl
insympathy with their neighbors here
tofore. but now that real trouble haS
come upon them, every one was kind
and the sisters found they had many
warm friends where they least expect
ed to find them. They were middle
aged women now, well advanced il
their fifth decade. OF their half
brothers and sisters they knew bu
little, bat it was certain there woul,
be no mercy for them. They woul,