The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-04-06
EBENSBURG. PA. FRIDAY. APRIL e. 1894.

She thought she was altered by
trouble and age, by her poor dress and
deep bonnet, but Tom gave one stride
To her and caught her in his strong
arms.
Aunt janet Aunt Janer' he fairly
shouted Mary, this is Aunt Jane"
They had her bonnet and shawl off;
they had her in an easy chair by the
fire, and had sent for supper before she
could gasp out.
Tom, I've lost all my money"
You don't say so!''
Every cent Will you turn me out
as turned you out two years ago?'
"Muchly" was TOMS mysterious re-
ply. Mary, is there fire in the spare
room?'
II think the back attic is good
enough for a penniless old maid" said
Aunt Jane.
Did you put me in the back attic
when my parents left me alone in the
world?"
''Humph''
''If you will light the gas, Tcm,"
said Mrs. Montgomery, II will put
fresh sheets and towels in the spare
room
Tom rushed upstairs. and Mary, with
an apology, went after him. Then
Aunt Jane did the meaneSt of all mean
things-She crept softly after them
and. finding they were in the back Sec
ond-story room with the door open, she
crOuched down the stairs and
listened Tom was making the fire and
Mary, moving in her quiet, swift way,
was putt ng clean linen on the bed
"Ain't it jolly?" Tom said, enthusi-
astically.
Making fire?" Mary asked, saucily.
No. | say, darling" sitting down
on the floor as the idea struck him. II
never asked you if yen would like to
have Aunt Jane here"
Don't be goose, Tom
But, seriously, now, will it bother
you? | suppose | could get her a room
lin some stunning, tip-top boarding
house, more like her own home than
our bird cage, but
"Wel!?" Mary said, intensely grave
at would be so lonesome. She has
quick temper. l know, but she is SO
kind, and she does love me"
Poor thing!" said Mary. Il wonder
if she is very poor"
''She won't know it while we have
home or cent, will she. Mollie?"
''Of course rot. Tom. And if you
dare to talk about boarding house
again FL stop your allowance of mince
pies
Mary, you're an angelr' cried Tom,
springing up. My fire is out againl
I'm awfully glad we called the baby
Jane, Mollie."
Tom, make that frer" said Mary,
severely, ''or your aunt won't get TO
bed tonight 1 am sorry it is not fner,
for | know her own rooms must have
been very handsome. III get my own
roclIing-chair; it is the easiest one in the
house; and I'll hang the photograph of
baby over the mantelpiece- 1t will
make it look home-like."
That's dear girl. Make her feel
at home, Moliie. She won't care so
much about her fine house if we make
her feel at home here. ii you could let
her putter round the house little and
feel herself of Importance. Mollie, it
would delight her"
She can boss the whole machineryl
But, Tom, | had no idea she was SO
Old
Nor L." said Tom, ruefully. 81 won
der if fretting turned her hair SO
white"
TONI Tomr'
This voice was at the door, and Aunt
Jane stood there, with tears running
down her checks.
81 am a miserable old woman, Tomr'
why, auntie,' said Tom. cheerily,
don't cry. Come in and see how coy
Mollie has made your room" "
Il know it, Tom. I've been sorry
thousand times | would not see her.
But you should have come back to me-"
she said, reproachfully.
but ] wrote and wrote, and you
never answered"
Wrote To me?"
'Of course"
Il never saw the letters That viper
julia must have destroyed them"
Nv here is Julia?''
Gone home. The day that / told
her had lost my money she packed up
and left me. Tom, l don't deserve it,
after doubling you; but will you for
give me for testing your love?"
'''resting my love?"
'.Yes, my dear boy. / meant to talk
to your wife and you as some body else,
but you knew me too soon But, Tom,
that was all fudge"
What was all fudge?"
"A bout the money"
"Oh. =" said Tom, dryly. "You haven't
lost any?"
Not 4 cent Now. Tom, don't set
your face that way. Come back to
your old home and bring your darling
wife and baby. Do, Toni
Aunt Jane" said Tom, solemnly,
''I'll come home on one condition"
What is that?'
THAT you here solemnly promise me
never to leave me one cent of your
money"
II won't leave you anything but
lock of my hair. "
She kept her word. For ten years
the family lived happily together.
Then they carried Aunt Jane to her
last resting place, and, her will being
opened, her money was found to be
equally divided among Toms children.
N. V News