Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-08-24

She looked at the address, anG then
turned slowly 20 the signature. 1T is
from William, she said quietly
"Frcm William, echoed Miss Caro-
line. "and we thought him dead. She
wondered how Miss Jane could speak
50 calmly with letter from her old
lover in her hand.
"He l. dead, said Miss Jane. "but
recently there is a postscript -
And left you fortune. quavered
Miss Caroline loyfully.
Il will read the letter. said Miss
Jane
But when she had read it aloud the
sisters stared at each other with stricken
faces from which the life had died.
His lame child-to love and pro-
tect, said Miss Jane very firmly and
looked at Miss Caroline with defiant
eyes. "A lame child-to support :" fall
tered Miss Caroline She did not realize
quite all that this meant Her mind
groped hlindly about the Thought 1--WE
have barely enough for two-and a
lame child!' she repeated
lit is she who writes the postscript, -
said Miss Jane "She comes tomorrow
at B.
And if Joseph were not good
mouser he would often 90 without
meat. Miss Caroline continued her re-
feceions. land with barely enough /
Jane, Jane, We expected fortune. and
ii is burdenl" Miss Jane remained
silent
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath
taken away" sobbed Miss Caroline.
Its not the money, but the poor
creatures in the workhouse. And this
year we shall not have even scent bags
to give.
1T is a comfort that William 5 child
need not go there. said Miss Jane. and
her face worked.
William crippled chiA. Impossi-
blel''
Before Miss Caroline's eye came the
picture of lame Susan. who sat all day
in the hard workhouse chair. and her
tears rushed forth
That will never, never beI' she
cried. Where there's enough for two
there's enough for three
where there's enough for two there $
certainly enough for three, repeated
Miss Jane firmly. And silence fell
After awhile Miss Jane rose. 81 will
90 into the village to get muslin for the
bags, she said composedly.
Miss Caroline lifted her white face.
1--WE must wait. Jane. The lavender is
blighted. There will be very little to
gather.
Her voice failed; then courage re-
turned. But that is no reason why l
should not gather what there is. " she
added with tremulous cheerfulness.
When Miss Jane, shawled and bon
neted. hurried down the path, Miss
Caroline was too busy over the lavender
bushes to bid her hasten back.
The poor lady was still stunned by
the disappointment. Her thoughts trem-
bled like her limbs. They tottered about
the subject. Life had been difficult
enough before. How could she hope to
meet the additional expense of the Grip
pied child? And William had not treat
ed Jane well in the old days. She looked
despairingly at the stunted lavender
sprigs. They made the future more
hopeless.
She was afraid tc utter her fears to
Miss Jane, whose mouth when she came
back from her marketing, was set with
new firmness. Miss Caroline watched
her furtively when she cut the loaf for
tea She could see Miss Jane making
mental measurements of the slice. In
stead of cutting it in half she divided it
glanced d hastily at Miss Caroniie.a wfi6s5
happily, was net looking.
But Miss Caroline's knees were shak-
ing, and she almost cried out when Miss
Jane covertly helped herself to the
smallest lump of sugar in the bowl.
"And Jane always had sweet tooth, "
thought Miss Caroline. But she said
nothing, for the tightness of Miss James
upper lip was something new and dread
full The rest of the day they spent re-