The St. Johns herald., 1900-10-13

you. Good-by, all of you. I give you my blessing" And Anne rushed out of the room before any of her aston ished relations found breath to speak
 "oh, my poor, lost, little sister!" said 1 Amelia.
 "It'E the girls shocking selfshness and ingratitude think of," snapped Augusta.
 "Well, well, she is young. You must remember-you had your fling in the good old days"
 Really, Uncle William, think you : are unnscessari1y-well-coarse. ad- init I accompanied my father to such entertainments as he found time to attend-and that have been received at all the courts of Europe; if you like to call that having my fling"
 "Oh, don't, please, don't let us have any more disagreements," moaned gether now we are left desolate."
 "Well, what have you to propose, Uncle William?"
 "We are here to discuss business and we may as well get it ovsr," said Au- gusta-
 Uncle William returned from day. dream and, pulling himself together, said:
 ''Well, suppose you two may count on an income of about 40 a year. Of course, Augusta can advantageous ly purchase an annuity
 ''Cersainly. T fr+e11= to s7o eo.''
 .4u4le wise. You would get about 90 instead of not quite z 70 year in that case. It would increase your united incomes to 160." Augusta looked grim, Amelia cast a sidelong glance in her direction. There was long pause. At last Amelia said:
 "I thought, perhaps, should like to make little arrangement on my own account, if Augusta didn't object"
 "Ah!" said Augusta.
 "Well, what is your little plan, Amelia?" saio Uncle William, genially. That nice Mrs. Crowther, our late clergyman's widow, is living down at Richmond; she offered to take me in | any time as paying guest for one pound week; they are such nice, pleas ant people, you know, so bright and lively; 1t always does me good to be with them. I think I could manage it."
 My dear Amelia, I'll see that you can manage it. In few years you'll be able to make bid for an annuity, too, and until then I'll try what can do to eke things out"
 "Oh, how kind of youl I was won dering if it wouldn't be possible to get on the civil list, in consideration of papa's services, you know, as am an invalid"
 Quite little business woman, after all," said Uncle William.
 Amelia always has an eye to the main chance" sneered Augusta. Tt appears, then, am to be left to shift for myself, so l shall at once accept an offer have had of little flat near Sloane square that single lady know is just about to give up. l Twill see about it this afternoon"
 "Oh, Aungusta, hope you don't feel that am deserting you?" said Amelia.
 ''Why should I? Why should feel 0CbCAbC0s OOIu lAs AdNCSASnA themselveSmostau anxious to remain with me, haven't they?" replied Augusta, in her most acrimonious accents.
 Do not talk in that hard way, Au- gusta; I'll give it up-I-Tll come and live with you in your little fiat"
 There isn't room," said Augusta, snsppishly. Tt would be most incon- venient for more than one person and the servant"
 "YouV never be able to afford a serv- ant on G90 year." sobbed Amelia.
 At any rate shall want the third room as 6 box room-it would be inn possible for you to live there. Be- sides, the stsirs-you could never man. age them"
 Perhaps we could go somewhere else together?"
 "No-you've had your chance. shall make my own arrangements now" ..
 Augusta! believe you want to be alone, too."
 So the secret ia out! You want to be alone, do you, after all the devo- tion that has been laviShed upon you for years? After you have had the best bedroom-everything that was mine by rights. We'll, we all know that gratitude is sense of fayors to come. have my reward, certainly"
 Come, come," said Uncle William, you are all overwrought. Don't let us say any more at present. When your nerves are calmer you'll regret all this and see things in better light"
 "rm not so sure about that" said Augusta bitterly. Home is very we'll for children, but grown women are not meant to live together, and believe to part is the best thing we can do."
 "In fact, you wish to put London be- tween you and the rest of your family, as Anne said," whispered Uncle Will liam, not without malice prepense.
 Don't mention the grill"
 ''Oh, we must thing kindly of her," interposed Amelia.
 ''Well, I'll be of now and try to ar range matters according to your re- spective wishes," said the uncle. After all, there's strange unanimity in them. Good-by."
 "Goed-by, uncle; you'll see about the annuity, won't you?" said Augusta.
 Certainly"
 "Good-by, dear uncle; you'll consider what can be done about the civil list pension, won't you?" said Amelia.
 "Of course"
 AS he went out he met Anne in the hall with her boxes, just about to drive of in hanson. She said:
 "Good-by, Uncle William. Don't for get to come and dine in Brook street" Delighted"