Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-03-21
A RASH ACT.

nevertheless.
Eyes" she answered meekly,
give been discharged"
Mrs. Popover was stout and short,
with no visable waist, a black lace
cap on the side Of her head and her
feet thrust into carpet slippers.
Miss Milman was slight and grace
full, with ruddy brown hair and
pleading hazel eyes, and looked
every inch the lady in her shabby
mourning.
"Pity, amt it ?" said Mrs Pop
over. "This time O year, too !"
eyes," sighed Marian; "but / am
not the only sufferer. Thirty other
girls have gone too. Business is SO
dull after the holidays. Mr.. Mere
dith says We shall be re engaged
when the state of trade warrants it.
But havn't much hope"
'And what are you going to do
now 2" asked Mrs. Popover.
Marian drew long breath.
81 don't know" said she piteous.
ly.
Just then the door opened, and a
blooming young girl came in, with .
satchel in her hand.
us this Mrs. Popover' ?" said
she. docs Miss Milman- Oh,
Marian, you dear thing, I've found
you at last! Oh, how glad l am to
see you |"
Marian gave little gasp.
"Juliet Powers !" she cried.
"Yes, It's - beamed Juliet. 81
got tired of teaching school down in
Holbrook Hollow, and the trustees
were so exacting, and the children
SO dreadful, that / made up my
mind to come to you and see if l
couldn't get something to do in the
city,"
"Well, / declare !" said Mrs. Pop
over. Here's Miss Marian herself
just been thrown out o. business. I'd
like to know how she's to help any
body else ?"
Marian gave the good soul an ap-
pealing glance.
81 will do the best l cam" said
she.
And Juliet, an apple faced, SAN
guine natured young country lass,
nestled close up to her.
81 knew you would help me-" said
she, "because you know all about
the city. And oh, Marian, dear, I'm
so tired and so hungry
And thus Marian Milman became
charged with the responsibility of
another beside herself. And the
days went by, and situations were
harder than ever to obtain, and the
little common purse was exhausted,
ard Mrs. Popover's account became
larger than ever for the rent of the
back bedroom, with its hideous
green wall paper, and its dispiriting
outlook over the roofs and smoky
chimney stacks.
"Marian," said Juliet, "what are
we to do ?"
She had come in tired and weary
after long days work at the old
business of looking for employment.
Marian sat gazing sorrowfully at
a clumsy parcel that lay on the table
before her.
"They have sent back my poor
little screens and plaques unsold,"
said she, with polite note intima-
ting that the market for that sort of
thing is overstocked."
"Oh Marianl And you worked
so hard at them !" with quick out
burst of sympathy.
"The more fool Il To tell you
the truth, Juliet, said Marian, with
a forced smile, II begin to think that
everything is overstocked-life in
Guided"
Juliet threw both her arms around
the slight young figure.
Darling, you're tired and discour-
aged" said she. "You'll feel better
otter dinner"
"But, Juliet, there is no dinner"
Jnliet Chrew open the cupboard
doors, and gave one exhaustive
glance around its empty shelves.
There were the two china plates, the
two cups and saucers, the neat
knives and forks, the pewter spoons,
the innocent pepper and salts-but
that was all.
"I'll go out and buy something, !"
said she, cheerfully-"a neck of NUT
ton to boil up for soup, or an end.
piece of corned beef
"You can't make bricks without
straw" said Marian, sadly, "nor buy
soup meat without money. At least
I've never been able to do it. p
us all the money gone, Marian ~
San but five dirty copper cents,