The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-04

separated from the Others and ready for
| her. She always smiled when she held it
| out They keep a-comin'," she said one
| day, IAN there don't seem to be no end to
| it, But il | was you Louisa, I'd try an git
him to settle over here, if you amt mar
| ried before long. There's slips, an it amt
| always safe trustin' to letters"
The girl told her lover what Fidelia had
said, with tender laughter and happy pity.
Poor thing" she said. "She had beau,
you know, Willy, and he went away thirty
years ago. and ever since then she's been
looking for a letter from him, and she's
| kind of cracked over it. And she's afraid
| it'll turn out the same way with me-"
Then she and her sweetheart laughed to-
gether at the idea of this sad foolish des-
tiny for this pretty, courageous young
| thing.
Today Fidelia, with her black broad
cloth bag, worked on one side with
wreath and on the other with bunch of
flowers, walked slowly to the office and
| back. AS the years went on she walked
slower. This double journey of hers
seemed to tire her more. Once in while
she would sit down and rest on the stone
wall. The clumps of dusty way-side
flowers, meadow-sweet and tansy stood
around her; over her head was the blue
sky. But she clutched her black letter.
bag, and nodded her dropping head, and
never looked up. Her sky was elsewhere.
When she came in sight of her own house,
Lily, who was watching at the gate, came
running to meet her.
30, Aunt Fidelia," said she, "Aunt
Sally's in there.'
did she take off her shoes an let you
brush 'em before she went in!"
''She wouldn't She went right straight
in. She jest laughed when asked her to
take her shoes off. AM, Aunt Fidelia, she's
done somethin' else. couldn't help it."
''What!n
''She's been eatin' some of Mr.. Lennox's
plum cake up. [ couldn't stop her, Aunt
Fidelia. | told her she mustn't"
You didn't say nothin' bout Mr.. Len
nox, did you!"
''No, didn't Aunt Fidelia. o, did you
No; didn't much think would to-day.
o dear! there's Sally eatin' cake right in
the front entry"
A stout old woman, with piece of cake
in her hand, stood in the front door as
Fidelia and Lily came up between the
dahlias.
How dye do, Fidelia, p" cried she warmly.
''Pretty well, thank you. How do you do,
Sa3lyn 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 I've just
swept the entry
mo; amt goin' to step out there an
inch" said the other mumbling the cake
vigorously between her old jaws. If you
amt the worst old maid, Fideliai Amt
seen all the sister you've got in the world
for year, an wantin' her to go out doors
to eat piece of cake. Hard work to git
the cake too'
1T don't make any difference" said
Fidelia. Pm real kind o. used up every
time sweep nowadays, that's ALL"
Better stop sweepin', then; there amt
no need of so much fussin'. It's more'n
a a oil OUT e
-sweepin' and scrubbin' from mornin' till
night, an wantin' folks to take off the0
shoes before they come in, as if they was
goin into heather temple. WE'LL 1 amt
goin' to waste all my breath scoldin'
when I've come over to see you. How air
you now, Fidelialn
tits bout the 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, amt you? Why, Fidelia
Almy, what in creation have you got this
room rugged up SO fur!'
Rugged up how!"
"Why, every thing covered up this way.
What hev you got this old sheet over the
carpet furl"
1T was fadin' dreadfully."
"Fadin! Good land! If you 'ain't got
every chair sewed up in caliker, an the
pictures in old piller-cases, am Fidelia
Almy, if you 'ain't got the solar lamp Asset
tin in a little bagr'
''The gilt was gittin' real kind o. tar
nished."
'Tarnished AM every single thing on
the table-the chiner card-basket an Mrs.
Hemans's Poems pinned up in white rag!
Good land Well, I've always heard tell
that there was two kinds of old maids-old
maids an consumed old maids-an' guess
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 a show of dig
nifty. Things are all fadin' an wearin'
out, an | want to keep 'em decent as long
as last | amt got no money to buy any
more. 'ain't got no husband nor sons TO
do fur me. like you, an I've got to take
care OF things it | hev any thing. An'-I'm
goin to-"
Her sister laughed. ''Well, good land 1
don't care Cover up your things if you
want to. There amt no need of your gittin'
ri!ed. But this room does look enough to
make a cat laugh. All them flowers on the
mantel, an all those white things l de-
clare, Fidelia Amy, it does look jest as if
twas laid out. Well. we won't talk no
more about it. I'm goin' out to hev a cup
of tea. Iput the teapot on, an started the
fire."
Poor Fidelia had distressing day with
her visiting sister. Ali her prin household
arrangements were examined and COM
mented on. Not closet nor bureau drawer
escaped inspection. When the guest de-
parted at length, the woman and the child
looked at each othor with relief.
"Ain't you glad she's cones" 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, if
she's little tryin' sometimes"
'She wanted you to take the covers off
an let the things git all spoiled before Mr..
Lennox comes, didn't sheP'
"She don't know nothin' about that"
"Are you goin' to make another plum
cake tonight. Aunt Fidelia2"
Il don't know. guess we'd better sweep
first"
The 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 trustin FIdelia's
pathetic story and pathetic hopes. This
sad human experience was her fairy tale
of childhood. That recreant lover. Ansel
Lennox, who had left his sweetheart for
California til rty years ago and promised
falsely to write and return, wac her fairy
prince. Her bright Imagination pictured
him beautiful as god.
"He was about as handsome n young man
as you ever see" said poor Fidela. Aud a
young Apollo towered up before Lily's
credulous eyes. The lapse of thirty years
affected the imagination of neither; but
Lily used to look at her aunt rehectively
some times