The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-30
MAID MATTE.
Unselash to the Last, She Sup
ported Fer Benefacsors.


There was always profusion of old
fashioned blossoms in the garden that
.sloped from the little white house to
the waters edge. My early recollection
OF it is of spot where the sun shone
more brightly than elsewhere. The
mingled scents Of the flowers and the
salt sea are as fresh and sweet as the
story that was enacted here years ago.
Matte was the maid to Miss Priscilla
and her sister, Miss Miriam, who dwelt
IN the cottage then When little more
than a child she was .staken home" by
the two elderly spinsters, who dealt
most kindly by the orphan from that
day.
The Misses Lorimer were spoken OF
as ..yerv genteel ladies'" although their
antecedents were unknown. They had
settled in the fishing hamlet when both
were still comparatively young, but
they had always maintained a marked
reserve and had mixed little with the
inhabitants.
On the day Matte learned some
thing Of the past and realized fully the
precarious future Of her old ladies life
became an astounding, but, above all, a
stern reality to her. A letter came that
morning addressed In strange hand
to Miss Lorimer.i The post mark was
..London" that faroh place associated
IN Mattie's mind with pavements of
gold and the palatial homes Of wealthy
bankers. It was there the banker lived
who was own brother to the Misses
Lorimer.
Matte handed, the letter to Miss
Priscilla where she sat at the head OF
the frugal but dainty breakfast table.
and left the room. The door was all
but closed when she heard her mis-
tress cry:
she is dead. Miriam! Oh, Miriam,
George is deadv'
The distress in the voice she loved
held Matte.
sWhatp' cried Miss Miriam. .sNo, no;
st is not possible, The debt! God
would not call him home before his
work was donew
.'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 rustled in the
old ,ady's trembling fingers with the
sound Of autumn leaves in the wintry
wind, and Miss Miriam's low moaning
intensified the effect Of suddeC storm
and disaster.
George gone, George gone! And he,
the youngest! we have nobody now.
What will become Of us?" Fear made
the last words faint. =
ssWe have God," said Priscilla.
"You do, not say Our Father!"
Mlriam's voice had hardened strangely.
s1Don't, sister, don'tw cried the elder
quickly. "Your bitterness gives him
another wrong to answer for at the
last iudgment-and he has surely
enough"
/. Poor father! You are right, sister,"
A sorrowful silence fell on the sunny
room, the windows Of which faced the
south and the sea. Il
The thoughts Of the sisters were in
communicable even to each 0ther.
4'We have not seen George for %
years." Miriam remarked after time.
"Aye. he grudged the expense Of the
long journey-dear laddie" Priscilla's
voice broke in dry sob, but neither OF
the sisters had shed q tear. They
would not mourn too grievously tho
brother whose life had beec so uoble
in their eyes in its stern devotion to q
high ideal Of rectitude. Besides, they
had known a worse sorrow than such
death as George Lorimer's could
bring.
"WLat 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 instincttvely conscious.
poor taings, Of their incapacity.
--"He had decent burial, and-and
there seems to be little over-enough
to do our turn"
Thank God!"'
1t was at 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 tie kitchen.
Through her tears the girl SAW how
Miss Priscilla's expression altered
when alone with her-it had turned to
one Of blank despair.
Matte" she whispered, II must tell
somebody or it will be too much for
me. had to spare poor Miriam, but
that was a falsehood I told her."
.'You may call it that, ma'am! /
don't" And Matte set her lips In de-
termined way she had, while look Of
loving admiration shone through her
tears.
.I'm afraid you don't understand,
Matte" continued Miss Priscilla,
speaking with painful effort. my Sis
ter and I. will be hard put to it now
not to starve. Ny brother is dead. We
baye nothing to depend on for living
->4h{x,c, oud Onhof7v ~