Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-10-29
Adelia YOrk'S
Pride
One Good Deed De-
serves Another
BY cLARIssA nACKIE

ouite bare pantry. Cooking utensils
were arranged in orderly deafness. and
the everyday china was shining on its
particular shelf. but OF provisions there
were none to mention.
The bread box was empty as well as
the cake box and the cooky can. The
tea canister held only dust OF tea on
the bottom, and the coffee Jar had been
empty for two weeks.
This was the day that Adelia had
held out against for weeks. Little by
lttle her store of ready money had
dwindled until at last there remained
only Is cents In her little beaded purse.
Adelia was proud, and she was now
moor. since she had received letter
nom New York saying that the rail-
road stock whose dividends provided
her modest income was quite worth
less now Without the semiannual
dividend. which was due now, Adelia
was pennIIess. She owned the little
house where she lived. for she had In
herl,ed II from Aunt Rehccca York.
whom she had nursed through an irri-
table aud eccentric old age aud whose
death did not bring to light half OF the
securities which her viii had named as
Adelia's portion
Il must 20 to Mr.. Brown and see II
| cannot get loan on the house"
sighed Adelia as she closed the pantry
door and sank weakly into rocking
chair.
To her dIsmay. the office door was
locked aud card on the door said that
Mr.. Brown Ind gone to Albany on
business and would return two days
later.
Adelia smiled bitterly as she turned
away. Mr.. Brown had been her last
hope. He was the principal business
nan OF the little village. and to none
other would she have conhded the des-
perate condition of her affairs. Fool
ish she might have been. ahsurdly
proud she undoubtedly was. but the
FORKS were all that way. and Adelia
was a York to the very marrow OF her
delicate bones.
She stepped slowly up the brick
paved street toward her little home.
now and then pausing to give greeting
to some friend or neighhor.
Miss Cherry Downs popped her head
out Of the door and urged her to come
In and stay for supper.
I'm ali alone. Adelia," she insisted.
"I'm going to have some warmed over
succotash and a peach shortcake.
feel too mean for anything eating IL
alone"
Adella flushed warmly, but she shook
her head. I'm sorry. Cherry, but
put some biscuits to raise. and | must
get home at once. Thank you Just the
same she ended. hurrying away.
Adelia hastencsi home. conscience
stricken st the untrutb she had spoken
about the biscuit Her pride was at
the bottom OF it all. she told herself
remorsefnily as she entered the house.
Her mouth had watered at Cherry's
invitation TO supper. but pride had
risen Ike a wall before her
81 wasn't too proud to tell lie" She
dashed her conscience with this thought
She felt faint and cold and almost I'll
from lack OF food. The hens had sud
denly ceased to lay. and she was glad
OF It, she had revolted against eggs.
but they had kept up her strength.
Adeila went out to the back porch TO
bring in her bread and tea which the
groceryman must have delivered by
this time. There were some cans or
fruit In the cellar left over from last
winter. She decided that she would
have a cup OF tea and some bread and
beach plum lam for her supper.
On the wooden bench on the back
porch was big basket. and II was
generously heaped with packages and
parcels OF groceries.
Adella gasped. The new man had
made a mistake He had left some
body else's order. and her miserable
pittanee os bread and tea had gone
elsewhere.
She lpgged the basket into the kitch-
en- and locked the door. Then Adelia
York did a strange thing. She put all
the packages away in her pantry and
hid the basket In the cellar. When
she painted up the stairs once more she
looked into the pantry and made In
ventory Of the provisions There were
hour aud sugar and butter and baking
powder, tea and coffee and crackers
and rice and cereal. jars and cans OF
dried beef and Goldfish. aud wrapped In
separate paper was q fine porter
house steak.
Ade!la stood with locked fingers and
compressed lips. These things belong
cd to her neighbor. Mrs Mason. The
Mssos were generous livers. What
would Mrs. Mason think OF her? What
would any one think of her?
Adelia's pride forbade her giving in
70 her pleading conscience. She step
ped briskly around. her red lips closed
In tight line OF resistance. preparing
We evening meal When she sat down
70 It she ate heartily. eating the juicy
meat and drinking the fragrant coffee