Middletown transcript., 1909-02-27
THE Girl WHO CAM
BT TEMPLE BAiE.EI 4

Vkle Color udHl6u luVO AttSS As
pasia's fair face. Why, we could
notlet her pay anything, she said.
gently. Fer mother was a dis
tant cousin and we were play
mates. And when the mother
died and Yictorine wrote that she
would like to visit US after she
finished school, Of course we told.
her to come.
Well, think you were very
foolish, was Mrs. Warmers I'M
vanished statement. A 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 then, and ber longings were
for the fesh-pots, while Miss As
pasia's were for the things of the
spirit.
Isuppose she will have a pretty
big appetite. she said.
Of course, Mrs. Warner assert
ed, and | can't see any reason
why you two should be saddled
with a boarder who doe5n't pay
anything.
Oh, we are very glad to have
her. It was Miss Emmeline who
emphasized now. 1t will be
pleasant to have some one young
in the house.
But after Mrs. Warner had
gone, the sisters looked at each
other doubtfuily. Suppose she
shouldn't be-nice? faltered Miss
Aspasia.
Suppose she should eat us out
OF house and nome.
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 appre-
citation.
Miss Emmeline smoothed his
head with a nervous hand. 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. wish you
wouldn't always think about
things TO eat, Emmy, and she
trailed upstairs to the room which
they had prepared for Victorine.
1t was a bare little place, al
though the furniture was of ma
hogany 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 we'd
ding furniture. And when her
romance had ended, the cushion
had been laid away, to be brought
out now for the first time
Miss Emmeline puffed heavily
up the stairway and stopped in
front of the door l never sup
posed you would let any one use
that cushion, she said, reprov-
ingly.
The dresser looked so bare, re-
piled Miss Aspasia. But / couId
not stand it to leave it there if
she shouldn't be-nlce.
Well, I would wait until she
came was Miss Emmeline's way
of settling it. You'd feel per- |
fectIy dreadful to have all kinds
Of pins stuck in it.
Miss Aspasia snatched the pre-
cious relic to her bosom. IIllt
Wall, Sne agreed, ana ned to her
room to wrap it in its tissue.
paper. As she went, Miss EN-
neline announced, I'm going
Down to make the tea. She ought \
10 be here in q few minutes, and
ihings viii be all ready. H
But she was not there in a few s
and when seven o'clock {
lad come and half past, the little
aides made fresh tea, and ate a /
title Of the supper, reserving I
the largest share for
he expected guest. Eight clock &
truck, and Josephus curled him
elf up for the night on his cush-
On; nine O'Clock, and Mrs. Warner Z
ushed over with telegram. b
I met the boy just outside, she t
explained.
Something's happened, said '
Es.e -. A,s.l<t.<s L..k ~ / 81