Waterbury Democrat., 1902-02-08

went out, but as she had always been of retiring nature, her absence from apple cuts, husking and sewing bees did not provoke much comment. As the winter went on, however, it began to be whispered that she was growing miserly, like the relative from whom she had inherited her fortune. When she ceased making purchases at the village store the air grew sensibly colder, but when it became known that old man Renseller had twice brought her heavy boxes from Pine Hill, then the indications of an icy period were unmistakable.
 The first snow had melted when, one afternoon, Mrs. Oberbaugh resolved to brave public sentiment by calling on the ostracized offender
 Though this visit was made in de- fance of public opinion, she was not prepared to deny the justice of the general attitude assumed toward Miranda, who unquestionably had been guilty of serious offense, and if opportunity offered she proposed mak- ing her see the error of her ways; but above this she had always had soft corner in her heart for the disappoint- ed, gentle old maid. After all, she ar gued, Miranda might possibly have some excuse for her conduct, as there had been occasions when her own mind had sadly lacked conviction in regard to the purity of the store coffee. Whether Miranda was aware how her shortcomings were regarded was by no means certain, in which case Mrs. Oberbaugh decided to break the ma ter to her gently but firmly.
 Receiving no answer to her knock ing, she stepped over the threshold into an icy-cold room, where a form was lying that looked like the ghost of the woman she had known. She .ap- preached the bed, to find a white drawn face with glassy eyes, hand too feeble to return her clasp and; a voice that spoke in broken whispers.
 Stakes alive, Mirandy! I didn't know ez how you was down like this.''
 "I-am- starving was tBe whis- pered reply.
 Without another word Mrs. Ober- baugh' started home, returning with restorat tives and food, which partially revived the-sufferer.
 ssWarn't there no one ez you could call to, to let us know you were down sick? Where's your coal? I'll build fire right away; this place ud freeze bear"
 Mrs. Oberbaugh made a hasty survey of the back regions, and opened sev- eral doors, but was rewarded only by the sight of empty shelves, and then for the first time she noticed how scan- ty was the bed covering.
 .sMercy on us, Mirandyi where's your things? Hev you been robbed?"
 "No -I sold - everything - for bread!'
 Miranda's visitor regarded her with eyes full of pity; it was clear that the poor creature ~had become a miser
 ssWhy, .Mirandy, you're rich wom- an. You've got $3, GOO in Marketville bank.''
 The dying woman put her thin hands over her face to hide from her sight the honest, kindly eyes that asked for a confidence she was so 10th to be- stow.
 "Sit down, Martha, and I'll tell you; you was always good to me, anil know yy~~'ll keep it-a secret. He he-took it all.''
 sWhat!-thet city chap?''
 ssYes; he asked me-to lend it to him flor few weeks-an' so I drew it out-an' then--as he never wrote wept to New York--an' oh, Martha Martina"
 I But here the feeble voice was choked with tears, and some time elapsed be. fore she could finish the cruel story.
 sI found that he--an' oh, Martha I was so fond of him-he was-a swim dler an convictl''
 .Mercy on us! you poor, sufferin' soul an you've been starvin' all this winter!''
 sWell. I thoaght-the end--would