The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-08-01
UnC' Sucks and
-. the Witches.
HDEoPLE are so tired of charity
BY E. E. Garnett.

"DEoPLE are so tired of charity
concerts and teas and bores
in general" Sue complained, lugubri-
ously.
But even tired people must help
each other" Mae insisted. Let us
ask Mrs. Brelle to suggest some
thing"
The pretty widow was in a ham
mock, with Barnes in chatting dis
lance on the piazza steps, and she
did not welcome interruption.
evil you?" called Joe, upon her 81
1ence.
''Will 1 what?" pouting.
"Help us to help Unc' Shucks?"
Sand who" only half hiding
yawn, lis hep"
HE is old and poor and blind" eX-
planned Mae, making her climax with
a most sweet compassion.
"And black" added practical Louise,
''as the ace of spades"
The pretty widow looked bewitch-
ingly reproachful. mo country poor
house?" she murmured.
A rather chilled silence fell upon
the piazza group. Macs sensitive face
flushed. Barnes went up the steps to
her side.
eve cannot spare old Shucks to go
there, he said, and enviously watched
a flecll of moonlight bending to the
ripples of her hair.
"Thank you''-shy, sweet eyes
raised for an instant to his-"and will
you help?"
He wanted to tell her that he would
beg, dig, burn--do any outlandish
dangerous deed she willed; but the
words halted. He only got bit red
and nodded.
"Oh. if he's pet" said Mrs. Brelle,
sulkily, "we'd best take up a collec-
tion-that is the shortest way out of
such annoyances."
Hes in the turn of the road, go
ing out to the golf links Louise put
in, refectively; she was housekeeper
and found provisions an easier meth
of charity than cash. "When we go
by for the big game next Tuesday we
might give him a donation party
There was a murmur of applause,
to which Mrs. Brelle added a soft
hand-clapping. The act displayed
both hands and rings, and she smiled
with pleasure over them.
every WELL" she assented, gracious
ly; I'll send barrel of flour"
Mae threw a grateful kiss from her
finger tips, but the widow was look
ing to Barnes and missed it.
Good nights We're beginning. Get
ting from her hammock, the pretty
widow gave little start of alarm
such a shrill, weird call had rung out
of the grove: "Who-who!"
"Screech OWL" announced Joe. And
Barnes added in appropriately sepul-
chral tones, the old saw: when a
screech owl calls, witches answer"
II hope he isn't calling his Witches"
said Mae, ''to Unc' Shucks' donation"
"They're worse than Witches"
laughed Joe, "who have that business
in hand. Just don't let them forget
tobacco, and Unc' Shucks' luck is Sc
cure"
''I-he has tobacco"
$50 like Mae" said Louise, "to take
tobacco first"
"Well, pipe" Joe protested, grave
ly, puts heart into a man.
"And next in value" suggested
Barnes, "shall we sprinkle him with a
little silver"
Don't tell me any MORE" cried
Mae; I'm too happy"
The pretty widow was coming up
the steps and noted the girls face
and how Barnes sought the light of
it. She followed to Macs door.
''Can 1 come in, dear, for a min,
ute?"
Mae drew up coy chair and wait
ed absently beside it. Her eyes were
still radiant, dreamy look in them,
happy and shy. The tone of Barnes
voice fingered with her and the look
that said good night" Hard to strike
such a face frightened and white, but
the pretty widow smiled and com
passed it.
''You must forgive me, love, for
limiting that your impulsive ways are
liable TO be misinterpreted.'
81 beg pardon" growing attentive
with a start. "What did you say?"
''Mr. Barnes is a man of the world"
gently, accustomed to Irritation as
to his wine at dinner He"
''Wait!" with unexpected dignity.
81 do not care to hear you speak of
Mr.. Barnes. But of me-you were
saying something of me?"
SWELL" rising with an angry flush,
"you are refusing a kindness. One
would think that you mean-the way
you look"
''The way I look?"
"My dear child" over a shoulder as
she went to the door, you look up at
him as if you were kneeling before a
shrine"
In those next days Barnes could
not guess what the trouble was-how