Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-04-23

tHeV counted the fdlSlus duu Tue luiI p
of coal. and If | can't suit mum, its Il
months warning from today, if yes
plaze."
"Situations. repeated Plume, half
afraid of Budgets warllke demeanor,
half puzzled at her sisterinIaw's $
words.
~ lcs,' said Mrs. Abel tartly, paying
no attention to Bridget and her skillet
Tin glove factory, you know, or a
fancy store, or even as nursery gov
erness or attendant to some elderly in
valid. For, of course you know" with
another of those oblique looks that
made Plume feel so uncomfortable,
'you expect to work for your living.
We are not rich enough to support all
our relations. Abel's salary was re
duced last year, and no one knows
how strictly | have to economic to
make both ends meet. And strong
woman like you ought not to sit down
on a slckly man with a family, like
my husband, because
stop. oh. stop said Plume, lift
ing her hand "a. if TO ward off some
invisible terror. lie said was vel,
come. He told me"
That's just like Abel" sid Mrs.
Percy, scornfully. He'd take in all
creation If he could. IL never stops
10 think whe her he can afford it or
not"
Il am sorry that | intrude, said
Plume with dignity. 1T shall not be
for long. viii look at the newspa-
per III once.
"les, that's deal the bsst plan"
assenied Mrs Percy II graciousIy.
'ol course yol won't mention our lit
tie chat to Abel lie might be vexed
aud after all, I'm only speaking for
your good
Plume looked up to her with al
OF face which somehow
made Mrs. Abel Percy feel AS if she
was shrinking up like wlthere1 wal.
nut tn lis shell.
Yes. | know. sad she. But you
need not bc afraid am no tale bear
e 10 make mischief In anyones fam,
ily."
Mrs. Percy felt very uncomfortable
after tins l.t,le conversation ~as end
ed.
How she did look at me- thought
she. But | only spoke the truth. #
ter all We can't be burlened with
her support let Abel talk as he Pleases,
and 10 matirg what she SAYS. | be.
believe she has been an actress no
oue but an actress could have put on
such reval airs ns she did.
Half an hour afterward. when the
bell rs"c, and some one inquired for
Mrs. osaaid Percy, Mrs. Abel nod
del her head Ia the cake she vas TAX
ing out Of the oven.
COMPANY already" laid she; ''and
gentlemen company too. rs | live
Well. If this IS tho waY she intends To
% on, the sooner she SUITS herself
with situation the better,
Mrs. Percy had been secretly anx
ious fsr an opportunity Of quatreillng
with her s}srer-iu Law here it was al
Iast ,aud when the old gentleman with
the glossy broadcloth suit was gone,
she bounced into the parlor with q
spat on either check bone like signals
Of war.
80 vou have been receiving com
panv. Mrs. Oswald = said she.
Yes, Plume lnuocently answered
"GentlemAn company, too cried
Mrs Percy.
1T was Mr. Van ordrn. my hus
bands lawyer" explained Plume.
"oh. dare sly" said Nrs. Percy,
''.All that sounds very we'll but have
the character of my house to maintain,
and"
"He is coming back with carriage,
hurriediy spoke Plume. Il am TO gp
10 his house at once Mrs. Van orden
IS willing 10 give me the shelter hlch
my own relatives grudge me-
Il wish her joy Of her bargain, ! az,
sure" said Mrs. Abel Piercy, with a
toss of the mountains Of false hair
that crowned her head.
And so the two women parted, IN
no spirit Of amity.
II dare say she'll 90 str'ight to the
store" thought Mrs. Abel, aud inven,
a pitiful story fer my husbands oene
fit. And Abel will make great fuss
Abel was always soft about his rela
tives-but | shan't mind it. always
have been mistress in my own house,
and | always will be, Oswald's widow
or no Oswald's widow.
Nevertheless, she could not help
feeling apprehensive when her hus
band came in to tel. For wien Ahel
really was angry, his anger signitied
But to her surprise, he
entered all smiles, and rubbing his
palms gleefully.
$50 Plume has gone?" Said he.
"Ies,' said Mrs. Piercy, pretending
to be tusv with knot in the second
child's shoe. "She has gone, but Low
did YOU know it:'
"N.n Ordcn stop ed at the st"re to
tell me" answered Mr. PItrcy.
Strange wasn't 1t: and quite romln,
tic, too"
Nv What Oh earth is the man talking
about" SAID Mrs. Abel Piercy, arous
d at last into something like active
interest.
why, didn't Plume tell You: 1t
seems that those last investments that
poor Oswald fancied he had beggarel
himself with, have turned up trump
cards after all. And Van Orden tells
me that Oswald's widow is worth
Sl50,000.'
Mrs. Abel Piercy turned FIRST green.
then crimson. Alas for the fatal
blunder she had committed. Alas for
the ruined chances of her three little
girls to inherit their Aunt's money,
She made some trivial excuse about a
forgotten pocket handkerchief, ana