The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-30
MAID MAT'TIE.
Unselfsh to tho Last, She Sup
ported Her Benefactors.


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 dweit
in the cottage then. When little more
than q child she was "taken home" by
the two elderly sp!nsters. who dealt
most kindly by the orphan from that
day.
The Misses Lorimer were spoken of
as very. 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 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, q
stern reality to her. A letter came that
morning addressed In q strange hand
to Miss Lorimer. The post mark was
"London"-that faroff place associated
il Mattie's mind with "pavements Of
gold and the palatIal homes of wealthy
bankers. 1t was there the banker lived
,,,1,< -,
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: T
"Hc Is dead, Miriam! Oh, Miriam,
George is deadv'
The distress in the voice she loved
held Matte.
"Whatr' cried Miss Miriam. mo, no;
IT is not possible, The debt! God
would not call him home before his
work w6s done!'
Ills work is done. The last of the
debt was cleared week ngo," Miss
Priscilla answered with forced calm
that hurt the listener morc tnan ner
poignant cry. The letter Eus;;ed :a tie
old lady's trembling fingers with the
sound Of autumn leaves in the ,wintry
wind, and Miss Mirfam'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 us?" Fear made
the last words faint.
I'VE have God," said Priscilla.
"You do, not say Our Father!"'
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
4 enough.''
Poor father! You are right, sister,
A sorrOwful silence fell on the sunny
4 fo0in, the windows or which faced the
south and the sea.
The thoughts OF the sisters were In.
communicable even to each other.
We have not seen George FOR! 25
q years." MirlCm remarked after q time.
Aye. he grudged the expense OF the
long Journey dear ladder Priscilla's
4 Voice broke jn a dry sob, but neither OF
> the sisters had shed q tear. They
would not mourn too grieyously tho
4 brother whose life had beeh 80 noble
= In theic eyes In It's stern devotion to a
high ideal OF rectitude. Besides, they
had known worse sorrow than such
ia death as George Lorlmers could
a bring. siS :, ,s X
4 What does the lawyer cay about
q about Ills clrcumstanccsf p It was
Miriam who put the anxious question.
~ She was one OF those timid women
who live In constant 1ear o4 restitution
3-they who are instinctively conscious,
f5poor things, OF their incapacity.
8 He had q decent burial, and--and
there seems to bea little over enough
Ito do onr turn. . II : sss3
a Thank God!''x q 1. Ss; *
81 1t was at this moment the little maid
outside the door burst into uncontrol.
liable weeping, and fhel elder of the sis.
tiers rose from her plnce and followed
per to- the kitchen. 3 IS 8 KS: .lss u s3ss
81 Through hei' tears the girl saw how
MISS priscllla'e expression altered
when alone with her sc had sSurned to
pne OF blank despair. 4. IS ~
81 "Mattie." sho whispered, II must tel!
!fomebody or it viii 'be to0 much for
me. Isi1ad to spare poor Miriam, but
that wac as faisehpbd u told her 4sssa
"You may call liz thnt. MA, am .s 4
J! l'on't.S And Matte set her Hips in' a iel,
ermfne1 way sfe had bile a. look OF
owing adlnirat ation shone through her
tearas y. .s:i
81 l'ni afraid you don't understand,
f4attie, r e0ntiEued 4 siss x Priscilla, 3
peakiti with plf fnSnis et 1T. !. sis
er and win Be hard pnt to Sc now
et to- starve. Afy rother rs sIead. We
,ys t1ins g aeI.sta I. Sn far 81 wing