Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-09-27
MAID NIAFrIE.
Unselfsh TO tho Las, She Sup
ported Her Benefac.ors.


There was always a profuSiou of old
/ fashioned blossoms in thc garden that
slopcd from the little white house TO
the waters edge. My early recollection
/ of it is OF spot where the sun shonc
/ more brightly than clScwhcr, The
mingled scents of thc flowers end the
/ salt sea are as fresh aud sweet a. the
story that was ci..ctcd h.r,. years ago.
Matte WAS IA, maid to so 49, Priscilla
and her sister. Miss Miriam. who d,vclt
in the cottage then. When little more
/ than a child She WAS "ta',cn home" 10y
the two elderly sp.nS;c.-. who dealt
most kindly 10y the orphan from that
+ day.
The Misses Lorimcr were spoken of
rs very gcntccl ladies'" although thcir
antcccdentS We're unknown. They had
settled I'm the fishing hamlet when both
were still comparatively Young hut
they had always maintained marked
reserve and had mixed little with the
inhabitants.
on the day Matte learned some
thing of the past ami realized fully the
precariouS future OF her old ladies life
became an astounding. but, above ALL n
stern reality To her. y letter came that
morning addressed i'm strange hand
To Miss Lorimer. The post mark was
London" that faron place associated
in Mattic's mind with pavcmrnts of
gold ana the palatial homes Of wealthy
bankers. IL was there the banker lived
who was own brother to the Misses
Lorimcr.
Matte handed the letter To Miss
Priscilla where she sat at the head of
the frugal hut dainty breakfast table.
and left the room. The door was all
but closed when she heard her mis-
treSS cry:
'Iic is dead. Miriam, Oh. Miriam
George is dead
The distress i'm the voice she loved
held Matte
What" cried Miss Miriam. NO. no:
ii is not possible. The debt. God
would not call him home before his
work was done"
His work is done. The last of the
debt was cleared week ago" Miss
Priscilla answered with a forced calm
that hurt the listener more than her
poignant cry. The letter ruSticd in the
old lady'S trembling fingers with the
sound of autumn leaves in the wintry
wind. and Miss Miriam's low moaning
intensified the effect Of sudden storm
and disaster.
George gone. George gone, And he
the youngest, We have nobody now.
What will become of usy'' Fear made
the last words faint
I'VE have God" said Priscilla.
You do not say our Fathcrr"
Miriam's voice had hardened strangely.
Don't. sister, don't!' cried the elder
quickly. Your bitterness gives him
another wrong TO answer for at the
last judgment and he has surely
enough.
Poor father! You are right. sister"
y sorrowful silence fcll on the sunny
room. the windows of which faced the
south and the sea.
The thoughts Of the sisters were in
communicable even TO each other
I'VE have not seen George for -
years" Miriam remarl ed after IA time.
Aye. hc grudged the expense of the
long jOurncy-dear ladder Priscilla's
voice broke in dry sob. but neither of
the sisters had shed Il tear They
would not mourn too grcvouSly the
brother whose life had been so noble
in their eyes in its stern devotion to a
high ideal of rcctitude. Besides. they
had known a worse sorrow than such
death as George Lorimers could
bring
What does the lawyer say about
about his circumstances 1t was
Miriam who put the anxious question.
She was one of those timid women
who live in constant fear Of deStitution
they who are instinctivcly conscious.
poor things. Of their incapacity.
Tile had decent burial and-and
there seems to be n little over-enough
10 do our turn"
''rhank Godr'
Ii was ut this moment the little maid
outside the door burst into uncontrol-
Table weeping. and the elder of the sis
ters rose from her place and followed
her To the kitchen.
Through Ter tears the girl saw how
Miss Priscilla's expression altered
when alone with hcr-it had turned to
one OF blni despair
Matte" she whispered, II must tell