Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-03-01

| or out 10 the IdTIu WIFI AUNT iNoeh' :
| We won't urge either course. but YOU
must decide something before Satuf-
day"
Marys mother stood in the doorwaT,
| buttoning her gloves. She looked ahN'
iously a; Mary. who sat on the lowest
srep. holding three OPEN letters that
she evidently was eager TO read.
We'll. mother dear. here is my last
| complete and unconditional deci-
sion"
Really. Mary? You aren't going TO
have another before night?
No. mother. I've wavered long
enough.
You certainly have"
Don't be 'sarcastical' to your one
and only Mary" said the one and only
Mary. with an embrace that almost
, ruined her mothers chiffon ruchings.
You see. mother. If ! go TO Aunt
Rachefs. shall get so bored that
Aunt Rachel will regret she ever
asked me. ana forget that she had ever
| labeled me sunny presence. Oh
course il would be near enough ior
| Cousin Burney to come cut and star
us up: but Burney is so absorbed IN
| his summer hospital that he can tax
of nothing else put Stun children with
| the measles. Burney is perfect bore
at times-since he got his NJ. ID.
My dear"
Now don't be shocked with your
own Mary | don't mean anything
dreadful. but I'm not Interested n
measles and germs. Now if go with
you III have a lovely time. AMI Aunt
Rachel will be none the worse IN the
end. So | am going with you. Are
you glade" she asked. with wheel
| lesome smile.
of course | want you myself. dear:
but Aunt Rachel does need the sunny
presence. She is so lonely, II You
should change your mind again. re
| member that Aunt Rachel will enjoy
having as many of your friends visit
you as the house will hold said her
| mother
"Ye-es. know; but | shall not
change my mind now. In fact. don't
want TO go TO Aunt Rachels. mothe-.
don't like farms. and would rather
go with you
A little shadow came over her
mothers face: but she merely said:
Then it is decided that you go with
us"
Aren't you glad?"
II am always glad to have you with
me. Your father and | would be quite
desolate indeed without you; but.
dear. wish you would learn TO be
more interested"
In embarrassing people? Perhaps
shall some time. but am so tired OF
them now. Burney doesn't know any
other kind: and really. mother.
| couldn't stand a whole summer filed
with a farm-and-and Burney's in
evitable enthusiasm over dirty little
children-aside from Aunt Rachel.
who is always urging me to help
Burney. No. it's dreadful. But don't
believe in Burney's giving up his sum
mer to keeping children alive who
have nothing TO live for.
I'VE won't discuss that again" her
iuObutA -
now. Good-by. dear
| Mary returned TO her seat on the
| steps Mother doesn't understand
she thought. wistfully. Il never want
ed Burney TO study medicine; and Ia
| give his time to saving lives that arc
better ended. when he mignt at least
save valuable ones. il is too much. |
simply won't stay near him all sum
mer and listen to him. II will teach
| him a lesson" she concluded virtuous-
ly.
| She had never wholly forgiven her
cousin because he had. against her
advice. studied medicine with the in
tention of devoting himself to the free
wards OF the city hospitals for chill
dren.
why don't You do something that
will benefit humanity. Burney. she
had repeatedly said. instead of keep
ing children alive who have no past
no present and no future but misery"
You don't understand" Burney rs
repeatedly had said. that am reliev-
ing their misery for the moment. Yon
don't know what they may have 20
live for. They are little human chill
dren and have right to their lives:
they want them, AMI shall help them
keep them
You are very foolish and sentimen-
tai" Mary said: but possibly she re.
spected his foolishness and sentimcn-
tally more than she admitted.
Il think Burney might at least con-
slider his family and come to Cahfor-
MIA. instead of setting up a summer
Fresh Air Hospital" she said plain
| lively to herself. as she unfolded her
first letter.
Il was from Aunt Rachel: and il
said. in part, Il hope that you will
spend the summer with me-.
dearie. am getting to be an old
woman. AMI won't lave many more
summers. You may fill the house
with 'Iretty maids all in a row, If
you like. Do be kind to Burney.
He is doing a noble work Let him
tell YOU about it,"
AS If he didn't. day and night"
! calculated Mary. =" 'Do-be-kini n
Burney' I'm not unkind to him. and
he is chasing a shadow
She began TO read her second letter.
II was from n distant friend, who said