Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-10-09

depend upon"
The next day Henry started for the
city, leaving his share of the burder
to fall upon Marie and Abner.
'I'll do the best I can, Miss Marie,
said Abner. 81 want you to feel free
to call upon me early and late and
will serve you faithfully"
81 don't doubt you will, Abner, but
oh! if only mother had not fallen into
such strange condition! She doesn't
seem to care about anything, and
don't know much. I shall have to de-
pend upon you entirely about the
farm, and if fail to show judgment
you'll know it is because don't know,
not because don't care. and then we
will talk things over and get as straight
as we can.
Marie was not crying girl usually,
but just now such large tears stood in
her pretty eyes, and she looked up into
Abner's face with such an appealing,
dependent look that he felt his hear;
jump straight into Marie's hands.
''It's not much that I know, but you
may trust me, Miss Marie"
Somehow Marie felt extremely com.
forted from that moment, although
she could not sing about the house in
her old-time way, yet she worked and
directed with feeling of greater se-
curity than before.
And in the midst of it all Aunt Tab
by came. Even Marie, hospitable as
she was, felt a bit more weary after she
had welcomed her and helped her
place her few garments in the neat
''spare chamber"
Snow, look a here, Marie. I made
up my mind to come, even if your pa
an ma air sick. 1 can do little to
help, an I will, too, if you an 1 cap
agree on few things"
''But you are getting old, and you
are not strong, auntie, You must not
do much; you'll get sick"
'1f amt capable there's folks in
the world as is an we can get 'em."
"No, we can't for we've no money
to do it with, said Marie, decidedly.
"Well, have, an I'll do it, pro-
vided good smart gal can come here
an help you, but if you say you'll
allow her to wait on them lazy girls
an work over their founces an furbe-
lows instead of helpin' you, why 'tiant
of much use."
Marie caught eagerly at this hope o,
help.
"Well, auntie, I promise you faith
fully that Celinda and Clara shall wait
upon themselves and iron their OWL
founces. We will have good work
done in an orderly manner, and I aw
tired, Aunt Tabby."
"Well, there's one a-comin' by next
stage. counted on how it would be
an took the liberty to have her prom
Use to come. She's stout, likely gal. .
Marie knew her aunt's compliment:
would not be undeservedly given. She
ran down with a lighter heart. Abner
came in with his pals of milk and won
dered at the unusual brightness Of
Marie's tired face.
"You can't always tell what folks
will do" he said, after Marie had ex-
planned. 81 felt as if she had streak
Of good in her which emergencies would
hring out"
And so the summer waned, and the
aged father and mother were still in
valids. 1t was with a sad heart and
sometimes tear-dimmed eyes that Marie
saw Abner's favorite books gathering
\ suspicion of dust upon their covers.
He had no time for study or reading.
Arl then Aunt Tabby suddenly fell
III.
''It's of no use doctorin'." she said.
"My time has come. I feel it, an to-
morrow l want things fixed pretty
much as I want 'em, an I'll get YOU
an Abner to help me tend to it.
So time was set apart for the duty
to Marie sad duty, for she really
owed the old lady, who had been so
Kind to her.
With the renewed strength and clear
voice which is sometimes given dying
person, she gave a few explicit direo
lions.
"Jest hand me that tin box out o
the upper drawer O my bureau, Marie. u"
She did as she was hidden. can now
[ want that umberel O. mine out o the
,loset."
A faint smile touched Marie's lips
IS she brought an old brown umbrella
that had been the derision Of her Sis
sers. Aunt Tabby took it in her trem-
bling hands and deposited it carefully
On the bed beside her. Then she opened
he box.
"Now, here in this old black wallet
10 h,rIra1 l011ara no1EnrIofa
will pay my funeral expenses. An
here in this brown wallet is 5000 more,
which I 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 nee that everything
goes straight as have got it. Lawyer
5ibley 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 q 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 will
dol" And with these strange words
she turned her head on the pillow and
expired.
A few hours later Marie, standing in
the porch, with the sunset rays falling
about her, said to Abner:
Il hope you won't feel insulted by
Aunt Tabby's giving you that dread
full umbrella. It was singular thing
for her to do, but you know she was
partly crazy. I know she thought q
great deal of you, Abner. I wish she
bad done something for YOU"
''Never mind, Marie. I shall not
Aold it against her, you may be sure
and as for the umbrella, If I were at all
believer in luck-which am not
I should say the poor old weather
beaten thing will certainly bring ii te
me. I shall certainly take caro- OF 1t,
as she said"
Celinda and CLARA were in haste K
learn the contents of the will.