The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-10
Copyright, 1909, by Benj. B. Hampton.


 %rTT4E Misses Massey lived just east of Fifth E6N avenue, in the "ffties The house was small N< and narrow. and for that reason was only
 twenty-fve hundred year With the nine t,54red that was left they somehow managed their meagre allowances of food and apparel and the service of a single vhousenaid Their only lu-lury consisted of occasional cartare
 Ora certain April day, toward evening, the two spinsters made ready go out Their waking-suits three years old but being of good material ana keptfin constant state of repair, showed deeenIiy in any light. The sisters were much alike, having the same neat brown hair, equally streaked with gray and thessame look of perpetual and relentless se1fcontro1 Miss Janes face however. was stronger and her lips severe than those of MISS eaTo77s line, who year younger. .
 Askthey walked toward the avenue they breathed in h tepid air with genuine zest southerly breeze 4vasswafting pale mist which softened every un- lovely city feature, and the air tasted talntiy or water and ships and cordage. Miss Jane missed the details of all th1s full of the total inpres-
 ,aIsn't is regular New York dayF' she exclaimed with a keen relish of what the words meant.
 The Ballentynes old friends of their fathers in the days when they richer and living was not so dear had sent them stray invitation to dine As fhe4 had no gowns fit for such an occasion, they hadssent Mrs Bauentyne politely couched regrets
 It was their custom, when such date arrived, to watch over the house of festivity, and thus bring vividIy before their very eyes the pleasure that might almost have been theirs Ability to do this without bitterness but rather with zest, part of the Massey heritage.
 Miss aro1ne had exactly the same feeling in 1nilder degree, but this she not look \ ing at the victoras broughans, but at dingy stage which formed gnob1e link in the lordly chain It was painted rich blue, which showed irregular shapes through the crusted dirt of cen tury. There rickety seat on top and on it, close together, and girl. Miss Caroline looked thoughtfully at the pair for moment; then she Turned to her sister.
 tseems kind of nice, doesn't it?' she said wist- fu1y
 Miss Jane looked sharply from her sisters face up to the bending sight which she had been 1oya11y eliminating from her view.
 Nicei' she exclaimed ndisnanty Mice to ride on top of a stage? Why, aroIine, never heard of suchsa thing! You know perfectly well it is the worst possible form-'
 Her sister sieneed for nom nent, but quite vanqushed.
 T don't why it should be bad form ride top and good form to ride nside,' she protested with wild attempt at logic.
 AIdon't, either" said her sister firmly "but it is just the same"
 Slowly the walked. through the dim street. again and again passing the house the opposite side. A star blinking above in the pale ribbon of sky that showed between the housetops Car rages were brought up, ernptied and driven away, and still the figures passed back and forth, full of q gentle eation at the thought that they were eligible to those sacred precincts.
 How many there?" asked Miss Caroline with last glance and contented sigh they turned homeward. T forgot to count"