The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-07-29

'I want that for Mr.. Sykes rela-
tives when they come to town." said
Mrs. Sykes. Hes got single
brother with property, and q married
sister, with no children, who is very
well of indeed2 aud il don't want il;
don't propose to open free asylum
for every old maid that comes along"
"But what will she do?"
"Do? Why, do as other folks do,
suppose. Go to cheap boarding
house. There's plenty of 'em, I'm
sure"
''But If she hasn't got any money!"
"Then she's no business here"
said autocratic Mrs. Sykes. "Why
didn't she stay out West, where her
| friends could take care of her?"
"Perhaps she hasn't any friends"
"Then she certainly must be an un-
deserving character" said Mrs. Sykes
shaking the rusk crumbs down upon
Eyeleen's neatly-swept carpet. ''Oh,
here's Selma Smith, as true as the
worldw
Mrs. John Smith came futtering
ina thin, sharp-featured little woman
with swapping black eyes.
"Oh," she cried, "you're here, are
you, Debby? How do, Eveleen?
Well, since you're taking tea, 1 will
have a cup Heard the nsws?" as she
sat herself down.
"About Mary Ann Blake? Yes, of
course" answered Mrs. Sykes, with a
toss of the head. She's been to see
me; but / sent her about her busi-
ness"
"Well, she certainly can't expect us
to provide for her." said Mrs. Smith,
beginning to crumble up the reserve
of crackers that Eveleen had brought
out, with a sigh. "Smith's salary ain't t
large, and I've considerable-s sized
family of my own. told her pretty
plainly that, as far as was concerned,
she needn't expect anything. do
hate these genteel bsggarsl And if
she should come here, Eveleen, l hope
you will give her the cold shoulder.
Hush There's knock now. If it
should b, her!'
"lt's u good thing we are here to
advise" said Mrs. Sykes, as Eveleen
went to the dor. 'Eveeen is so un-
suspectingl Any one could impose
upon herl"
eyes, to-b,.su nodded Mrs.
Smith, complacently. "And- But,
dear me, it is Mary Ami"
Both the sisters nodded frigidly at
the approach of tall, nervous-looking
woman, in shabby black, followed by
Eveleen, who drew out the softest
easy-chair for her accommodation, and
gently united her wispy bonnet
strings.
"Do sit down." said Eveleen. "I
am sure you are tired. Let me give
you cup of tea.
YES" said Mary Ann Blake, look
ing apprehensively from Mrs. John
Sykes to Mrs. John Smith, 'I am
tired. have been walking a good
ways"
"I hope you've got q situation,
said Mrs. Smith, icily.
But Mary Ann Blake shook her
head.
at was very foolish of you to come
here at all, wasting your money on un
expensive journey" said Mrs. Sykes
"Why couldn't you go to Aunt Pam.
ella.
| Now Aunt Pamela was the rich old
aunt in Wisconsin, who so systemati-
cally ignored her niecss in New York,
and kept her money in United States
bonds, instead OF investing it in Mr..
Sykes Wholesale grocery, or Mr..
Smiths insurance company
81 did," said Mary Ann, dejectedly,
"But she declined to assist me"
''Ssingy old harridanl" said Mrs.
Sykes, with energy.
"She has right to do as she peasee
with her own, l suppose" said Eve
leen, who was boiling up q teaspoon
full of fresh tea for the pale guest, aud
cutting q little smoked beef in thin
slices.
"No she hasn't" said Mrs. Smith.
"People get so miserlyl"
"Sykes thinks We might some day
clap her into lunatic asylum, and
put the property into the hands OF
trustees, for the use OF her relatives, "