Middletown transcript., 1894-07-28

SA>szS 2s@W "Have you had
and breakfast?" said Dora, fondling
the little wrinkled hand where the
worn wedding ring hung SO loose.
GIVE had some toast and cup of
tea,' answered Mrs. Trafford. "And
the teapot Is waiting on the back of
the stove for you. We have to vacate
the premises before night, dear. The
man has sold them, and needs care
taker no longer
"Yes, I know" nodded Dora, 81
ought to have been up earlier to help
you pack our little odds and ends. But
1 was 50 tired and slept SO heavily.
Mother. what are these?"
She touched with the tip of her slim,
taper foot slovenly bundle of things
that lay OH the locr.
''Sniled silk dresses, crumpIed laces,
halfworn embroidery said she ,eleva-
ting htr pretty ii He nose. One
would think the errand hoy had mis-
taken No. "A for the lodgings Of the
secoud-rate actress al No. IT,"
Mrs. Trafford blushed up to her faded
eyebrows. What mad she becn think
ing Of not to have hurried the things
oft OF sight before Dora came down
stairs?
"It's from your Cousin Mainwsrirg, /"
said she. II sent them a little tote
yesterday"
"A little motel" Dra's Diana-lilIr
figure involuntarily Strengthened itself
up-a vivid carinine stained her cheek.
"About what, mother!"
.Oh. nothing, dearest-a mere ma
ter of business.
"Bn,, mother, it can hardly be-
nothipel Tell me what all this means.
l insist upon knowing. Surely you
never asked them for package Of sec
ond- hand clothes!''
Mrs. Traffold burse into feeble
tears.
s.Don't look so sternly at me, Dora,"
she bewailed herself. IL couldn't
help it! I've had to do it this long
time. but I never meant that you
should know it. You're like your
father, Dora-you're SO proud. And
people mus live.'
Dora had grown very pale.
"Mother, have you been borrowing
money Of these naughty relatives Of
oursp" cried she.
"You're hurting me, Dora9 Don't
squeeze my arm sol"
'.Oh, I beg pardon, dearl ] didn't
mean to hurt you," STOPPING to kiss
the bony wrist. ''But you haven't
answered me.''
s.How could I borrow money Of them
when they wouldn't lend it?" queru-
lously retorted Mrs. Trafford. but
they sent these things. They thovght
perhaps, we might make them useful. "
"Ohl' said Dora, curling her short
upper lip with infiuite scorn. "Then
that accounts for the remarkable ward
robe you've been sending me while |
was uuder-teacher at Miss Magallo-
way'sl As long as ! thought 1t was
vour taste in selections-but all the
while it was secondhand ineryp'
.What could dop" complained the
widow. s.Some Of the things | sold at
Simon's place. It all helped to pay the
grocer and the baker. The Mainwar-
ings ought to help US. Dora. They're
az much richer than we are.".
"Tbere's no ought about itl' re-
tor;ed Dora. "Dives never lent money
"a Lazarus that I know Of, although
they might have been distant rela
tiveS.o
.Dora. what are you doing?' cried
Mrs. Trafford.
Tying up these things mothef' 'h''
a smaller bundle"
"What are you going 70 90 VIII
themP"
II an aoing to send them bacl
where they came 'FRONT.'
But, Dora, stopl Some OF tn
things are quite good
"a. great deal too good for us
mother. = bitterly answered Dora, %
else not quite good enough, l can
quite settle whishl"
"And Simons really gives qui'e
fair price" ).
m. will not have the opportunlt.
again. Don't try to argue the point
mother. dear. This thing never woui
have happened if had been ct home
n think that these Mainwaring
shontd insuft=us BY aH-efeE ef thei
SECONDHAND clothesl'
Mrs. Trafford shrank into the chai
appalled, at the pallor in Dora's chees
The lightning Of her eyes.
=" ~, ,,nn,d she say, " thought she
.if sl,e knew all IiIad borrowed fron
1a 1au. and couldn't pay back
ob dearl but how could 1 help it, wit
All our expenses and not q cent Of ID
conner"
80. Moiawaring was jus
Mico AuOs" T,sraroid