The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-10-26

during the last years Of her residence
in the old home. She couldn't tell how
good the hot, substantial food tasted
after the months of cold bread and
coffee; of how Mrs Kendalls savory
Irish stews and ham and cabbage
made her feel as if she had Toasted
royalty when contrasted to the butter
less bread and meatless hashes on
which she had dined for over year.
To be sure. there had been cut glass
and silver on the table. But these Miss
Millicent's mother would never have
allowed sold, so that the two lonely
women, the last cent of their income
swallowed up by bad investments, had
sewed little for intimate friends, who
would not tell, and had thus managed
to keep up the appearance of gentility
But when old Mrs. Estabrook died 1t
all had to come out. Everybody in
Twining Town knew at last that Miss
Millicent, whose family had for gener-
atoms lorded it over the surrounding
country, was left without a penny and
except for the kindness of her old
SCI Nduly kodidu WOuA0 Ad
had to be dependent upon the charity
of the town.
Miss Millicent bore her misfortunes
with seeming calmness. 1t was so
good to be filed once more with food.
to sit by Sarah's warm Preside in
stead of shivering over few Goals in
the great bare drawing room, that the
little lady forgot pride. forgot every
thing but that she was comfortable.
She sewed for Sarah's seven chill
dren and earned her place in the
household.
But Mr.. Kendall grumbled. 1t was
an extra mouth, he kept insisting.
"Tt's an extra help, too" Sarah told
him, with flashing eyes. you don't
think how much her sewing lifts off
me-
Miss Millicent was not blind to Ken
dall's attitude. But she endured pa
tiently. for Sarah's loyalty and the
love Of the little children made up for
many things. But the time came when
even Sarah could not protect her from
Amos crossness.
cts hard enough to earn living
for your own" he flung out one Satur-
day night as he came in with heaped
I'D basket of provisions. "Seven
mouths to feed and one extra-it's
enough to make a man break down
and butter at 30 cents"
Sarah flashed an anxious glance at
Miss Millicent, but the little lady went
on sewing calmly, and the good wo-
man sighed with relief.
But Miss Millicent had heard, and
that night when she went to her little
room, high up in the caves, she took
from its hiding place the one treasure
left to her out Of the wreck Of her
fortune.
It was the pearl ring that John Ire
mont had given her on their betrothal.
When the engagement was broken
later, because Of her mothers stern
decree, John had refused to take the
ring back.
~ want you to keep it until you
die, Millie," he had said. Il don't
blame you. Your mother doesn't think
Pm your social equal. and | guess she
is right If l were sure / could make
you happy I'd run away with you.
But I'm not sure. You are so FAR
above me, dearest"
So Miss Millicent through all the
stress of poverty had kept the ring.
And 1t seemed a sacrilege to sell 1t
now. But the need was urgent. She
must not take bread from the mouths
of Sarah Kendall's children.
On Monday, therefore, Miss Milf
cent for the first time in her life en-
tered little secondhand jewelry shop.
and when she came out there was
roll of bills tucked away in her small
bag.
With shrewd intuition she knew
that she must not let Amos know that
she had any money. He would not be
satisfied until he had it in his posses
sion, and he would spend it as reck-
lessly as he did his wages.
So it happened that mysterious pack
ages began to appear at the Kendall
mansion. One week it would be lit
tie pig ready for roasting, the next
leg Of lamb with greens. Again it
was a basket Of groceries, bucket of
oysters, and on Thanksgiving appeared
a turkey.
There" Sarah said triumphantly as
she showed the turkey to Amos, 'you
can't complain now that you've got too
many to feed"
"Its no credit to her." Amos grum-
bled, "that we get the things"
well, I'll bet it is" Sarah said.
"some Of her old friends are probably
doing for her that way. They don't