Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-03-30

XnN NoOutll loolStool IhNS
We're sewing on a long, straight gray
garment.
Somebody's always had to bring up
Jane Anne Leach's sewing" Mrs.
Thomas remarked, smile broadening
her face.
you couldn't expect woman to
sew on her own shroud," Mary Martin
observed, pensvely.
mot afterwards" Mrs. Thomas re-
turned, dryly "Still. there amt many
that wouldn't have had something laid
by besides a magenta barege and a
Powered muslin. But not Jane Anne,
"She spoke to me about it that last
afternoon said Mrs. Martin, mildly.
"Said she'd been meaning for some
time to sort of plan it out; that she
had a plenty to do with, only hadn't
got about it.
Mrs. Thomas smiled again, under
standingly, but not disagreeably. "Oh,
yes" she said. "Jane Anne always
had "a plenty'-plenty of everything
"After all, what were making up
was her own cloth"
Mrs Martin spoke with gentle heat.
"You needn't snap me up So Mrs.
Thomas said coolly. Il had soft
spot for Jane Anne, Same's you had.
But you know as well as you want to
that she was all arson nothing"
81 don't know as I'd call it airy"
In with ,t-n,-apinC Il
tiance.
That's what call it," retortcd Mrs.
Thomas "Now take that night ten
years ago, when | went over to Jane
Anne's and found her rocking and
looking on while Louisa Morse was put
ting her poor old buds into trunk,
''Louisa,' she says, 4 wouldn't put
that light deaine on the bottom; it
muses. awful easy. It's seen its best
days, but it looks nice by lamplght,
and may want to dress up some even
ings.
"'You spean s if you were going
away says.
81 am s'she, but didn't tell where.
hlii " NoiIhti GU ctiil' = any 'oi'
would, for knew she'd no money for
travelling, and that none of her folks
had any to give her, so finally | asked
her. She didn't answer right off, and
her head went down. Then she perked
up.
My medical adviser has been tell
ing me for a long time that | needed Il
change, and I've decided to take one,
s'she.
"'Where are YOU going? | asked.
"She sort O hesitated. I'm going to
the poorhouse tomorrow she says.
then frightened up. 4 do hope you'll
come and see me Soon,' she says
You'll most always find me, and I'd be
so glad to see YOU, Lucy
"If that wasn't airy" challenged
Mrs. Thomas. "Do you suppose any
body else would call going to the poor
house "A change"'
"Jane Anne could have gone to her
Cousin Hcman's," Mrs. Martin said.
quickly, "but" with unconscious irony,
'she preferred the poorhouSe."
81 don't blame her; Heman's wife al
ways was terror" Mrs. Thomas has
tened to say. Il never felt above Jane
Anne. We went to school together,
and her folks were as good as anybody
once. 1t wasn't that. But somehow
she always hit my funny-bone.'
"She didn't hit mine," said Mrs. Mar
tin, reddening.
"What" Mrs. Thomas lively coun-
tenance expressed amusement and sur
prise "Not when we called ut the
poOrhouse to see her, and she asked if
we wouldn't like to meet Mrs. Peter
son, who had Just arrivedT"
mo"
"Nor that time when she said she
thought little music would be pleas
ant, and had in old Joe Jennings to
play 'Ye Banks and Braes' on his
mouth organ?'
NO"
"NOr that afternoon when Louisa
took over the blanc mango, and Jane
Anne sent some up to that weak mind
ed Scott girl, that they always kept in
the garnet when there was visitors,
with Miss Leach's compliments? Miss
Scott was not feeling quite as well as
usual, she said. Now, don't YOU call
that little mite airy?"
81 call 1t fine manners"
$50 do l. too fine"
Mary Martin psised her fine, woman