The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-06-17
M A ZIE.


yreat city of New York sat two rls.
One was grumbling and fussing over
an old brown silk dress. They were pretty
girls, and poor. Their only living rela-
sives were maiden aunt and cousin.
Miss Evelina Hayes, their aunt, had a
great many pets-parrots, cats, etc.-all
of which she priced far more than these
two grandnieces of hers, Maize and Flo.
isc Laurance.
The girls were brunettes, with rich
chestnut hair and great, fawnlike eyes.
Eloise was three years Mazie's senior. but
the two were so much alike that, if Maize
had looked just little older, and Eloise
just a little younger, one might easily
have supposed them twins.
81 say, Ell" Maize began. am sick
and tired of this plagued old New York,
and 1 think Aunt Evy might ask us to
spend the summer with her, or give us a
month on the mountains. Wewill have
20 find some cheap place in the country,
and we will roam through the woods and
fish and"
"Oh, yes! I know" exclaimed Eloise.
"But after we have given up our situa-
tons and spent our money, what wdhld
we do, and how would we live next win
ter?" and she shook her head.
"Then we would play Mr.. Micawber
and wait for something 'to turn up and
!hen there is no knowing what may hap
pen before winter We might marry"
"NIost likely" said Eloise dryly.
"Or die" Maize continued, not MOTTO
..ng the interruption. "Or. if Aunt Evy
doesn't relent and take us in, and if she
doesn't do that, she might-er-doa as Har-
old said, when boy, his dog did, kick
The bucket and-er-leave part of her
vast fortune to her 'impertinent, parrot
poodle despising niece, Maize Evelina
Laurance,' or to her dearly beloved
niece, Eloise Hayes Laurance,' or per-
haps-"
"Mazie I.aurance," said Eloise, going
Up to her sister and playfully feeling her
pulse. "You must have fever and are
lelirious. How you talk! What prepos-
.erous-"
"Oh!" said Maize with a little gasp.
Hand me the dictionary! What is that
word, ma'a amp" very meekly. "Pre-pos-
ter-ousl Obi" and Maize fell back in her
chair, quite exhausted.
well, Maize, seriously now, am sure
you should not speak so of Aunt Evy,
and would not if you thought for min
ute. Because she disinherited mother
Cor marrying her despised neighbors son,
and now takes no notice of her niece's
daughters, is no reason why we should
speak disrespectfully of her. :"
"Ha! ha! know why Aunt Evy did
not like her neighbor, Grandma Laur-
nnce. Grandma had parrot, too, and
Polly Laurance was not so stupid as
Polly Hayes, and could talk best, and
then grandma's pug was sleeker and
prettier than Aunt Evy's. Sufficient
lcasons for Aunt Evy's dislike"
Maize threw her unfinished dress on
chair close beside her, as she ceased
speaking, and lay back in her chair,
closed her eyes, and rocked swiftly back
and forth.
GEL" she exclaimed, stopping so short
and with such queer little jerk that
Eloise started.
"What?"
"fve an idea !" said Maize, hauling out
an old writing desk, made of pasteboard
box with an inkbottle stuck in hole in
one corner; and, taking from the box
some neat though cheap note paper, be-
gan to write.
"Well: Maize I'm sure hope you have
n great many ideas. suppose you have
possessed yourself of an extraordinary
article of that kind !" and Eloise laughed.
"Oh, you needn't laugh. If you knew
how much in earnest am you wouldn't.
Yes, it is most extraordinary idea".
Maize soon finished the writing, and.
handing the paper to Eloise, addressed
an envelope, and put the necessary stamp
ON its corner.
Read it, and pass judgment, she said
with mischievous smile
1t cost Eloise no little effort to keep
her face straight, knowing both Maize
and her aunt SO well, while she read:
New YORK. July q. 1888.
DEAREST AUNT:-I trust you have recovered
from your recent Illness of which we heard
through a mutual friend. Neither Eloise nor
myself are feeling at all we'll. 1t Is dread :
fully warm. and we, as we have heard from
good authority that there were several cases
Of cholera in this part of the city. have de-
cided that If we could find good place within
our MEANS which are very small. we would
leave the city. and take a short vacation. As
you have been to great many quiet summer
resorts, could you not recommend some place
to which we could go aud get cheap board in a
good family7 As have said. our wages are
small, and so. of course. are our savings Though
we live on very littlel. and we must use them
TO the best advantage. Eloise is looking real
badly and needs a rest and change so much +.
and am not at all well. oh. It is dreadful to
be so poor and have no one to help you! II we
could only go to the country. even for only a
week, we could get so well and strong When
have you heard from Cousin Harold7 Give
him our regards when next you see or write tn
him. Please answer this letter at your earli.
est convenience. naming some cheap place for
us. inclose a stamp with which TO defray
all expenses Of answering this. Please excuse
my writing to you. but We have no one to tell
us what to do. and we thought no one had more
right to advise us than yourself. our dear moth
er's own aunt. and our only living relative. ex-
| cept Cousin Harold. Hoping and awaiting
your immediate reply, l am your loving niece,
MAIZE EvELINA LAURANCB.
Eloise laughed when she looked up at
Maize. She couldn't help it Mazis