The evening times., 1897-11-24
what TIM, you've bin, amt you?"

what Il TINA you've bin, amt you?"
Well, wasn't going to be put off
with ard roes, not IL | picked over the
whole stock. Put I've got two feauties.'
Half an hour later nothing remained oIt
the skeletons of the feast.
'Tn thinking" said Mrs. Wicks. as
She set down her empty saucer, ''as III
iesy go up to Mrs. Midgetts an arst rr fo-
the loan al 'er big Bible. The disrr.ik
vsitDI'l II he round tonorrer, and sir. was
accomplishing last time as the print IN
ourn was too small. being near-sighteh,
and shr 10 read 80 beautiful it's a treat as
! 'lont Ike To miss, an Mrs. Midgetts in
mes the best o. friends, an she'll he only
too plef; ;se,, To lend it,
i've Lothing To say against Mrs. Mil
sctts." answered her daughter: she's one
a keeps 'erseit To erself. and 'er i,lac. like.
a new pin. I'll wash up she added, gra
Cio'.iy and If you've a mind TO stop and
a-e chat, YOU can"
having pat herself into visiting Trim by
the simple nieans of turning down her
sleeves ard twisting her apron rG-ind her
waist Mrs. H'cks Set out. she had only To
turn to the right along dark stone pas
sage, ascend flight OF stars, turn to the
door at the very end-a dra b c'Lorcd door,
which IordedH itself over its neiGhbors on
tn, strength of little iror knoCk"r and
a Iit for letters: which last innovation
somewhat stank in the nostrils uf tie
other Inhabitants of Parkei's Buildings
who were content 10 have their missiveS
pokcd under the door. The knuSk ker. At
tending to lessen the wear and tear II
,ft.
favor. lf -
Mrs. Wicks' progress, however, was n1t
80 rapid as it reads. in consequence of her
having L. paSs the tine of day and RESPOND
To the various Solicitations of those she co.
counr@re,: on route. Moreover, at one point
the way was bl@cked by Mrs. Pri-CinS, the
priEia vira go ssointa OF the Buildings. who
happened 10 be in particularly GooI FORM
LizabctE Ham, it appeared, hal been
guilty Of "callin e names after a ncighbors $
child aud had tbereupon been threatened
with bidi.y chastis"ment by an indignant
parent. This reached Mrs. Priggins' ears.
Who, Accustomed as she was to beat her
rfispriuG black and blue, and any number
of intermediate tints, herself, naturally -
sented any encroachment on her maternal
prcruga!ive. she accortlin gly took al
Santag" &C an accidental meeting on the
stairs to make plain statement of what
would ne her plan OF Campaign-with &c
specti, sundry eyes and linbs-if any Jut
slider SO much as laid the weight of her
little finger on the said 'Lizahcth Ham.
So it WAS with a sigh of relief and
sense of having reached haven Of refuge,
that Mrs. Wicks found herself confronting
the drab door with tine little iron knocSer.
mild application of this last was pru
ductivr OF an invitation to come In
''Lor. Mrs Wicks. thatvou: Why, yCuare
stranger, an whit day it's bin to he
sure. I've bin out a-washinG, an I don't
mind ever To a-felt the eat 81 before
As far;-s out ward appearances went, Mrs.
Midgetts might have been Mrs wicks win
sister. She was about the same height and
build, possessed the same nonI script Col
lection of features, and Gro wned the whole
with Grape bonnet that was the very
double of Ms. wicks' headrear. She was
also a widow, the late Midgetts, like the
ditto wicks, having turned up anyt hing but
trumps In the matrimonial venture.
Mrs Midget room was, like herself.
clean tuthe point Of aggressiveness, but diff
fered from Mrs. wicks' apartment, mas.
much as there was no mangle; Mrs. Mid
gets he'd, with its blue and white check
countcrpane. occupying the place Of honor.
Tomake up for which disparity, it appeared
that Mrs. Midcetts who was discovered at
tea when, in a literary sense, the curtain
rose upon her-was engaged with bloat.r
which might have been d connection by
marriage OF the two for which Mrs. Wicks
and Emily had just made themselves per
sonaily responsible.
III you'u promise to go on with your
tea, same as though l wasn't 'ere,' the
visitor stipulated, ''else I'll 60, an come
q bit later
''You won't do no SIGH thing peremp-
torily- ''set down, now, do, and take Il
cup a-loBger me. I'm Sorry there amt
another bioater--"
Don't YOU mention it, now, Mrs. Mid
gets dent. Men Emly's but this minnit
finished; what more, we 'ad IA blua ter same
as you're doin'.''
we'll was the answer, Il must say
l eaj'ys little sornethink with nv tea
Dlnner don't get much time for, 'cept
its Sundays. And s'ow's you an Emily
bin Gettin' on this while?''
only iniddlfng. Emily, she can't abide
Barker's Buildings, an she's been an sci
'erself agcn the Flinderses next door, an
what with one thing an mother, she's al
ways a-grCInblng. Fack is, il IL weren't
for me an the mangle, she'd like TO goout
to service She always was genteel from a
chilli was Emily, and 'er minds set OH
them lonr-tailsd cars what they're a
wearing uow.r