Middletown transcript., 1903-12-26

then looked toward her father
Will you sign it? she asked.
Oh, yes, he answered cheer
fully, and then handed the paper
to his wife.
She hesitated.
Then, slowly, she wrote hel
name below the others.
Well, she said resignedly, if The
rest of you can get along, 1 can
What will you do about Norah'
asked her husband.
Oh, Norah! She never entered
my head when l signed that fool
ish paper.
Perhaps she would take a va
cation, proposed Maud.
I will call her in and pay her
said her father, and see what she
says.
So Norah was called and paid
in full. Then the vacation plan
was broached.
Sure, thin, an I'd be glad to
90, exclaimed Norah. An I can
go tomorrow, did you say?
Yes, tomorrow.
I declare, exclaimed Mrs. New.
bury later in the evening, I be,
lieve I am entirely out of white
thread. Rob, dear, won't you
slip down to the corner and buy
me a spool?
No, mother, I won't. Dread
fully sorry, all the same, an
swered Rob, his eyes twinkling.
She looked at her usually oblig-
ing son in surprise. Then the
reason for his refusal flashed
upon them and they all broke
into a laugh.
Evidently we didn't realize
what we we're enlisting for, said
Mr.. Newbury, but now that we
have enlisted, we might as well
take things as they come and get
what fun we can out of them.
Now, mother, you can't sew on
anything white till the first of
February, said Maud.
No, returned her mother pen
sively, but I have plenty of dark
thread. I might buy the sateen
for your waist and be making
that
Then she stopped suddenly,
and there was another laugh.
Mrs. Newbury went to rest
early that evening, and the others
soon followed her example.
The morning was all that a New
Years morning should be, cold,
crisp, still and sunshiny. Rob
had the extreme felicity Of pay
ing Mrs. Dale all that was due
her for milk, telling her at the
same time that no more would be
for a month.
Folks going away? queried
Mrs. Dale.
Well, no-not exactly, STAN
mered Rob, and then hastily
made his escape.
Mr.. Newbury paid the rent and
The little account at the corner
store; Mrs. Newbury, the butch
Or, the baker, the coal man and
Jhe grocery man, while Maud's
heartwasrejoiced by paying Mrs.
Peters for making her dress.
1t thus happened, for the first
lime in years, that the Newburys
we're wholly free from debt, and
hey confessed to each other at
night that this condition of affairs
had made them feel at least an
nch taller in stature, and sensi-
bly, increased the capacity of
heir lungs.
Mr.. Newbury's work was at
some distance from his home,
Ind he had been accustomed to
AXE his dinners at an eating
louse.
l think you may put me up a
unch to-day, he observed to Mrs.
lewbury, while they were at
breakfast the second morning.
Why, John! cried his wife in
lismay, you didn't go without
vour dinner yesterday?
It strikes me l did, he returned
,rimly.
Wouldn't it be better to come
home to dinner? began Mrs. New
bury, then broke off suddenly to
ia still still greater distress:
And you had to walk-both ways!
I did, said Mr.. Newbury, while
Maud looked concerned, and Rob
rave vent to a low whistle.
Well, | think that is q case of
necessity. tits too hard for you.
You must borrow some money of
somebody, said Mrs. Newbury,
With decision.
Fiddlesticks! said Mr.. New.
,11rv hic footuroc rolov;n,. ,,&