Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1889-09-07
FAMILY FORTUNES.

u don't understand this nj all, Z"
said Squire Seldcn. uI'vc rung my
bell three times. and no answer.
What does il meant Where is Har
ryf"
Miss Tabitha, his more than middle
aged sister. with her flaxen front very
much on one side. stood staring help
lessly at him from the doorway.
Just what Id like 10 know nay.
SELF" said she. I've hollered upstairs
and downstairs. aud out Of the garret
window into the bargain. and not n
trace Of her can find"
Two Ia one. she's gone brrying
again. commented the squire. ''in the
hot sun.
Against my expressed orders" :"
cmakcd Miss Tabiilm Il wonder
what's To become of her cotnplcxionf'
The squire rumpl.sl his hair what
there was left of it with both hands
''Tabitla." said he. lis il right, or
fitting, that our niece. the descendant
OF the Scybury Scl,lrnS. should fall SO
low as 10 pick berries for the market,
at four cents "a quart. 10 find spending
money for usi It's true that we are
very poor.
AS poor as Jobs turkey" said Miss
Tabby. with AN unconscious oriental
i'm Of Siniilc.
Pear aud proud alSo." spoke the
squire. And Nd. on the whole. I'm
glad | did il"
Did wlatf questioned his sister
Even without consulting you.
Goodness mel" cried Tabitha.
what Is the man talking abnut.
Il have lct Gri>ly Grange. said the
squire. ITO an artist for tile three sum
n,cr months. ut $50 IL month"
Miss TabitlIa uttered u shrek.
Let Grisly Grange" she repeated.
Bernard. what have you donci
have rented Grisly Grange. for a
term Of years. ,o Mrs. Thcophilus
Thatcher, for all Old Ladies' Home.
The papers came. all signed and sealed
in the last mail. and | was just going
10 tell you. You sec. there il was. do.
ing nobody any good. all falling TO
ruin. for neither you nor ! can stand
the lake air and
Woman. cried the squire. "you are
"a fool"
And you, us usual, arc rash and
inconsi,lcratc, sobbcd Tabitha. why
couldn't you have told met"
The squire strobe ang:ily to and fro.
Why couldn't you have told met"
hc counter questioned.
Miss Tabby bounced hysierically y
out Of tl:c room to find Harriet. her
niece.
The squire Hgain rang his bell for
Harriet
In this quaint household. Harry
was the one who srIOotied the angles
anu made the crokc,l places straight
Before the sunshine of her clear eyes,
the squie's stormy moods Gained
down. and Miss Tabitha's tribulations
grew small by degrees and beautifully
less
In II minute. however. the old lady
returned. pale as ashes.
"Bcrnard!" she stanimered. She
she has-eiopcd"
WHAT" Numbered the squire.
Miss 1abitha held up the folded
piece OF paper.
Il found il pinned Ia her cushion,
said she. What can il mean but aIl
elopcmentl"
Open il, why don't your" said the
squire. 'and STE.
"DgAaEw ArSr ASb usctE." rrad the mis-
Awe ~ intupr,,,Ni through Miss Tabtha's siscia
ei, Ilasncs 'ont IL. frightened and do p.as' for
give me Int cant rndurr s.~inR you W poor.
AMI am deicriniusi TO rcAcm the family for
tunes hy q scheme that must sucSv~d
your ever devoted liARRy."
The two elderly folks looked help
lessly at each other.
Il don't think its an clopcment,
said Miss Tabby.
Nothing of the sort" said the
squire. But what does she mean
Redeem the family fortunes, indeed
The child must he crazy"
I'm afraid" sobLrsl Miss Tabiiha.
that shes going ON the stage, She
was always rrading Shakespeare. you
know.
Shakespeare be hanged" roared
Squire Scl,lcn More likely she's go
ing for iclcgraphy ar typwrliing. or
something Of that SORT lui what is
Ia become Of usf
Ana thcy IOokeu once nnSe al cncil
other, like two Robinson Crusss on a
desert place that was not nn island.
Aud while they were thus bemoan.
ing their solitary estate. Harriet Sci.
den. seated in tile leather cushioned
rcccsscs Of a joliing old country stage,
was entering the fragrant depths OF
the Adirondack forests.
a blue eyed. fresh checked girl oi
Is. she looked the very last person in
the world Ia take lifes dilemma 80
valiantly by the horns. but close be.
sido her sal a gaunt. high checked
New England woman. who had once
worked in the family. and whom ilar-
rict had surreptiiiously engaged as
"Bc We gwine much fus,ierf' said
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