The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-31

at the ringside, applauding enthusiasts
tically the uppercuts and left-hand
smashes of her Brutus.
Nothing is more characteristic of the
difference in temperament of these two
women, so closely united, so far apart
in nature, than the way in which they
received this publication. For a mo-
ment Miss Clapp was furiously angry.
Then she laughed out with all the en-
pjoyment of one who can see a joke,
even upon herself. But the gentle little
lady, who loved her, was shocked and
Mortified. She never quite recovered
from the. blow to her pride, to her re-
firing, sensitive disposition. Years af-
terward, when both had grown gray.
Miss Clapp would herself tell the story
of her appearance in the Police Gazette.
Miss Babcock would shrink and shud-
der at the thought of 1t, and then Sc
cretly, almost blushingly, this pref
ty little old maid would bring
forth the torn copy, and with the ends
of her fingers she would expose to
close, discreet friend the awful depray-
ity OF the pink paper and printers ink.
Fortune came to these two in time.
When the centennial was being cele-
brated in Philadelphia these old maid
schoolma ans went abroad, strange
countries for to see. Stocks were boom
ing on the Constock. 1t was hard
to say just what one was worth. These
two single women might have been
worth 100000. They might be worth
more later. In the meantime their
dividends from Belcher alone amounted
to over $500 month. So they travelled.
They saw all they wanted to. They
visited every place that tempted them
They bought whatever they coveted
| They ordered furniture for their home
in Carson from the most artistic fur
nishing houses in the country. And
s,1nx ~, IL =.
| Nevada-for it never occurred to these
| two loyal Nevadans to forsake their
| sagebrush home-to find that the bot
! tom had dropped out of stocks; that
| their broker had held, instead Of selling
and that three $2o-pieces remained of
| their fortune after he had been paid
| and discharged.
| So again they set to work, the indie
| fatigable two. Through the influence
| Of one of Nevada's senators, who has
been a close friend of these women for
years, Miss Clapp was given position
in the Nevada state university. They
| removed to Reno, where the university
| is, and there the health Of the weaker
| one began to. fail. But Miss Clapp's
salary was a generous one. and the
| two lived upon it, sharing it as they
| had shared when they were rich and
when they were poorer.
| Lets go to the bank. Duckie," the
|
pay day came, land deposit what we
| can Of our salary"
| "All right, Miss Clapp," was the re-
| ply.
1t was always Miss Clapp"-a queer
| sort Of pedagogical courtesy that re-
manned long after these two We're
closer than most women who lavish
endearing words upon each other. The
head of the family, indeed, permitted
| herself occasional tender, protecting
| pet names, as husband might, and
so "our" salary was deposited.
Where is the woman married to a
| man that has been treated with such
| financial consideration? In rare cases
| he does hand over his wages to you,
madam, but the money is his, never
! theless, given In your care only because
| you are more prudent, less tempted.
| The wills of these two were made in
each others favor. Both had relations
who were thought of kindly, but all
| they had was for each other.
When I die I shall be cremated,'
| said the strong minded one.
when I die bury me- asked the
other, where your ashes may be laid
upon my breast"
| The night death came to Miss Bah
| cock her protector awakened with the
feeling, as she afterward said, that "a
mother might have If she is troubled
about her baby
The wife of Miss Clapp was gasping,
but she put her arms about the neck Of
| the one who had cherished her SO ten
derby, so unselfishly, so generously,
and chung there with all the strength
| of her last breath. Her small, stiff,
terward that of these two faithful
comrades the living might be sepa-
| rated from the dead.
|