Evening journal., 1892-09-23


Intervening space at each other for tii-
teen years. Sister Martin had never |
read The affecting ballad Of the knight |
who turned hermit on the mountain to /
watch the candle in his lady'5 window
across the valley, and had she known Il
i would probably have seemed 70 her
sentimental stuff.
Sister Martha had her own thoughts as
she gazed at the lonely bachelors win
dow, and at times blended with them
was something like twinge Of remorse.
She hoped when the ketchin took her in
the side It did not betolzen incipient heart
disemo Ann Basket had sealed her thin
lips about Captain Blgh and was not
very communicative on the subject Of the
neighbours affairs Her opinion that Ms
Whitcumb was "a kcrryin and fetohin
woman was no whit lessened by the gift
Of tho linsey woolsey piece FOR winter
petticoas Ann received it somewhat
grimly with an intimation OF counte
nance that she could afford to buy such
clothes as she needed She let it lay neg
lectcd two days. on kitchen chair before
she car1ied it TO her own room Ann's
scoTn Of presents was duo TO hor con-
seriousness Of n good bank account. She
had saved money during her long service
in the nIahew family, and she thanked
God she was not hard on her things.
Her principal employment in the long
winter evenings was to sit ut her clean
kitchen table. with brightly burning
kerosene lamp. and make over her old
clothes. \ new fashion hardly ever
came up that she did not get some odd
wrinkle Of it on her garments. When
| the high sleeves first were IN vogue she
was one Of the earliest 10 appear at
meeting with queer little puckered
| bunch on each shoulder. Meeting was
AIMS great resource and pleasure 1t
was her theater and opera, her concert
and lecture. She never missed a service
| al her church however stormy the night,
and with her kitchen key IN her pocket
she felt her doininions were safe. no
matter what might happen to the front
Of the house.
One morning Ann came down stairs
with the breakfast tray and messagc
from her mistress to Sister Martha, beg
ging that she would excuse her that day
IS her head was unusually painful
"Welh it's about rs lively here as q
graveyard, ain'tit SAID Mrs. Wmtcumb
pushing out her foot az she sol Stout,
on kitchen chair. ~ cant 60 tbrustin.
myself in on folks when they havon'
called on me, and | know pretty wei
why they don't call They've got three
Of a ono sided business. Vinio's beei
shut up 80 long they know there's moth
INK 10 look for from this house Yoi
can't expect to be asked to places il yol
don't do something in return. Mr'
Whitcumb felt the black silk dress an
bead trimming up In the press burnin
to be worn.
"What do you say ANN" after musin
a moment; Il have an idea. Suppose
was to give a tea party"
Ann turned slowly around from Oh
table where she was doing up tho broal
: fast things, and Mira Whltcumb notice
that her gray pebble eyes had turne
: green. why, Marthy Marier VIII
cuinb," said she deliberately "be 20
crazy
no, Ann" snapped Mrs. Marth;
I'm clothed and in my right mind. 81
what's to hinder my having few peopl
To tea IA my own mother-in-law's houi
rhat was2 There's the parlor and dinin
ROOM all sweep and garnished. needin
only a few lunches Of flowers set aroun
. to brighten things and some sparrow
grass bushes in the chimney"
. II guess should hev something TO 50.
: lcastways about the part OF the houi
7 that belongs tome. Them are her room
don't claim no control over them"
I. "Of course you viii have all to sa
! Ann. am aware Of that If you pl
down your foot that is the end OF q
+ worsted. should think it might live
u You. Ann, TO have a few folks in 70 Il
. almost "a much as q prayer meetiny
81 don't want no liveliness," said AL
, grimly. "I'vo got along these fifteen
z twenty year without any and I'm pu
y fckly well; not nm ache anywhere, lea:
= wise 1t might be kind Of stiffenin
u the joints on damp inonins."
l. 81 don't see rs she need know anythil
" about It. at least at first. We might 6
u well started so as not TO fluster her"
d Ann again withdrew her parboil
hands from the hot suds and rested 9
= right-doublcd into rather fornidnt
= looking iist-on tho table, while her 10
" went through Sister Martha like q 50
= ing machine needle.
!, IN hev no underhand contrivin, M
- Whitcumb. Them rooms are her pa
~ and II she says you may hev 'en y
q may. that's all. III do what / can
- oblige, but she's got 60 be consulted fir
- If you locked her up In the attic y
- couldn't keep it from her. for her O.
"a ~ are like one OF them telephones q
- ketches every whisper. You may Ia
= back your piece Of linsey woolsey
- you're mad at my plain spealsin."
Il, 81 amt mad, Ann, only thought
:, save her fret and worry. But wa
" you TO let her know there won't be a
" expense on her. I'll pay for al the sul
a. and butter and eggs that's used"
- ann flashed out on her: "You wo
- 10 no such thing. guess we amt
- 20 that pinch. There's plenty Of eve
- thing in the honse, For lay in suppl
-, once a month regular