The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-04-13


stage. 7 counted on how il would he
an took the liberty to have her prom
Use to come. She's Il stout, likely gal.
Marie knew her aunts compliments
would not be undeservedly given, She
ran down with lighter heart. Abner
came in with his pals Of milk md won
dered Mt the unusual brightness of
Marie's tired face.
"You can't always tell what folks
will do, he said, after Marie had ex-
planned. II felt as if she had streak
Of good in her which emergencies would
bring out.
And so the summer waned, and the
aged father and mother were still in
valids IT was with a sad heart and
sometimes tear dimmed eyes that Marie
saw Abner's favorite books gathering
n suspicion of dust upon their covers.
He had no time for study or reading.
And then Aunt Tabby suddenly fell
ill.,
It's of no use doctorin'" she said
MY time has come. ! feel it, an to-
morrow | want things fixed pretty
much as / want EN-, an I'll get you
an Abner to help me tend to it. "
SO time was set apart for the duty
to Marie a sad duty, for she really
we'd the old lady, who had been SO
ID to her.
18th the renewed strength and clear
voice which is sometimes given dying
person, she gave few explicit direc-
tions.
"Jest hand me that tin box out o
heupper drawer o my bureau, Marie. &"
She did as she was hidden. can now
| want that umberel O. mine out o. the
closet"
A faint smile touched Marie's lips
as she brought an old brown umbrella
that had been the derision of her sis
tiers. Aunt Tabby took it in her trem-
bling hands and deposited it carefully
on the bed beside her. Then she opened
| the box.
"Now, here in this old black wallet
is hundred dollars. | calkerlate it
will pay my funeral expenses An
here in this brown wallet is 5000 more,
which | give into your charge, Marie,
to help pay some of the house expense.
An here is my will. You take care O.
that Marie, an see that everything
goes straight as | have got it. Lawyer
Sibley drew it up an you can get him
TO read it when I'm gone. An, Abner.
[ give to you this umberel o mine.
Take good care ont, an maybe it will
help be a purtection to your old age,
[ guess that's all--only, Marie-you
may give my old clothes to Nanny
Giddons. Don't bury me in my best
dress. Give it to her; second best viii
do!' And with these strange words
she turned her head on the pillow and
expired.
A few hours later Marie, standing il
the porch, with the sunset rays falling
about her, said to Abner;
81 hope you won't feel insultcd by
Aunt rabby's giving you that dread
full umbrella. 1T was a singular thing
, for her to do, but You know she wa
partly crazy. know she thought {
great deal of you, Abner. | wish sh,
, had done something for you
Never mind, Marie, [ shall no
hold it against her, you may be sure
and as for the umbrella, if were at al
a believer in luck-vhich | am not
| should say the poor old weather
beaten thing will certainly bring it t.
t me. | shall certainly take care OF it
} as she said.
t Celinda and Clara were in haste t.
| learn the contents OF the will.
. mot until after the funeral, sal,
e Marie, decidedly.
t And so, after those last rites wer
, performed, Lawyer Sibley was Gale
to read the Will. 1t be1ueathed 500
{ to Mr.. and Mrs, Fosdick, 500 to &c
linda and Clara and $4,000 to Marie.
GLOW strange that she did not men
1 ton her farm in Vermont She ha
o not spoken Of disposing of it; but PEI
, haps she has done SO and this none
t is the price. Still, l should though
she would have mentioned it, sal
Il Marie to Abner
The next morning it was raining a
+ Marie stepped into the darkene
h porch.
n There's a chance for your ne
umbrella, Abner, said Marie, smilin
: little. He answered with q loo
which showed no signs of oAense.
J. Now, Abner, we must make al
IS rangements for you to have more hell
.e We can do it now. You have worke
II too hard l shall never forget YOU
II faithfulness and you shall be paid 1
far as money is concerned. Mo-