The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-30
you've me-. quorn ,Mat,.u p.usis. (.

well not be able to afford a scry-
ant now, Matte" said the OLD lady
very sorrowfully.
You'll have servant, Miss Prlscil.
Ia. as long as I've pair of hunds to
do your work"
And for no reasoning of Miss Pris-
elias would Matte bulge an inch
from her decision.
Miss LOrimer had q feeble constitu-
ton, and the shock of her brothers
sudden death made a chronic invalid
OF her. Miss Miriam was almost as
helpless in her way, and it is hard to
tell what would have become of the
sisters had 1t not been for Matte. She
was their sole support, but the remark
able thing is that nobody knew 1t ex-
cept poor old Miss Priscilla herself.
The girl guarded her mistresses' pride
as carefully as IL it were her own.
AS soon as possible Matte started
the various small Industries by which
she managed to keep the pot boiling
for three. The little white house be-
longed to the sisters, and that lessened
her difficulties somewhat. Still 1t was
no light task she had undertaken. She
withal the cheeriest little woman you
would meet in IL days march.
TO the villagers who Quizzed her
about her industry and her earnings
she declared she was "laying by" for
her "providing"-she was not minded
to be portionless bride.
Her visits to the neghbOrlng town
with supplies of fruit and vegetables
for the market had set the gossips
agog, and they had many dark hints
to make regarding her honesty. When
the girl invaded their own ground,
however, and began to buy and retail
the crcels of fish, the sight Of her
depravity could no longer be endured,
and they went in q deputatlon to in
form and caution the old ladies.
The Oily bad effect Of the ignorant
interference OF these busybodies was to
make Miss Miriam more intolerant in
private Of "Mattie's cccentricities" and
greedy. Mattie's indefatigable energy
became n source Of irritation to the
delicate old maid, who had not the
key to It, and poor. Miss Priscilla's Of
fee OF mediator was not always q
slnecure. But they seldom quarreled
outright, for Matte rarely forgot that
Miss Miriam had been "kept in the
dark" and, besides, she had O tactful
way with her. Scenes like the follow
ing were Of frequent occurrence, how
ever.
8Iattie's bright face would look
round the sitting room door Of n morn
ing. "Oh, Miss Miriam, IL you're not
too busy, would you mind plucking a
few young peas? I must finish the
washing, but would like to take them
to the market today. They're scarce"
Miss Miriam would continue to nib
bic the end OF her Quill pen refectively.
(She is seated at her desk. It Is Miss
Miriam's belief that she has the poetic
gift, and her time is much occupied in
its exercise.) t3F
"It's such q lovely morning" says
Matte persunsiveIy.
Dear, dear! II you only knew what
it means to be disturbed mt such mo-
ments! But you have no tact, 10 con-
sideration; you will never learn, Mat
tiew cries the lady pettishly.
"I'm SO sorry, ma'am, but the peas
will SO soon be past their best, and"-
"The peas, indeed! And what Of my
ideas? If I do not pluck them when
they are ripe, they wither also"
"But think Of the price they'll
fetch" cries the maid, her mind upon
the peas.
1.-THE price! Thank goodness, have
never put my gift to base uses-an6
never will! Matte, 1t grieves me to
scr xyAr ff,rp a.
not think I can possibly afford time
for the peas thia morning"
Dear Miss Miriam. not ie tell yog;
I want the money to buy q chicken for
Miss Priscilla? She enjoyed the last
SO much. assure you. it's not for my
self this time"
tThat alters the case entirely. Ger.
tainly, certainly, we must get chick.
en- for Miss PRISCILLA Then the good
lady sets her cop straight, and takes
her way contentedly to the sunny
garden.
It was during the first wlnter-a Sc
we're ones as luck would have it-that
Matte had her hardest struggle to
keep the wolf from the door, She ha,1
not yet started the little poultry farm
which yielded her o tolerable income
later on! The garden was empty, save
for the small household supply Of win
ter potatoes. Fruits, flowers and vege-
tables were nc longer available, ana
the sailings and catches OF the fishing
feet We're most Irregular. In spite Of
the girls efforts to earn enough by her
needle. the pinch Of want was felt in
the little home. 1t was Miss PriscilIa's
painful anxiety on account OF her
sister aftd Matte that reused the latter
to her utmost endeavor. She bethought
her OF o plan. and straightway entered
into O. compact with couain Of hers.
q young nshefman. who had shown
himself very friendly toward her Of
late. He was to lend her his cobble Of
o night to 60 a-dshing in the firth on
her own account, and he would have a
percentage,of her winnings. She made
the stipuiations that he was not to
speak OF the transaction to any one,