The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-17

turn hofdeward without her letter. The
truth was she expected a check In IL,
and wanted the money badly; first, to
pay Mrs. Josiah her weeks board. and
sundry other little debts. She hated
that thought of having 70 ask her land
lady to wait, but there was nothing
else for II II the letter did not come.
1t was an awkward predicament to be
in. She was a stranger in a strange
country and had no one to help her
out OF her dilemma IL was not In
very pleasant frame of mind she re-
entered the farm house. A glance at
her landlady's face told her the i'm
portant missive had not arrived.
Il sent Josiah to the postoffice, but
there was no mail for you," said Mrs.
Josiah glibly. I'm sorry"
81 should not mind 1t so much" said
the young lady finally, only l exs
pected check"
Mrs. Josiah clutched at the table for
support. Her head swan. A check in
the letter! Good God! and she had
burned It.
All unconscious of the effect of her
words, Miss Teddington continued.
ITO be candid with you, Mrs. Haw-
kins, cannot pay you until 1t comes
Are you ill?" she cried, catching a
glimpse of the ashy pallor of her list
ener's face. II hope you do not feel
! the want of money SO badly; II
| thought SO why would send dis
, patcn."
t1.1 A~c sat.
wildly There is nothing the matter
with me; only sudden pain at my
heart"
| She leaned for support against the
table. Inevitable ruin stared her in
the face. Should she throw herself on
| Miss Teddington's mercy confesslng
what she had done, or leave 1t to Prov
I idence? 1t was her first great tempta-
tion and she had succumbed. She saw
herself disgraced, branded as a thief
she who had been held up as a model
of rectitude In the neighborhood--and
poor Josiah would be dragged down
along with her She shrieked aloud at
the vision that foated mentally before
her
Mrs Josiah!" cried Miss Tedding-
ton in alarm, "are you ill; tell me what
| can do to relieve you!" She stared
helplessly around the kitchen for some
means to alleviate the woman's suffer
ing. AS II in answer to her unspoken
appeal she saw the figure OF a man
approaching with bag slung over his
shoulder. She beckoned wildly at him
to hasten.
"Who is it?" said Mrs. Josiah, her
senses all on the alert despite her suf-
ferings. and she raised a miserable
she murmured family, "it's Jimmie
the mail carrier, who sometimes
brings special deliveries"
"Oh perhaps he has my letter!'
cried Miss Teddington, note Of relief
in her voice. "And you will get youl
money"
Mrs. Josiah groaned, hiding her face
in her apron.
"Mornin', Mrs. Hawkins" said tn,
newcomer. i've got special mail fol-
you, or someone stoppin' with you
Miss Teddington in her eargernesl
almost snatched the letter from tn,
mans hand. 1T Is for mel" she criet
delightedly, while Mrs. Josiah stoo,
looking at her, picture Of dumb mis-
cry.
To watch Miss Teddington's face al
she read her letter was study; Joy
succeeded amazement and increduity
Mrs. Hawkins" she cried excitedly
here it Isl" She waved triumphant,
aloft slip of paper. what do yo,
think, my friend Miss Manning
thought she mailed 1t in a letter sh,
wrote me two days ago, which hav
not received as yet; and now she sends
me a registered letter, enclosing tn
check"
Thank Cod" said Mrs. Josiah, fer
vently.