The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-04-16

looking out at the
tiny yard that sep
arated her cottage from the street. 1t
was the Last day of March, but the air
was full of the magnetic influence OF
spring. The grass was f~reshening while
in the bed of brown earth at the right of
the walk hardy daffodils, jonquils and
one adventurous ~hyacinth nodded to
The passers-by.
Miss Grant sighed a little impatiently
as she turned from the window. Her
neatly spread tea table stood waiting.
There were a solitary cup. saucer and
plate, each of rare old china. The sill
yer was massive. of the fashion of q
half century ago. There were slices of
snowy homemade bread. all cut of ex-
actly the same thickness, a pot of gold
en- butter. a chicken salad. milk. a glass
of amber jelly. and sugared doughnuts.
1t looked tempting. But the cloud
did not lift from Miss Grants face as
she brought the steaming teapot from
the kitchen and seated herself for her
evening meal. She bowed in silence FOL
a moment. Then, adjusting her nap
kln carefully ONeI HcI utdl bidth edSh-
mere. she said to herself:
And to-morrow's April Fools day.
too. As if there wasn't enough to
bother without that. For the fact of
its being Sunday won't make a.y diff
ference with those unruly boys. Well,
If they attempt to play any tricks upon
NE they'll suffer. that's ALL"
Had tho most Aorinr ,,rohfn In CLAW
vile beheld the scowl upon Miss Sarah's
Ace he would have hesitated long before
attempting to fool her. She creamed
her tea and slowly buttered "A slice of
bread.
Il haven't the beart TO eat" she ex-
claimed a moment later. ITO think that
Grant should have his home sold on a
mortgage. I'm g,ad our father didn't
live TO know it,"
Miss Sarah had devoted the earlier
part of the afternoon to making calls. IL
was at Mrs. Athe-ton's that some one
had spoken Of John Grant, Miss Sarah's
only brother. There was an awkward
pause. then dear old Grandma Atherton
said. gently:
Sarah. you will pardon your moth
er's friend if she tells you something.
Johns home is to he sold on the mort
gage in three weeks. Did you know it ?
No" was Miss Grants uncomrro-
missing reply.
1T is too bad" grandma went on.
alter a moment. "He mortgaged it to
get money to take his wife to New
York for medical aid. 1t did her no
good. poor thing. Well. times are hard
and a man with an invalid wife and six
small children finds it almost impos-
sble to live on a clerks salary"
There was no softening of Miss
sarah's face. After a few minutes she
stlfiy bowed herself out. Grandma
Atherton watched her pass down the
street, a troubled expression on the
Usually placid old face.
m SO sorry" she said. shaking her
shvered head. Sarah could so well af-
iord TO help John. She has been row
ing richer all these years while he has
oeen growing poorer"
ms was the subject Miss Sarah was
evolving in her mind as slk sat at the
va table. 1t vas 20 years since the
aeath OF her parents. The family
rsal'h had been equally divided be-
"een John and herself. Her share. in
$50 p her present homeand judicious
sans' had doubled. John had gone
Az business. lost heavily through a
lonest partner. signed a note with n
crn ppoSed friend. and paid il. then been
s1 70 accept a situation as clerk. Five
a's ago he had asked his sister 10 adj
Sasat money on his pretty home.
bia,u had refused CURLY and scolded
~. 'or mourning needless expense.
"h,, may do no good" he admitted
~, cannot let Amy suffer as she does
-, n more effort for her relief
m. cont believe there is much the
S. with ANY," the sister declared
''w the pink and white prettiness