The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-12-15

upon Tor II. Men DO not In1nK OF
these things; but to women, and es-
peciallv to women who are alone, as
Jane felt herself to be then, these
little spots of her mothers choosing
were holy ground. All the things
that Miss Bates decided to re-arrange
were standing where they had stood
for forty years, and the bare sugges-
ton to change their places now SEEM
ed like sacrilege.
Presently Miss Bates came to the
object of her call. Looking at Jane
with patronizing smile, she inquired ::
"Well, what shall you do when
we're married?" We shan't be able
to ave you ere you know, though,
of course, 'Enry will make some sort
of provision for you.
"Quite so, quite so," acquiesced
Henry, in accordance with the pre-
arranged compact and as he spoke
he kept his gaze on the ceiling for
fear Jane should catch his eye, and
address him personally and volumin-
ously.
''I shall wait here until my brother
turns me out" said Jane, iii a tone
that was mixture of pathos and de-
6ance. "It ses in the Scripcher-"
eyes, we know all about that, !"
interrupted Miss Bates. "But when
I'm married I'm goin' to be mistress
in my own 'ouse. And there amt
room for the two of u.s."
"Ardly," acquiesced Henry, as be-
fore.
''I was ere first" said Jane, dog
gedly.
"Why don't you be reasonable
about it, Jane?" began Henry.
"You must ha' got sense enough to
see"
"You leave 'er to me" interrupted
Miss Bates, turning upon Henry with
a rather unexpected sharpness. II
can fight my own battles"
A quiet smile flickered across Jane S
lips. "I 'ope." she said, in her best
and most conclusive style, "that my
brother will never ave no cause to
repent of is marriage"
"What d'you mean?" inquired
Miss Bates, starting to her feet and
turning crimson.
"It says in the Scripcher,' said
Jane, speaking firmly and deliberate
ly, THAT it's better to live alone at
the top of the 'ouse, than downstairs
with brawlin' woman.
"Did you hear that, 'Enry 7"
gasped Miss Bates, controlling her
self with difficulty. care you going
to stand by and see me spoke to like
this? Don't stay there like stuffed
pig. What ave you to say?"
For the moment it was clear that
Henry had nothing to say. He rub
bed the side OF his head and looked
puzzled and Jane, seeing a chance
to take up the conversation, improved
upon it accordingly.
"Enry amt used to be flew at,
young woman" she said. Els
lived a quiet, peaceful life ere tor
over forty years, and 'e'snew to your
kind o. company. Likewise, when
you're in the presence Of people as
was grown up before you was born,
you should bear yourself accordin'. !.
It says in the Scripcher that the
younger should submit to the elder,
and 'Enry's old enough to be your
father, and You there talkin' to i'm
as if he was your equal. 'Enry's
my brother, an 'e's worth fifty OF
you, an the sooner you find it out
the better for both of you ~
Miss Bates, white with anger,
stamped her foot. ''Well - she
said, turning to Henry ;and ,as Henry
still paused to find suitable remark,
she continued: "I'm not used to
bein' talked to like this, so tell you,
straight. We can't go on without
some understandin'. It's either your
sister or me. Which is it?"
Henry heaved deep sigh, and
looked first at his sister and then at
the fancinating Miss Bates. Then
he walked across the room and fol
the fist time in twenty-five years
kissed his sister Jane softly on the
cheek.
"I'm sorry this as 'appened,
Jane," he said, quietly "but it's al
over now, and I'm glad"
Miss Bates, tossing her head
haughtily, INDUCED in hysterical
laugh and stalked out of the house
carefully slamming the street dool
behind her with all the force She
could muster.-A,nOM GoIswO,tl.y