Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-03-26
MISS ELIZABETH

poor farm, said Mrs. Green. I'm
surprised that's she's KEEP out of it so
long"
Yes" said portly, pompous Mrs.
Barker, wife of the chairman Of the
selectmen, my husband told me this
noon that she had applied to the town
for help, and of course they can't sup
port her in her own house."
Il said twas flying in the face OF
fate when she took those two children
to bring up; one died and t'other ran
away, and now she's all alone"
The vinegar-faced dame who had
thus delivered herself settled to her
work with self-congratulatory look,
as if she thanked the Lord that she
was not as others were.
Mrs. Barker crossed her hands in
stately idleness; it did not become the
wife of the richest man in Bayville to
sew at the fortnight circle; her pres
ence was all-sufficient.
Miss Berry, who sat beside her.
looked up from her seam. Her sallow
face was trifle pale.
You don't mean to say that the
Willowdale people are going to allow
Elizabeth Pyser to go on the town
after all the good she's done?" she
asked.
why not?" returned Mrs. Barker.
1T amt their fault that she's wasted
her money. She's shiftless-always
givin' something to somebody; and
meek-meek as Moses; you'd think
she dasnt say her souls her own; but
she's deep" And with a sigh of COM
miseration at the unworthiness of
poor little Miss Pyser she closed her
mouth with a snap. She had never
forgiven her for being Mr.. Barker's
first love, and she half suspected that
he would be quite willing to exchange
his energetic and short-tempered wife
for the sweetheart of his youth But
you mustn't whisper that l told you
this, for Mr. Barker says women never
know enough to keep anything to
themselves"
"Pm sure we never gossip here"
said Mrs. Green.
Where are you goin', Miss Berry?
Amt you goin to stop to tea?"
mo, l guess I'd better be gettin
home early tonight; Bessie1l be wait
ing for me-"
Now I'll bet Clarindy Berry's gone
straight over to the millin'ry store to
spread the news; so afraid she won't
be the first to tell it. Thank Heaven,
I know enough to keep things to my
self"
But Miss Berry was not going to the
store nor to spread the news: she
knew that it was unprecedented for
her to leave the sewing meeting be-
fore tea time; but as she listened to
the talk the days of her girlhood rose
before her when she and Elizabeth
Pyser were "chums," and told each
Othar oil tbntr sanrata. than q
foolish little quarrel, and they had not
exchanged words for twenty years.
She walked straight down the street,
turned the corner, and without giving
herself time to change her mind. en-
tered Miss Pyser's garden and went
up the walk bordered with bouncing
bets, or "old maids pinks." When in
answer to her knock, Miss Pyser open
ed the door, neither knew what to say,
but straightway fell into each others
arms and began to cry.
The door closed on them. An hour
after when Miss Berry left the house
to go to her own home, there was
springiness in her step, and smile
playing about the corners of her thin
lips, that betokened unusual excite
ment.
Her pretty niece, Bessie, was about
to sit down to her lonely tea when
Miss Berry made her appearance
"Why, auntie! What brings you
home so early?" she asked pleasantly.
"Oh, I couldn't stand the clatter of
those old women. Now you needn't
laugh, Bessie Berry; I know I'm no
chicken myself; but If I'm as heartless
as them l left behind, l hope I'll die
before morning"
well, what's the matter? You
seem to be excited"
NO | amt! I'm just as calm as
you are. But I've been maxim calls
this afternoon. | went to see Betty
Pyser. | KEEP questionin' her till she
told me all about how she lost her
money in the bank that failed over to
Coveton; the man that owned the
house, he let her stay in it out Of pity
first she earned little by sewin' but
| lately folks didn't seem to want any
work done, and she just shut herself
up there to starve. But human nature
got the best of her, and she had to go
to the town. She's always been hop
ing that that good-for-nothing john
ME would come home, but she's about
Civ him up now. / asked her how
much of the furniture was hers, and
KEEP hintin and hintin' till found
ouJ Cftl tidl ohC Souiu eSi hiS,
and enjoyed every minute"
She paused, out of breath with ex-
citement, and remained for some time
in deep thought. Bessie, too, was
silent. She OWNED what was passing
in her aunt's mind.
Say, Bessie" said Miss Berry at
last, do you think we could contrive
to keep another? l can't bear the
thought of having Elizabeth go to the
poor farm. There's that back cham
ber with nothing in it, and she's got
| her own furniture"
She looked appealingly at the girl,
who did not Immediately answer. To
undertake the care of another meant
additional sacrifices, more rigid econ
omy She sighed a little; life was hard
enough for her already. Should she
add to her burden? Would she be just
to herself in doing SO? Then she
thought of the days when she and
John Pyser were boy and girl lovers.
and made wonderful plans of what