The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-06-18
old twins, were left to deal with the al.

Jean, the wise and womanly, went on
TO the new house that the three had
cleaned the day before, to look after
and place the furniture as it arrived,
while Jack divided his services as need
ed, and Frances superintendent the
fitting from the old home.
While she worked her thoughts were
bitter. She would not have minded la
Dor If it had led to anything, but all
their efforts were scarcely even soften
ing their fail. Year after year the fam
lily was slipping down. The younger
ones were growing up to harder times,
less advantages, than even she had had.
Jean had been obliged to leave school
last year to help ut home, and Jack could
not continue after this term, but must
go to work, as he had already had to
do in the vacations. Aud she had tried
SO hard to let them keep on little
longer. Jean was born teacher, II sire
could only be educated herself, and
Jack had many talents. But there was
nothing for them in life but drudgery
nothing for the youngest children but
the same.
And she-she could not leave them
when she was so needed. She, too, must
toll ON hopelessly. and crush down all
natural longing for ease and bright
ness and girlish pleasures down
even love.
She fairly hated the costly old furni-
ture, even while she watched carefully
over its packing by the truckmen, who
were inclined to be impertinent to her
about it's weight and her care. Even
it could help them so much, If only
they were allowed to sell 1t.
She got hasty dinner at noon for
the others; but was too heated and tired
TO eat herself. II was not till mid
afternoon that the last load started for
the new house.
The trucllmen, who had evidently had
something stronger than coffee to drink
after dinner, and were in hurry to be
through, being paid by the job and not
the load, piled the things on recklessly
high. When Frances ventured to re-
nonstrate, they were insolent.
Jack, with the protection OF his in
cipient manhood, was at the other
house; she could only stand aside and
pretend not to notice the half-drunken
fellows muttered contempt for "wom-
ems and poor folks bossing.
The load WIS packed at last, The
browning piece was the beautiful old
inlaid secretary that had been the pride
of Miss Deborah's library. AS the
horses moved under the whip and oath.
and the wagon started, making too
sharp turn into the road from its
backed-up position opposite the front
gate, the secretary trembled on Its un-
steady perch = tottered = fell and
crashed in pieces on the sidewalk.
The horses got another cut for their
nwkwardness, and without apology or
comment, the truclmen drove hastily
off. They were to be paid at the new
house, and they hoped to get their
money before news of their carelessness
reached there.
To Frances, overweight as she was
In mind and body, the accident seemed
the last stroke OF fate. She sat down
among the ruins and cried, with her
apron to her eyes, careless who might
see her.
Dick Stedman saw her afar as he
came up the duiet, elm shaded street,
and arrived ON run in his anxiety.
"My dearest girl! what are you do
ing?" cried he. Are you hurt, or what
has happenedP"
He was going on his knees beside her,
but Frances stopped him by rising with
the dignity of all the colonial Dam
forths, embodied in very small WON
an wearing a faded calico dress and
large bingham apron.
Don't be alarmed, Dick" she said,
land don't do the distracted Romeo out
here; for old Miss Wichitt has been
watching through her blinds all day
to see our things as they GO, and she's
probably looking at you now. Tn
not hurt in the least, but my Grand
aunt Deborah's writing-desk has had an
accident, and is a noble wreck in ruin
Gus perfection. Behold It'll" with a
tragic gesture down at the ruins. Who
could deny tear to such literally fallen
GRANDEUR"
Very little could be done for it, evil
IDENTIFY. The heavy fall on the stones
had fairly split it in pieces. Its spindle
legs had sustained several compound
fractures; one side was in splinters,
the shattered drawers had fallen out,
and bits of delicate inlaying lay all
about the pavement.
Dick went on piling the pieces
methodically at one side; then moving
the main part, picked up some papers
and rose to give them to Frances.
"Your letters will be blowing all
about the street If you don't take care"
he said.
Letters? TlAre were none in the
desk. No one has used it since my
grand-aunt did. These must be some
of hers, crowded out of a drawer and
in behind the frame somehow. 1t can't
be any harm to see what they are.
though, suppose"
| She unfolded them as she spoke.
There was am unimportant receipted
bill or two, tax assessment of the year
Miss Deborah died, then a cracking,
legal-looking sheet Of parchment.
81, Deborah Danforth, do make and
publish this my last will and testnr
ment," read Frances. "Dick, it must be
it can't bet is another will of hers,
and in my fathers favor! And it is
dated after the one that disinherited
himi"
The Danforths moved once more be-
fore that spring had deepened into sum
nier. Zebedee Smith was an honest
man, if hard one, and the new-found
will was unimpeachable.
He did not attempt to resist it, and
Mr.. Danforth was liberal to him in taxi
ing back his own. And the Danforths
moved into Miss Deborah's stately old
stone house in time to have Francee
married from there.-Ladies' World.