The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-09-29
HOW SHE MADE
HER LIVING


the first place. she is but II; am
80. In the second place, she hadn't
cent in the world, being dependent
upon her aunt, Miss Amelia South
worth. In the third place, have a
notion that she Ia a trif1e too smart.
Miss Southworth has a little income
which will die with her. l wonder IL
Mollie isn't trying to get all she can
OF 1t into her own possession against
the day Of her aunt's demise. Lastly,
1t Is to my interest as a clergyman
that l shall marry, and my congrega-
ton are looking for me to take suita-
BILE helpmeet. l shudder at the
thought Of announcing an engagement
to them to chit like Mollie.
Miss Southworth is maiden Of 70.
Mollie lives with her, and Mollie's
method Of earning her living is to
amuse her aunt. The aunt Is only to
be amused evenings by playing bridge,
of which she is very fond. She was
in her younger days an influential
member Of my congregation and Is
still an important member from the
fact Of her age and long connection
with the church. Since 1t Is necessary
that show her due attention 1 show
1t in playing bridge with her. 1t Is
in this way that have become inter-
ested in Mollie, who always has a
hand and sometimes plays dummy.
Miss Southworth is a native Of Eng
land, where old ladies don't think it
a sin to play cards for money. She
insists that bridge Is but poor game
without a small stake, and on sitting
down to the game found myself in a
position either to offend her or do
what Is with US in America an uncleri-
cal act-play for tenth of cent q
point. Being expected to play with
one Of the Oldest and most respected
members of my congregation, yield
ed.
One evening Miss Southworth, Mol
lie and / were playing bridge. Mollie
held a succession of good hands and
was scoring points. Indeed, her luck
ran so steadily that If the circum-
stances were otherwise l should have
looked for trickery. Miss Southworth
was beginning to get irritable. She
change of luck in sight Mollie said
1t was uninteresting to play in one
sided game, but went on winning.
Presently Miss Southworth, while
Mollie was dealing, said to her fierce
ly:
go upstairs!"
Mollie turned red as a beet, rose
from the table and without word
left the room. Her aunt sat tanning
herself angrily. I waited develop
ments. They came in time.
did you see what she was doing"
she asked me.
mo"
Cheating"
Good gracious!"
"Only IT, and she can find a pack
of cards to put good hand wherever
she likes"
"But what was her object? She was
having splendid hands"
HIN! She dealt them to herself"
/ settled up my score, paying "a
cents, and bade my hostess good even
Ing.
"You won't say anything about
this?" she said.
Certainly not"
Nor was likely to tell that I had
been playing cards for money and one
of the players had cheated. For the
next week or two I lived in dread
lest the matter should leak out.
suffered in another way. Somewhere
down in my heart there was a disap-
pointment.
One day met Mollie on the street.
If the act wouldn't have been notice
able l should have crossed before
meeting her. She spoke to me smil.
ingly and said:
"Auntie is waiting for you to come
in again and play bridge"
"H'm!" l stammered. "Who is to
take the other hands?"
Il am the only one unless some one
happens in"
"Have you and your aunt made ur
that
"Oh, yes. She has forgiven me-"
"H'nE You have forgiven your
self"
one lOOheu up el me VIII du luuOCSH'
expression that would have gone tt
my heart except for the sin. There's
nothing to forgive"
Didn't you deal yourself goot
hands?"
mot Intentionally. They came tt
me by luck. But you know auntit
can't stand to lose. When she doel
she gets ruffied and can't sleep. WheI
she caught me l was dealing her {
splendid no trump hand and she woulC
have had everything her own way.
81 see. What evening would you
aunt like to have me call?"
"Any evening; we're always a
home"
every well. I'll be there tonight.
It's a dangerous thing for a man +