The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-12-02

Sally!" Fidelia answered. She shook
hands and looked at the other With a sort
of meek uneasiness. Hadn't you just as
soon step out here whilst you're eatin'
that cake" asked she timidly. "rve just
swept the entry"
mo; amt goin' to stop. out there an
inch" said the other, mumbling the cake
vigorously between her old jaws. II you
ain't the worst old maid, Fidelia! Amt
seen all the sister you've got in the world
to eat piece Of cake. Hard work to git
the cake, too"
1T don't make any difference" said
Fidelia. I'm real kind o. used up every
time sweep nowadays. that's all"
"Botter stop sweePin', then; there amt
half that's got your nerves all out of kilter
--sweepin' and scrubbin' from mornin' till
night, an wantin' folks to take of their
shoes before they come in, as II they was
goin' into heathen temple. Well, ! amt
Goin' to waste all my breath scoldin'
you now, Fidelia:"
.'Its bout tho same as ever" Fidelia.
following her sister into the parlor stopped
slyly to pick up some crumbs which had
fallen on the entry floor
Just as shaky, ain't youi Why, Fidelia
Almy, what in creation have you got this
room rugged up SO fur!h
ARigged up how"
'Why, every thing covered up this way.
What What. hev . you got this old sheet over the
1T was fadin' dreadfully."
''Fadin! Good land! II you 'ain't got
every chair sewed up in caliker, am the
pictures in old piller-cases, am Fidelia
Almy, il you amt got the solar lamp s-set-
tin in little bag!"
nished."
"Tarnished! AM every single thing on
the table-the chiner card-basket an Mrs.
Hemans's Poems pinned up in a white rag !
Good land! Well, I've always heard tell
that there was two kinds Of old maids-old
you're one OF the last sort. Why, what air
you cuttin' on SO fur!'
Fidelia gathered UP all her trembling
meekness and weakness into show of dig
nifty. Things are all fadin' an wearin'
out, an want to keep 'em decent as long
more. l 'ain't got no husband nor sons to
do fur me like you, an I've got to take
care Of things if hev any thing Au'-l'm
Her sister laughed. well, good land.
wasn't to. There amt no need of your gittin'
riled. But this room does look enough to
make . cat laugh. All them flowers on the
mautel, an all those white things. I de-
clare. Fidelia Almy. it does look jest as il
more about it. I'm goin' out to hsv a cup
Of tea. 1put the teapot on, an started the
fire."
Poor Fidelia had distressing day with
her visiting sister. All her prim household
arrangements were examined and COM
mented on. Not a closet nor bureau drawer
escaped inspection. When the guest de-
parted at length, the woman and the child
looked at each other with relief.
'Ain't you glad she's gone" asked Lily.
She had been pink with Indignation all day.
'Hush, child; you mustn't. She's my
sister, an I'm always glad to see her, II
she's little tiyin' sometimes"
'.She wanted you to take the covers OFF
an let the things git all spoiled before Mr..
Lennox comes didn't she"
''She don't know nothin' about that"
"Are you goin' to make another plum
cake tonight, Aunt Fidelia!"
'Idont know. guess we'd better sweep
first"
Tho two worked hard and late that night.
They swept every inch of floor which that
profane dusty foot had trod. The child
helped eagerly. She was Fidelia's con-
fidante, and she repaid her confidence with
the sweetest faith and sympathy. Nothing
could exceed her innocent trust in Fidelia's
pathetic story and pathetic hopes. This
sad human experience was her fairy tale
Lcnnox, who had left bis sweetheart for
Calitornia thirty years ago, and promised
falsely to write and return, was her fairy
prince. Her bright imagination pictured
b. m beautiful as god.
HE was about as handsome a young man
young Apollo lowered up before Lily's
credulous eyes. The lapse Of thirty years
affected the imagination OF neither; but
Lily used to look at her aunt refectively
some times.
Il wish you could have some medicine
30, lii I~ne
some Mr.. LsnnOx comes" she said once.
''I'm in hopes that medicine I'm takin'
will stop IL" said Fidelia. . think, mebbe,
it's little better now. Pm glad thought
to put that catniP in; it makes it good
deal moro quietin'."
On a narrow ledge OF shelf bshind FL.
dclia's kitchen sink stood always blue
quart bottle of medicine. She prepared it
herself from roots and herbs. She expert
mented and added new ingredients. and
swallowed it with touching faith that it
would cure her. Beside this bottle stood
another OF sage tea; that was for her hair.
sho used it, plentifully every day in the
hope that it would stop the gray hairs COM
ing, and bring back the fine color. Fidelia
used to have pretty golden hair.
Lily tsased her to make the sage tea
stronger. you've been usin' 1t dreadful
long time, Aunt Ndelia," she said, 'aE'
your hairs just as gray as twas before"
Takes quite q long time before you can
see any difference" said Fideiia.
Many a summer morning when the dew
was heavy, she and Lily used to steal out
early and baths their faces in it. Fidelia
said it would make people rosy and keep
1T works better on me than it docs on
you don't it," asked pink and white Lily,
innocently. once. The two were out in the
shining white field together. The morning
lit up Lily as 1t did the flowers. Her eysi
L. \ L. Ill in, thn, hop srol