Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-12-23


The color famed into Miss Aspasla's
fair face why, we couldn't let her
pay anything" she said, gently. Her
mother was distant cousin and we
were playmates. And when the mother
died and Victorine wrote that she
would like to visit us after she finished
school, of course we told her to come"
'Well, 1 think you were very fool
fish," was Mrs. Warmers unvarnished
statement. a big, strong girl like
that! Why, she'll eat you out of house
and homer
Miss Emmeline looked anxious. She
was as fat as Miss Aspasia was thin,
and her lOngings were for the flesh
pots. while Miss Aspasia's were for the
things of the spirit.
81 suppose she will have pretty big
appetite" she said.
'Of course" Mrs. Warner asserted,
''and can't see any reason why you
two should be saddled with a boarder
who doesn't pay anything"
"Oh. we are very glad to have her"
1t was Miss Emmeline who emphasized
now. ut will be pleasant to have some
one young in the house."
But after Mrs Warner had gone, the
sisters looked at each other doubtfully.
Suppose she shouldn't be-niceT fall
tered Miss Aspasia.
Suppose she should eat us out Of
house and hOme!"
And they stared at each other with
startled eyes.
Their guest was due at half-past six.
At six o'clock Miss Emmeline put some
delicate linen squares on the mahog-
any table, and set forth a somewhat
meager supper of thinly sliced bread,
Jam and dried beef.
As the preparations progressed,
Josephus, the yellow cat, who had been
asleep in his own chair, walked up and
purred his appreciation.
Miss Emmeline smoothed his head
with a nervous hand. 1--WE can't cut
down Josephus' cream" she said.
whatever else we do, we can't cut
down his cream"
"Of course not !" Miss Aspasia's tone
was impatient. 81 wish you wouldn't
always think about things to eat,
Emmy" and she trailed upstairs to the
room which they had prepared for Vic
torine.
1t was a bare little place, although
the furniture was Of mahogany and
the old prints on the walls of greater
value than their owners guessed. But
Of girlish decoration there was none.
and after Miss Aspasia had surveyed
It with some disapprobation, she went
across the hall and brought back a
heart-shaped satin cushion Of faded
pink, that years ago had been made to
grace her own wedding furniture. And
when her romance had ended, the cush-
ion had been laid away, to be brought
out now for the first time.
Miss Emmeline pulled heavily up
the stairway and stepped in front Of
the door. at never supposed you would
let any one use that cushion" she said,
reprovingly.
1.-THE dresser looked so BARE" replied
Miss AspaSia. "But l couldn't stand 1t
to leave 1t there if she shouldn't be-
nice"
swell, 1 would wait until she came"
was Miss Emmeline's way Of settling it
you'd feel perfectly dreadful to have
all kinds of pins stuck in It,"
Miss Aspasia snatched the precious
relic to her bosom. "I'll wait" she
agreed, and fed to her room to wrap
it in its tissue paper As she went.
Miss Emmeline announced, I'm going
down to make the tea. She ought to
be here in a few minutes, and things
will be all ready"
But she was not there in a few min
utes; and when seven o'clock had come
and half-paSt, the little ladies made
fresh tea, and ate little OF the sup
per, reserving carefully the largest
share for the expected guest Eight
o'clock struck, and Josephus curled
himself up for the night on his cush-
ion: nine o'clock, and Mrs Warner
rushed over with a telegram.
81 met the boy just outside" she
explained.
Something's happened" said Miss
Aspasia, family; but the telegram
merely announced that the train was
late-five hours late.
''Now don't you sit up for her." Mrs.
Warner advised. "She won't be here
till midnight, and Mr.. Warner can
meet her"
But another telegram from the APP
preaching guest came at ten:
Train further delayed. Don't wait
ND. VIII take a cab out"
''VictorIne certainly must like to
spend her money" was Mrs. Warmers
comment. 1.-TWO kilograms and q cab
And yet not pay her bOardl"