Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-10-23

80 no, I'll push the dining table close
up here, and can reach them down, one
by one. How hate the nasty jobl" |
added irritably.
So l mounted the ladder and travelled
a step up and a step down, until l had
it all down but two pieces.
They certainly were black beyond
description, and babe fair to be cleaned
by tSe 'sweat of my brow, as well as
the hated powder before mentioned.
Just then the door-bell rang. 'Tll
go, Betty, exclaimed /, glad OF a chance
of relief from the monotonous up and
down, up and down, of that step-ladder.
Nv irritation was in no wise reduced
by seeing at the front door the convcn-
tiIonal yellow bag which bespeaks the
travelling agent. 81 don't want any
thing" was beginning to say GROSSLY,
preparing to shut the door in her lace in
the most unceremonious manner, but
while spoke, my eye caught ''silver
soap" on some packages in the satchel
which she had deftly opened
81 think" she replied, smiling, "that
you do want what have here to-day,
and she glanced back at the silver, which
showed through the open dlningroom
door.
''Please let me show you this. I am
very tired, and it is so hot. really think
if you will let me show you how this
works, you will never regret having tried
it. 1t docs away with all the disagreeablc
effects of the powders ordinarily used,
being used just like common soap.
Think, madam, of the advantage, when
one has the quantity of silver that you
have. Think of the advantage of being
able to Just wash it, and find it bright
and shining" and she glanced again into
the dining room.
wavered. If she could prove this to
be the fact, I certainly would buy the
article. So | went back for something
to try upon. 1t worked like a charm,
and have 1t | would.
As | was paying her the pitiful sum de-
| manded for the three packages, | noted
how very pale she looked. "Won't you
step inside and rest little2 Perhaps
you would like glass of water2" |
asked gently of the sister-woman whom
l had been willing to send from my door
a few moments before.
"Thank you," said she gratefully, 81
will be glad to do so."
perhaps she is hungry" reflected,
"she can't make much out of such work,
poor thing hardly like to offer her
anything to eat She seems too much of
a lady. She might feel it an insult.
But don't believe she has had square
meal to-day. o, know! I'll make some
raspberry vinegar and give her some
crackers, and I'll eat some myself at the
same time, so that she may feel all right
about it, poor thingw resolution which
carried into effect, after having seated
her comfortably in the hall.
Finally, she departed, much refreshed,
and thanked me profusely, (rather too
profuse for slid comfort,) for all that
had done for her; all of which l depre-
Gated, of course, and went back to my
work refreshed and frightened.
/ made the lather and started in, and
cleaned and frightened and polished,
while l chatted to Betty in the high
tones necessary between two people oc-
cupying different apartments, of the
poor thing who had her living to make
in that abominable way.
Betty preserved an ominous silence.
''Do you hear, Betty"
81 hear you, mem" " called back Betty,
in what seemed to me rather uncom-
promising tone.
"WellYn
"WellH returned Betty.
"Why don't you say something?"
"What do you want me to say, mem?'
; so, | don't know, anything
"Well mem, if must say something,
, I'll say the silvers not mine, but yours y
''I'm aware of that already, y replied,
: taking position of freezing dignity
from which knew should be routed
shortly. always was, when | attempt
ed to battle with Betty.
"Wel, mem, as | was sayin', the sill
ver's yours, and if you want to be ruina-
tin it with all sorts of nasty things that
folks leaves at the door, I've no call to
say anything. An won't, so there but
yen be sorry for this days work, sec if
ye amt"
But the silver looked too nice and
shiny for me to feel that there was any
truth in Betty's predictions, so setting
her down as cross, old trump, finished
my work in dignified silence-a silence
which Betty did not make the slightest
attempt to break.
The party was grand success, and
/ IllT WnOlc cNcnlnS, ulnOHS Illc CAUSES Ol
congratulation, was the one that my
hands did not feel as if had been crop
ing in ashes.
we all slept the "Sleep of the Just
that evening, as well as the sleep of the
very tired. So that it was nine o'clock
before Charlie and | were seated at the
breakfast table the next morning.
"Onc minute, Charlie, l want to get
something from the silver closet that was
put up there by accident last night"
Betty brought the step ladder, and !
mounted on the top.
With terrified shrek | almost
dropped from my perch.
40 Charlie!" l gasped, in answer to
his anxious inquiries. 80 Charlie, the
silver's all gone!"
"Gone! Nonsense Gone where?"
GLOW do | knowm questioned, sitting
down on the step-ladder while giggled
Historically.
Charlie sat down, bewildered and help
less.
"Who on earth but our three selves
would think of looking there for it, or
know anything about the closet2 Non
sense, Olive. You didn't put it there,
last night, he calculated, with sudden
inspiration.
81 know didn't, but you did. Per-
haps you don't recolect standing on this
step-ladder while Betty and ! handed it
to youln