The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-05-07
CHAPTER Ky

They were embarrassed, and seemed to be
enjoying themselves thoroughly. a cou-
pie of lads, with very brown faces, sat
On a sloping bank en- the other side. de-
touring huge pieces of bread AID cheese,
and now and then drinking cider from
stone bottle.
Immediately under the hedge sat two
women on the shady side of fifty; they
we're upon cane chairs; between them
vas big drum turned up on one end,
and serving as a tea table. Some blue
delft cups and plates, little black tea
pot, a Loaf of crusty bread, a piece OF
fresh butter, a basin of white sugar, and
an odor, fragrant and pleasant in the
fresh air OF the summer afternoon, an
nounced that these ladies were partaking
of tea.
AS for the ladies, one was very stout,
and the other was very lean. The stout
one wore scarlet handkerchief across
her breast, a sensible. brown holland
dress, and black apron. This lady S
head was barred to the summer sky. 1t
was not a handsome head. The hair upon
It was fast turning gray, and vas not ar
ranged with that nicely which is desira-
BILE in the couture of a lady; but her
rudy face beamed, absolutely beamed,
with good nature. Perfect contentment
sat on the smiling lips, and the small
blue eyes twinkled merriy.
This was Miss Eliza Dobson-Liza, as
she was called by her sister, Miss A1-
tilda- The sisters were the sole propr,e-
tors, or proprietresses, of Doosons wax
works, which they had inherited from
their parents twenty years before 1hey
were fast making their fortunes, and pur-
posed, in a years time. retiring TO rural
solitude, where Miss Matilda, the younger
and more genteei sister. hoped 10 cultivate
roses, chickens, chifoniers and other Gle
gancies Of polite life.
Miss Matilda had long. thin, melan-
choly flee; it was not unkind, but IL
lacked be genial goodness Of her sister 5.
Tilda wore a muslin dress, and black
lace jacket. which the dust of the roads
had whitened She wore a hat and black
feather Her face was Drowned and
roughened by exposure to weather. face
which assumed a poetical melancholy OF
that sort which proyokes laughter In the
fun-loving.
I'VE amt got no neighbors- That's
true, Tilda for we carries our home on
wheels with US. But, for my part, L
think gossiping neighbors handrance
when there's work to do. We've had
deal of change all our days, and seen
deal of things; had it in or power 10
help a starving fellow critter now ana
then, at pinch; and next year we are to
have a pretty little 'ome OF our own,
where you shall keep chickens, and have
ever so many red geraniums IN pots IN
the winders-"
II hope" said Miss Matilda, 'as we
shall have sofa, such as | saw once at
Birmingham, covered in crimson velvet,
and with a regular spring All when l
no longer has to walk in and tell the
public the sorrers of poor Queen Mary OF
Scotland, shall enjoy peace OF mind
II trust you WILL Tilda,' observed
stout Miss Eliza, cutting off a nice piece
of crusty loaf and covering II with but
ter. Now. Tilda, do eat this; just
relish of ported shrimps. You don't eat
enough, my dear, to support you
II was always one as never cared Tor
the pleasures of the table," said Miss
Matilda and she struck the impromptu
board-the circular top of the drum.
where the feast was spread--with her
parasol.
II emitted a hollow sound: and the
effect of the whole scene and speech was
so droll that Ella Wycherly burst into
loud and ringing laugh
The Misses Dobson, looking up. beheld
with amazement the young and beautiful
and highly bred face, radiant with merri-
ment Both ladies smiled.
Dear me. what a pretty creature. =
said Miss Matilda
BLESS me :" observed Miss Eliza; per
haps the young lady would like cup OF
tea and slice of the crusty loaf. IL
she would, she's welcome"
Now il happened that Ella was excess
lively hungry, and this hospitable offer
was Lot displeasing to her. 1t seemed,
indeed that Ella had lived several years
since the nighs before. She had learned
already something of the under strata of
humanity-those whom she had hitherto
classed indiscriminately in her own mind
as 1.-The lower orders"
The savage old woman at the cooked
meat shop, the inquisitive old man in the
smock. and now these sun-burned timer
ant show people-how different they all
we're from each other; and yet. they all
belonged to the flower orders
The Misses Dobson were kindly, genial
tender-hearted women Ella soon got on
famously with them. The young heart
crayed sympathy. Most of Elias hauteur
and pride were on the surface.
Before long she was actually seated
uuon a chair before the drum" drinking
a strong and fragrant cup of tea, enrich
ed with cream, which Miss Dobson pour
ed out of a bottle.
She was eating bread and butter and
potted shrimps with appetite, and laugh
ing at the oddly sentimental ana ungram-
NAUTICAL phrases of Miss Matilda.
When tea was over, Miss Eliza washed
up the things very nicely in a blue deli
basin. One of the lads brought cold water
from a neighboring spring, which bub-
bled from under a bank on the other side
of the road.
Ella offered to dry the teacups. which
Office she performed deity. Miss Matilda
obliging her with clean, soft cloth.
Afterward, Miss Eliza packed them all
in a box with some clean straw
"And now" said Ella. II suppose /
must say good evening, Miss Dob or but
I'm sorry 20 say ii. 1 wish, in 81 d.
was going away with you"
She said it without thought; but the
Misses Dobson exchanged glances full OF
meaning.
"Why, my DEAR" said Miss Eliza,
anybody could see with bali an eye as
you was young lady born and bred, not
used to living with people such as We
are"
Not but what" observed Miss Matilda,
with a sigh, 'pe 'ad a haunt as KEEP a
genteel bonnet and millinery establish
ment in Bristol and kept two maid-ser-
wants at the time of her death; but, being
a single person, left all her money to
build a chapel, forgetting her nearest of
kim"
..She did as she liked with her own"
observed Hiss Eliza. land we have done
very well without her money. But about
yourself, my dear-are you out of situa-
ton. my dear? Wculdn't place as a
c,ovarnaSS srIit Won nOW!