Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-09-27

''''' "a ssAiHthoO'i lbin EeE.
lou may call it that. ula'am. I
don't And Matte set her lips ina a ,le-
terinined way she had. while look OF
loving admiration shOne through her
tears.
I'm afraid you don't understand.
Matte. cOntin. .u Miss Priscilla.
speaking wish paiI.i effort. My sis
Ter and Viii Lc A:ra put TO il now
not to starye. My brother is dead. We
nave nothing To depend on Tor living
nothing and nobody"
You've me, quoth Matte brusque-
/ ly.
We'll not Doe able TO afford serv-
ant now, Ma;;ic." said thc old lady
very sOrrOwfuily.
You'll have servant. Miss Priscil-
la. as long as I've pair of hands To
do your worn"
And for no reasoning of Miss Pris-
elias would Matte bulge an inch
from her decision.
Miss Loriiner had feeble constitu-
uon. and the shock Of h.r brothers
sudden death made a chronic invalid
of her. MiSs Miriam was almost as
helpless in hcr way. AMI il is hard To-
tell what would have hocume OF the
sisters had ia uat .rDa g.. attic. She
was tacir so.c .'. .olt. i.t the remark
able thing i> t.as noioj, knew il cN-
ccpt p"or ,id Miss Priscilla herself
Tn" girl guarded Ines miS,rcsscs' pride
aS c~tcfuiiy rs if IL N..rc her own.
~ soon as possible Matte started
the various sm@H inlustrcS 10y which
she managed 60 Nccp the pot boiling
for three. The .i;.lc white house be-
longci TO the sisters. and that les >cned
her difficulties somewhat. Still il was
no light ta>E ~Ac lai undertaken. she
was at work early aud lace and was
Withal the chccricst little. woman YOU
would meet I'm days march.
To the Villagers who quiz.rd her
about her industry and beer .a.u...--
she declared ~Ic was laying by for
her "proViliru" she WAS not minded
To hc a portionlcSs bride.
IIcr visits to thc ncigfborur town
with supplies Of fruit and vegetables
for the market had set the goSsips
acog. AMI they had many dark hints
to make regarding her honesty. When
the girl invaded their own ground.
however. aud began 10 buy and retail
the crcclS OF fish. thr sight of her
dcpraVity could no longer bc endured.
and they went I'm a deputation 10 in
form and caution the old ladies'
The only had eject OF the ignorant
Interference of these buSybodicS was to
make Miss Miriam more intolcrant in
private of "Niattic'S rcccntriciticS" and
little suspicion that the girl was
greedy. Mattie's indefatigablc energy
became u source Of irritation TO the
delicate old maid. who had not the
key To it. and poor Miss PriScila's Of
fee of mediator was not always
sinccurc But they seldom quarrcled
outright. FOR Matte rarely forgot that
SNiisS Miriam had been kept i'm the
dark" and. besides. she had a tactful
way with her. Scenes like the follow
ing were OF frequent occurrence. how
ever.
Mattie'S bright face would look
round the sitting room door of Il morn
Ing. "Oh. Miss Miriam. if You're not
too busy. would YOU mind plucking Il
few young peas? l must finish the
washing. hut / would like 10 take them
TO the market today. They're scarce"
Miss Miriam would continue To nib
bic the end Of her quill pen rehcctively.
tShc is seated at her desk 1t is Miss
Miriam's belief that she has the poetic
gift and her time is much occupied in
Its cXcrciScl
Its such a lovely morning." says
Matte persuasively.
Dear dear, II YOU only knew what
il means To Ice disturbed ut such mo-
mentS, But YOU have no tact. no con
sidcration; YOU will never learn. Mat
tie.' cries the lady pettiShIy.
I'm 50 sorry. ma'am. but the peas
will so soon be past their best. and
The peas. indeed, And what Of my
ideas? If | do not pluck them when
they are ripe. they withcr also"
But think of the price they'll
fetch" cries the maid, her mind upon
the peas.
The price. Thank goodness. / have
never put my gift To base uses and
never viii, Matte, it grievcs me 20
see you becoming SO merccnary. | do
not think | can possibly afford time
for the peas this morning"
Dear Miss Miriam, not if tell you
! want the money ia buy chicken for
Miss Priscilla? She enjoyed the last
SO much. l assure you, it's not for my
self this time"
THAT alters the case entirely. Ger
tainly. certainly, we must get a chick
en- for Miss Priscilla" Then the good
lady sets her cap straight, and takes
her way cOntentedly to the sunny
garden.
1t was during the first winter-a Sc
we're one, as luck would have it-that
Matte had her hardest struggle to
keep the wolf from the door. She had
not yet started the little poultry farm
which yielded her Il tolerable income /
later on. The garden was empty, save /
for the small household supply of win /
ter potatoes. Fruits, flowers and vegc- /
tables were no longer available. and /.
the sailingS and catches of the fishing 4
fleet We're most irregular. In spite of /
the girls efforts To earn enough by her /
needle. the pinch of want was felt In F
the little home. Ii was Miss Priscilla's .
painful anxiety on account of her .
sister and Matte that reused the latter .