The evening times., 1897-11-24
to the half-century which was all she could

to the half century which was all she could
lay claim to.
II did almost think could a-fancied :,
Moater with my tea" she added. ~ she
made "A kettle bolder of back number OF
the parish magazine. They're Two Ioi
turre la pence at the shop at the corner al
finer YOU couldn't wisi: to see only wha'
with one thing an 'nother--'
"Giuircc tine money" interrupted her
,,alshter; s.it wont axe me above a minrit
and feel as though gould relish one my
self"
Her n.otaer produced the amount from
some stronghold i'll her petticoafs, and
Em'Iy. S,ick;n. on her hat at a rakish angle
departed.
Mrs WIGS had lust set the teapot on the
Inh to draw when there came h tap at the
door.
..wE,'il that lie. now, l wonder? l dc
wish folks wouldn't come tothering ne al
meal times Come in. oh, it's you, Mrs
Flinders! Why? There amt nothink the
uIatte-, opc?"
This. OWING 10 ID turhan-like arrangement
upon tile visitor ; head, which, constructed
as it TO all appearances was out ot a towel,
which had seen some service since IL las.
encountered the washtub, was obviously not
to he ta6en in dI. ornamental Sense. Mrs
FLINDERS, large, flabby. unkeinr'-'o"Elns
woman. who. undoubtedly, had not used
Pears or any other brand of soap Of late,
floppen down ia the nearest chair which
rreaEed !. rc:Iobstrance and broke mo
perspiration and tears
what's hc bin a-duing of Cw'' asked
Mrs WiCks, at once diagnosing the com
plaint.
MIS- Flinders uuwuund a portion of the
towel. thus disclosing her left eye. which
appeared, lik. the local tradesEhen, :" have
adopted the early-Clusiug movement POINT
ed To 4 rapidly rising bump that adorned
her brow. and sobbed: ''nDin Of? Why,
tryin' to r1akc cold ccrpseof is welded
wife, which he will, one % these fine days
if | only live long 'nough.''
pear, dcar!'' exclaimed Mrs. Wicks sym
rathe:Ically, and i'm sich scoG 'usban
when the driuk isn't i'll 'ini'
ITS = true word you're speaker" an
sweTcd Mrs. Flinders, but for all that
it's a widuwer he'll find 'isself win rope
round is neck sooner or LATER
Men Emily thought we card somethink
as though you was 'aving little falling
out WAS Ms. Wicks' delicate wayof pu-r
ting it.
"FalIin'! 'Twasn't failin'; twas chuckin
it at ne n, was, an Il mercy is aim WdSn I
so Stiddy a. it might be, or it's in my coffin
I'd be at this very Inihnit stead - sittiri'
ere
Mrs. wicEs expressed her sense ri the
seriousness of the situation by clicking her
tongue against the roof of her mouth prr'r
To inquiring:
Was il the poker this time, or WHAT
That's what's brcakin my art, let alon.
my 'eaI," responded MIS- Flinders, riyulets
oil grief ir:igating the soil OF her counte
iance. 40 think o the trouble toOa, an
the way | wor IA ,Iys.,lf out. goin' round tn"
parish ,...ttin' letter ~ rrck ymei'l.ition to
the sussiety hs supplies wooden legs an
cias: eyes an sIcii like post free. cos Is oid
one vas lone for, b-in' broken III two
PLACES: an proud " rs fus. timr walked
out with i'm an ths moo un. Little did l
think a, IL Irss'n a fortnight he'd he fling
in tine old leg at my cad an knockin' ms
brains out As near a. ever was. Sich wife
as I've bin to 'iN an air.
"Nh, coiafnept.G Mrs. Wicks, as TIE
visitor paused to take breath, Iii we only
selves, there's a many of us'd turn back
n the church door an say. Much obliged,
but IN change my iHihd an not my lame Z"
''Yol may well say that sighed the
other. when l married Flinders he was
in the hrtckia viz line, TIL the side of a
ease fell on i'm an crushed lis leg like it
al hin made o wax. an thought IL a fine
thing when they give i'm the pianny origin
an Il donkey to drore it. by way % com
pensstt.on. Though times an times Nv.
saia since as I'd rather ave imas he were,
stead . with "A leg as unstraps an stands
IN Il corner at night an gets SHE'D al yo,:
pcrmisc Gus when the drinks in i'm or
things not jest to is likin'. But there"
drying her tears on :; convenient corner of
the towel. I'm keepin' you from yer tea,
only sorneuw ] felt as l must relieve my
mind 10 somebody, an you bein' neigh
bot let alone ';yin seen trouble ''
'A!,. you're right. there! Wicks were i
and! nj in is time. Trough l wouldn't wish
to he casting it up agen i'm now he's gone.
an it's always been a comfort to me 20
know as done my duty by I'm with
three ordpe tucss round my skirt, when
many'd a-san two was plenty"
Wei, don't say wouldn't 10 as much
for Flinders, come to that, hut then we
women's that iorgivin'. Any'ow I'll get
I'm Il bit of fried fish or sa veioy for is
SUPPER
Mrs. Flinders oozed out of the room, Ell
Miss wicks on the threshold,
who gave her c,vl salutation aud ey II
the towel with distinct disapprovnl.
why. Emily" was her mothers greeting,