The Newark journal., 1908-04-10

wait until We were dead, MT. Poskitt. We're old women-we want to die in the house where we were born"
 Tn the house where we were born, echoed Martha Mary.
 Mrs. Poskitt began to show signs of tears. MT. Poskitt blew his nose very loudly, and, finishing his toddy at one gulp, made a great noise and hustle in mixing another glass of it.
 Why, now. why, now!" he said pres ently, say no more about it. We nun all do what we can, one for an other. I'll away on t owd hoss i t morning and see Reynolds and try to persuade him to hear reason. We mont hev no turning out O hearth an home i these parts"
 It was a day or two later that MT. Poskitt called at Lawyer Reynolds office. At the end of quarter of an hour Mir. Reynolds and MT. Poskitt emerged upon the street together, MT. Posl<itt buttoning his cut-away coat over some bulky documents and MT. Reynolds rubbing his hands. They walked together to the King George and pledged each other in friendly glass. Then MT. Poskitt lighted cigar.
 Yell understand" he said as he held out his hand to the solicitor, yell understand at all ats happened atween us is to be kep secret till t day O wor deaths. If ye iver breathe word on t to onnybody-"
 Not word, my dear sir, not one word" protested Mir Reynolds. q understand you exactly my dear sir, and honor your great and highly ad- mirable delicacy of feeling. Rely, my dear sir, on my absolute secrecy"
 Why. now, then, that's all reight, and I'll bid you good-day," said Mir. Poslzitt, and he made his way home wards. In the village he drew rein at the gate of the little garden in which the old maids house stood.
 Sarah Ellen and Martha Mary, older than ever in the morning sunlight, came hmrying down the path. Mr Posllitt lifted his hat
 Morning, ladies. A fine morning, he said. He bent down from his sad de. conscious of the anxiety in the old faces lifted to his Now, then. ha' settled yon bit c business wi Toney Reynolds" he said. Its all reieht Yell niyer be bothered about it agen, as long as eyther on you lives. See you He drew paper from his pocket and pressed it into Sarah El- lens hands. That's f tile deed 0 t house and t land Lock it Up safe. Now yell understand at ye're safe for ufe..t
 The two old women elasped their hands. Both uttered the same words at the same moment.
 Oh Mr. Posldtt! How did you manage it?"
 Mr Poskitt kicked the off-side of his horse.
 Now. you mont ax no questions" he said @Ill tell ye all about it some other time I've varry important en- gagement, and I'm late for t dinner now. Mornin'-'mornin' :"
 In another moment MT. Poskitt was out of sight. The old maids. dazed, speeches., went back to the shop. The child was waiting patiently at the counter for it's pennyworth of sweets. Miss Martha Mary gave it such a pen nyworth as no child had ever seen before, and pressed upon it a paste board donkey which moved it's head
 Well, love-" said Mrs. Poskitt, when |. h fe. f,.t sleeves to the dinner table, and, hay ing knocked three times with the carving knife, said grace and fell to upon the joint as his own Amen died away, did you persuade Mir. Reynolds to have a little consideration for the old ladies?"
 Oh ay, I persuaded him, reight enough" answered Mir. Poskitt
 It's wonderful how you can talk people round said Mrs. Poskitt, ad- miringly. You're a wonderful hand at persuading folk
 T gotten summat to persuade 'em with" said Mr. Poskitt. I'm reight 'un i that line-'
 That afternoon, while Mrs. Poskitt was having her usual nap in the best room, Mir Poskitt pulled out another formidable document from his pocket and read bits of it with much interest and curiosity.
 "Ecod, they put some words and phrases into these here mortgages, he said Tt 'ud talk ( lord chancellor hissen to explain some O this. How sumiver. it's so much waste paper now and we'll put 1t on t fire-back and see how it burns"
 He threw the parchment on the glowing fire and watched 1t crackle and fzzle and burn. And suddenly he