The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-02-01
$50 l suppose you think you are
the only one that works." says Rob


80, bother; are we going to sell the
farm or not?n asked Robert.
"Of course we are" says Julia.
Mamma, shall Robert go down to the
office and advertise it?'
Eyes, if Beatrice will CONSENT
81 do not wish to be cross or disa
greeable, but until some better way
of living is found, object to the sale
of it, says Beatrice, leaving the room.
They one and all abused Beatrice
as soon as she was gone.
How annoying to think that such
IL narrow-minded clodhopper as she
is, can hamper us so,n says Robert.
ITO judge by the airs she puts on, we
could not live without her. | guess
we'll see. We can go to town with
out selling the farm, and Julia can
take in boarders anyway. 1t will not
take much to keep you two. and if |
have any of my salary left, L can help
you out"
81 suppose that will do" says Mrs.
Towers
''All right" says Robert, "I'll go
and advertise it for rent And go he
did.
If they had taken time to think it
over, they would have hesitated be-
they were so angry at Beatrice's re-
fGsal to sell, that they rejoiced at
some way to go to the city without
her consent. Having taken the first
step, they were ashamed to draw
back. While Robert was gone, Julia
went down to the kitchen and told
Beatrice where he had gone, and init
mated that Beatrice would find some
other place to live, as her presence in
the city was undesirable. After de-
livering this astounding piece of news,
she left before Beatrice could answer.
After ALL" thought she, the farm
is still safe, and perhaps it will satisfy
them to try it for awhile. | will take
Julia at her word and pay a long
visit to Aunt Mercy
The family never discussed their
| Dlans while Beatrice was present,
much as they would have liked to
have her opinion of them. A few
days after the advertisement APP
| peared, Robert asked his mother at
| the breakfast table how much the
farm ought to rent for. She, from
force of habit, turned to Beatrice TO
know. Beatrice, in an off-hand way,
named what she believed it to be
worth.
| EHUlEely 0OO low. Sdlu pODSIb, IL
is worth twice that"
ut must be paid monthly" said
Julia.
| "Why, Julia" says Beatrice, farms
are always rented by the year.
II can not help that, | must have
the money to keep boarders."
Eyes, and | must have some new
clothes.n says Robert.
"And," says Mrs. Towers, new
furniture must be bought if we enter
tain much"
After lengthy discussion, it was
decided to have the rent paid quar-
terly.
Beatrice felt sure they could never
rent it, but in this she was mistaken,
for few days after, Il gentleman
called and asked for Mr.. Robert Tow
ers. Upon being informed that Rob
ert was not at home, he introduced
himself as John kenney, and said he
had called to see about renting the
farm. He was invited in to wait, and,
seeing what a handsome young man
he was, Julia made herself very agree
able. After Roberts appearance he
was asked to stay to tea. During the
meal, while talking about the farm,
he asked Robert how much wheat he
raised last year.
Il declare I've forgotten. how much
was it, Beer
''Sixty-three bushels replied she.
Mr. kenney said nothing, but won
dered at Robert asking her, as Julia
had conveyed the impression to his
mind that her sister did not amount
to much. But when he asked how
much of the farm was in grass, and
Robert again appealed to Beatrice,
| Mr.. Kenney could not but look sur
prised. Seeing this, Mrs. Towers,
| with ready tact, said that Beatrice
was always interested in framework on
account of her poor father calling her
his little helper.
Mr.. Kenney did not rent then, but
said he would call again in a week
and see if they could agree on terms.
His offer was nearly what Beatrice
said it would be worth, and the family
were unwilling to take it But hav-
ing a week to think it over, and see
ing no other chance, they concluded to
accept it, provided it was paid quar-
terly, and the first quarter in advance.
The next week found the Towers
family in the city with the exception
of Beatrice, who went to visit her
aunt), and Mr.. kenney and his mother
on the farm. How much Beatrice was
missed the family never would ack-
nowledge. Julia's overbearing ways
kept the cook always on the point of
leaving, and finally, finding that her
wages were not forthcoming, she did
leave. Julia tried her best to fill her
place, but was far from successful.
and one day, when everything had
gone wrong, she decided to swallow her
pride and write to Beatrice to come
and help her Beatrice, good hearted
girl that she was, came at once upon
receiving Julia's letter Under her
skillful fingers, things were brought
to rights, and Julia resumed her
haughtiest airs, and ordered Beatrice
about as she had never dared to do the
cook. Beatrice resented such treat
ment inwardly, but bore with her Sis
ter's whims much better than could
have been expected.
Mrs. Towers was gathering about
her a circle of acquaintance, and was
spending all she could lay hands on
to entertain them. Robert was spend
ing his salary upon himself, and the
boarders had not appeared. Bills be-
gan to come in, and there was moth
ing to pay them with. This did not
worry any of them but Beatrice. See
ing no other way, she devoted the
greater part of check given her by
her aunt to spend on herself, to pay
ing creditors.
ut is no more than right" says
Robert, upon learning what she had
done. "You will not sell the farm,
YOU must foot the bills"
Il did not think it wise then to sell,
| now I know IL - retorte1 she - We'll
all have to go back there yet"
Time passed, they strove to appear
as rich as their neighbors, an uneX-
distant relative helped them to be
stylish a while longer, Mr. Kenny paid
his rent promptly, and came often to
their city home. He and Beatrice
had often discussed farm matters,
current events, etc, and he was sur
prised at the depth Of her knowledge.
Mr.. Kenny had been a student at col
lege. and would have graduated with
honors but the death of his father had
compelled him to come home and earn
a living for himself and mother. Julia
noticed his frequent visits and men
toned to her mother, that she meant
to encourage them, as she thought
him equal to any one, she met i'll socl-
ty. Mrs. Towers agreed with her and
invited him quite often. Julia also
noticed his fOndneSS fos Beatrice'S so.
ciety. and determined to keep her in
the background. So, after one of his
visits, she upbraided her for showing
herself forward and trAing to inflict
herself upon Mr.. Kenny. Beatrice in
dignantly denied that she had done SO.
OF course, the rest of the family agreed