The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-03-20
THE GIRL WHO CAME.
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.

The color famed into Miss Aspa
sia's fair face. why, we couldn't
let her pay anything" she said, gent
ly. "Her mother was a 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
ish," was Mrs. Warmers unvarnished
statement. ga big, strong girl like
that ! Why, she'll eat you out OF
house and home -
Miss Emmeline looked anxious.
She was as fat as Miss Aspasia was
thin, and her longings were for the
fesh-pots, while Miss Aspasia's were
for the things of the spirit.
II suppose she will have a pretty
big Appetite" she said.
"Of course" Mrs. Warner assert
ed, land I 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." It was Miss Emmeline who
emphasized now. cit will be pleas
ant to have someone young in the
house."
But after Mrs. Warner had gone,
the sisters looked at each other doubt.
fully. "Suppose she shouldn't be-
nice?" faltered 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 mahogany 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 nervous hand. eve can't cuI
down Josephus' cream" she said
whatever else we do, we can't cut
down his cream"
"Of course not p Miss Aspasia' S
tone was impatient. II wish you
wouldn't always think about things
to eat, Emmy" and she trailed up
stairs to the room which they hac
prepared for Victorine.
It was bare little place, although
the furniture was of mahogany anc
the old prints on the walls of greater
value than their owners guessed. But
of giriish decoration there was none
and after Miss Aspasia had surveyed
it with some disapprobation, she wen
across the hall and brought back E
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 cushion had been laid away, Il
be brought out now for the first time
Miss Emmeline puffed heavily uI
the stairway and stopped in front o
the door. ''I never supposed yot
would let anyone use that cushion,
she said, reprovingly.
"The dresser looked so BARE" re
piled Miss Aspasia. "But 1 couldn'
stand it to leave it there if she shoult
not be-nice."
"Well, 1 would wait until sh'
came" was Miss Emmeline's way o
settling it. You'd feel perfectly
dreadful to have all kinds of pin
stuck in it."
Miss Aspasia snatched the precious
relic to her bosom. CPL wait," sh,
agreed, and fed to her room to wral
it in its tissue paper. AS she went
Miss Emmeline announced, "I'm go
ing down to make the tea. She ough
to be here in a few minutes, ant
things will be all ready"
But she was not there in a few
minutes and when seven o. clock bat
come and half-past, the little ladie
made fresh tea, and ate little of tn
supper, reserving carefully the larges
share for the expected guest. Eigh
o'clock struck, and Josephus curle,
himself up for the night on his cush
ion nine o'clock, and Mrs. Warne
rushed over with a telegram.
"I met the boy just outside" sh
explained.
Something's happened, said Mis-
Aspasia, family; but the Telegram
merely announced that the train wa
late-fve hours late.
"Now don't you sit up for her,
Mrs. Warner advised. she won
be here till midnight, and Mr.. Warne
can meet her"
But another telegram from the ar
preaching guest came at ten:
"Train further delayed. Don
wait up. Will take cab out"
"Victorine certainly must like /
spend her money" was Mrs. Warner
comment. "Two kilograms and
cab And yet not pay her board y
And in the face of her witherin
sarcasm the sisters were silent.
But they did not go to bed. The
nodded in their chairs, and at mic
night Miss Emmeline said, wistfully
as she looked at Victorine's supper
still set forth on the silver tray, "I'r
hungry"
Miss Aspasia shook her head. g