The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-10-25


want now. Matte" said the old lady
very sorrowiully.
you'll have a servant, Miss Prls-
ella. as long as I've a pair Of hands
to do your work"
And for no reasoning Of Miss Pris-
elias would Matte bulge an inch
from her decision.
Miss Lorimer had a feeble constltu-
ton and the shock Of her brothers.
sudden death made a chronic invalid
Of her Miss Miriam was almost as
helpless in her way, and It is hard to
tell what would have become of the
sisters had It not been for Matte. She
was their sole support, but the re-
markable thing is that nobody knew
It except poor old Priscilla herself.
The girl guarded her mistress pride
as carefully as II It we're her own.
AS soon as possible Matte started
the various small industries by which
she managed to keep the pot boiling
for three. The little white house be-
longed to the sisters, and that les
sened her difficulties somewhat; still,
it was no light task she had under
taken. She was at work early and
late, and was withal the cheeriest
little woman you would meet in a
days march.
To the villagers who quizzed her
about her industry and her earnings
she declared she was laying by" for
her providing she was not minded
to be a portiOnless bride.
Her visits to the neighboring town
with supplies of fruit and vegetables
had set the gossips agog, and they
had many dark hints to make regard
ing her honesty. When the girl in
vaded their own ground, however, and
began to buy and retail the creels of
fish, the sight of her depravity could
no longer be endured, and they went
in a deputation to inform and caution
the old ladies.
The only bad effect of the ignorant
interference of these busybodies was
to make Miss Miriam more intolerant
in private of ''Mattie's eccentricities"
and little suspicious that the girl
was greedy. Mattie's indefatigable
energy became a source of irritation
to the delicate old maid who had
not the key to 1t, and poor Miss Pris-
elias Office of mediator was not al
ways a sinecure. But they seldom
quarreled outright, for Matte rarely
forgot that Miss Miriam had been
kept in the dark" and, besides, she
had a tactful way with her Scenes
like the following were of frequent
occurrence, however.
Matties bright face would look
round the sitting room door Of a
morning. ooh, MISS Miriam, if you're
not too busy would you mind pluck
ing few young peas? I must finish
the washing, but l would like to take
them to the market today. They're
scarce"
Miss Miriam would continue to nib
BILE the end of her quill pen reflect.
lively. (She is seated at her desk; il
is Miss Miriam's belief that she has
the poetic gift, and her time is much
occupied in its exercise.)
its such a lovely morning" sayi
Matte persuasively.
Dear, dear If you only knew wha
it means to be disturbed at such mo
ments. But you have no tact, no con
sideration; you will never learn, Mat
tie" cries the lady pettishly.
I'm so sorry, ma'am, but the pea
will soon be past their best, and"
"The peas, indeed. And what @
my ideas? If l do not pluck then
when they are ripe, they wither also.
But think of the price they'l
fetch" cries the maid, her mind upol
the peas.
1.-THE price. Thank goodness, hav
never put my gift to base uses-an
never will. Matte, it grieyes me t
see you becoming so mercenary.
: do not think l can possibly affor
time for the peas this morning."
Dear Miss Miriam, not If l te
you want the money to buy a chicl
en- for Miss Priscilla? She enjoye
the last so much. l assure you, it
not for myself this time"
THAT alters the case entirely. Cel
tainly certainly, we must get chic
en- for Priscilla" Then the good lad
9 sets her cap straight, and takes hi
: way contentedly to the sunny ga
t den.
i 1t was during the first winter
severe one, as luck would have it.
Y that Matte had her hardest strugg
i to keep the wolf from the door. ST
d had not yet started the little poultl
Go nm ,rrhinI, rrinIdnd h. n tn1nrn !,