The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-06-21

That helped tn even things up some
what. But she had . curious, sly
way about her that we couldn't quite
admire. II was startling TO rub up
against her in the gloom OF the upper
landing. or find her sitting at the
top of the stairs when you least ex-
pectcd. She would murmur an apol.
ogy and go 10 her room. to emerge
again, you felt sure. when the coast
was clear.
"Maybe she's n detective" sister
remarked one day, after she had seen
her In the meadow ncross tho road be-
hind clump of bushes. with an opera
glass leveled at our house. She had
met Mrs. Avery. our balcony board
err las we had come 10 designate
herr only two or three times. as she
rose and took an early breakfast
with us. Mrs. Avery breakfasted
about eight, had dinner at 12 up
stairs. and early tea. sometimes with
us. but more often alone, as we would
be busy at our out-of-door work, and
Miss levitt liked TO assist us at this
time when we were basketing small
fruits and vegetables for the market
man who called for them in the even
ing. She seemed to take n great in
terest in our small affairs, asking
many questions about the prices we
received, the cost Of raising. etc. But
she entertained no kindly feeling for
Mrs. Avery we soon came to learn.
Indeed. she seemed strangely sus-
picious OF her.
"She's always talking. talking. up
there in her bower"
Reading" corrected my sister.
"She's very fond of reading"
"She's got better eyes than ordi-
nary IL she can read after dark and
no moon," snapped Miss Jewett.
ITS after dark it's the worst-whis-
per-whisper."
do you suppose she's spiritual
ist?' questioned sister. with round
startled eyes. communicating with
her dead husband?"
We had never thought about her be-
ing a widow. being too much en-
crossed in our daily problem Of max
ing both ends meet.
If it isn't spiritualism, I don't
know what you call it," answered
Miss levitt, rising up from securing
the cover on crate of raspberries.
And what an appetite she's got"
she went on contemplatively. "I've
been keeping track, and she has eaten
as much as two men this week"
One day afterward. when we hadn't
much To do, we Miss levitt, sister
and ID took our sewing and lunch
basket down TO the creek. We had
invited Mrs. Avery, but she had re-
fused. We expected nothing else. as
she had not left the neighborhood of
the house since first coming. | put
her supper on the table. spread
fy-nct over il and set the teapot on
was to strike match for her tea.
There was boned chicken and cold
ham. buns and blueberries. n plate of
tarts, some jelly-cake and half an
elderberry pic left from dinner. be-
sides radishes, cheese and pickles.
Altogether, there was considerably
more on the table than Miss levitt,
sister and l were taking down to the
creek for us three. but | did not ex-
pect to find much of ii upon my re-
turn.
Down by the creek Miss Jcwett
seemed strangely quiet and thought
full. When we rallied her upon her
lack Of spirits. she astonished us by
saying:
Girls, I've got a confession to
make. Your mother had a younger
sister, who quarreled with her be-
cause she would get married and go
hundreds of miles away from her"
you're not Aunt Jeanette"
cried.
jeanette Jcwett Blair is my right
and proper name. Jean Jewett is
my nom de plume. And I've earned
quite snug sum by my writing.
Under the Harvest Moon is now in
its fifth edition. I've been saving for
years. with view to good time and
rest from work. ami il you girls
will join me in September for Eu-
ropean trip Wen see all that's TO be
seen. and You need the change"
1T would be delightful" ] inter-
rupted. 'but there are those pear and
plum trees" pointing TO the heavily
laden trees in the near distance; "we
have TO pick and ship them, and the
late apples too"
Never you mind" answered Aunt
Jeanette; there are people who can
he hired to pick and attend TO the
rest of the fruit"
When we spread out our lunch,
after our tongues had grown tired
1--WE hadn't done much scwing) we
discovered lack Of spoons.
1--WE can't eat grape jam without
spoons" said j, and rs I'm pretty
stiff sitting on the ground so long.
I'll just take run up to the house
and get them"
l slipped over the velvcty lawn
pretty quietly, suppose, and reached
the dining-room door just ms q peal