The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-04-06
"Jane is an awfully ugly name"

Tom as he came in, kissed his wife,
chucked the baby under the chin, and
skinned off his overcoat before he saw
the old lady.
She thought she was altered by
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 1 turned you out two years ago?"
"Muchlyr' was TOMS mysterious re-
ply. MARY, is there fire in the spare
room?''
81 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!'
eff you will light the gas, Tom"
said Mrs. Montgomery, 81 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 on the stairs and
listened. Tom was making the fire and
Mary, moving in her quiet, swift way,
was putting clean linen on the bed.
''Ain't it jolly?" Tom said, enthusi.
astically.
"Making fre?' Mary asked, saucily.
mo. | say, darling" sitting down
on the floor as the idea struck him, 81
never asked you if you would like to
have Aunt Jane here"
''Don't be a goose, Tom"
''But, seriously, now, will it bother
you? suppose 1 could get her room
in some stunning, tip-top boarding
house, more like her own home than
our bird cage, but"
"Well?" Mary said intensely grave.
''Jt would be so lonesome. She has n
quick temper, know, but she is SO
kind, and she does love me-"
Poor thing!" said Mary. II wonder
if she is very poor"
'tShe won't know it while we have a
home or cent, will she, Mollie?"
'Of course not. Tom. And if you
dare to talk about boarding-house
again I'll stop your allowance of mince
pies"
''Mary, you're an angell" cried Tom,
springing up. my fire is out again!
Pm awfully glad we called the baby
Jane. Mollie."
Tom, make that fire!' said Mary,
severely, s'or your aunt won't get to
bed tonight 1 am sorry it is not finer,
for know her own rooms must have
been very handsome. I'll get my own
rocking-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, Mollie. She won't care SO
much about her fine house if we make
her feel at home here. If you could let
her putter round the house little and
feel herself of Importance, Mollie, it
would delight her."
''She can boss the whole machineryi
But. Tom, had no idea she was SO
old"
Nor l." said Tom, ruefully. 81 won
der if fretting turned her hair so
white"
"Toml Tomw
This voice was at the door, and Aunt
Jane stood there, with tears running
down her cheeks.
81 am miserable old woman, TOMB
"WhY, apntie," said Tom, cheerily,
':don't cry. Come in and see how cozy
Mollie has made your room"
81 know it, Tom. I've been sorry
thousand times | would not see her.
But you should have come back to me, y
she said, reproachfully.
But / wrote and wrote, and you
never answered"
Wrote to me?"
"Of course"
81 never saw the letters That wipe,
Julia must have destroyed them"
"Where is Julia?"
''Gone home. The day that | told
her had lost my money she packed up
and left me. Tom, don't deserve it,
after doubling you; but will you for
give me for testing your love?''
Testing my love?"
"Yes, my dear boy. meant to talk
to your wife and you as somebody else,
but you knew me too soon. But, Tom,
that was all fudge"
"What was all fudge?"
about the money"
"oh," said Tom, dryly. ''Fou haven't
lost any?"
Not cent. Now, Tom, don't set
your face that way. Come back to
your old home and bring your darling
wife and baby. Do, Toml''
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"
Il won't leave you anything but a
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 To ms children.
IN. Y. News. '
Equally Valuable. = am-"That
girl introduced to you is as good as