Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1896-03-27

them all up before they arc wanted"
Then Mrs. Becker became profuse in
thanks, and Miss Amelia, coming in,
they were all very cheerful, the Misses
Perry making great efforts to appear
SO, and the minister's wife, seeing
through them very clearly, but kind
ly sympathizing for all that.
At last she said good-by, and the sis
tcrs pulled the parlor shades down
again and went up to their room,
where they Invested themselves of
their adornments, and put on their
wrappers to go on with their ironing
Not until this was done did Amelia
say:
didn't the postman bring letter,
Amanda?"
"Yes,' replied her sister. It's from
some lawyer"
Amanda laid the letter on the table,
and the young women looked at each
other sorrowfully.
The little house was very plain, but
they had been born there, their pal
ents had died there. and then they
hardly knew how they should feel
without that small property, or, in
deed, how they should live.
Then sitting down together on a
chintz-covered lounge, they began to
read. AS they did so, the expression
of their faces slowly changed. They
began to utter little "6hs" and "Ahs,"
and as they came to the bottom of the
last page, they dropped the letter on
the table and Rugged each other.
"Do you think we are awaken? asked
Miss Amelia.
81 am" said Amanda. 81 feel as if
the idea of losing our home had been
bad dream. But, dear me! we ought
to have trusted in Providence. Pa was
a righteous man and ma a Christian
woman, and some one in the Bible says:
Il was young, and now I'm old, but
never have | seen the righteous for
saken or his children begging bread.
| know I'm not quoting just right, but
it's close to it. l had no idea Great
uncle Peter, whom we never saw in
our lives, would leave us anything"
"Nor l." said Amelia. "And how
strange; It's just about enough to pay
off the mortgage and our journey to
New York, and little more, Well, we
might buy us bonnets while we are
down." She picked up the letter and
read it again, and they went on talking
till late in the afternoon, and that day
no more ironing was done by the Misses
Perry.
Gossips in general, and Mrs. Becker's
mother in particular, wondered greatly
what could take Miss Amelia away, and
why they did not enlighten their neigh
bors as to the why and wherefore OF
their departure.
When at last they returned, eacl
bearing handbook and several parcels
as well as their traveling-bags, the mys
terry deepened. They were evidently
in high spirits, and nodded and smiled
on all they met. Miss Amelia took the
keys out of her pocket and opened the
door, and both entered. Everybody
saw that, but they saw no more.
When the sisters had taken off theil
travelling wraps, locked up a large pack
age of bank notes, and tried on theil
new bonnets, Amanda said:
81 suppose the folks think we are
going to disappoint them about those
dishes for the fair, and we'd better
get them down and wash them. It.
Saturday, and We'll have hard worl
to get them done by night The fail
opens Monday noon, and of course we
are not going to break the Sabbath"
Then, arraycd in their wrappers
Amanda and Amelia explored cup
boards and pantries, went up into thu
attic and down into the cellar, and final
ly, having piled plates and bowls, cup.
saucers and pitchers on tables, chair'
and window stills, until the littl,
kitchen looked like china shop, the,
began to wash and polish them.
"My, how close it is here!" said Mis-.
Amanda, suddenly. "Do raise a win
dow, Nelly"
Amelia obeyed, and turned to her sis
ter, laughing.
Here's the plaid cloak coming" sh,
said.
"Glad to know it for once" sait
Amanda.
Eyes, | never thought | should b,
glad to see the McMurtry plaid at tn
door," said Amelia. "I'll go and get tn,
money"
| She ran upstairs, and came down t,
find Mrs. McMurtry sitting on chat
in the kitchen.
"Yes," the latter was saying, 81 hear'
you'd come home, and thought I'd cal
and have little talk about our troublcs
! shall hate to do what I've got to do
"Yes, I'm really sorry for you,' sail
Amelia, beginning to wipe dish.
| Mrs. McMurtry looked surprised.
81 suppose you feel it is serious, an,
have done your best" she said.
II don't seem to mind much," sal,
Amella, laughing. II don't look wor
ried, do IL"
"Now, Nelly, don't tease" sal,
Amanda. And Amelia threw her grea
towel over her arm and dipped he
hand into her pocket and drew GU
a great roll of banknotes.
"Iou see we've no reason to fret; an,
we can pay you to-day. We've had a leg
acy, and it just covers what we ow
YOU" She laughed.
"Well, I'm as glad as you are" sal,
Mrs. McMurtry, as Amelia counted oil
the money and laid it on the table at he
elbow. Sand I'll run to Lawyer Smith
and get the papers and receipts. TAX
care, Miss Amelia, take care, you'v
dropped four notes on the foor-you'r
real nervous. Aren't you? So am