Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-09-17
MA RiA'S
MONEY
She Drew Too Much on
Her Imagination
BY cLARIssA nAcKIE

Of percaie and Bingham neatly on the
shelves, hung some imitation lace col
lars In the window and unlocked the
door for the days business.
Behind the store. which was the
front parlor OF her house. were the
rooms where Maria lived.
As she sat at the window waiting for
customers she saw girlish form hurry
past and enter the grocery store. Ma
ria Bevis smiled sourly.
"ShiftIess," she muttcred. saatchiDg
lrritably at the red yarn OF her ball.
IF that amt Just like Amy Lane,
Probably just got out of bed and gone
to the store for something for break
fast, / never could believe Cousin
from me. Bevises have always been
thrifty and Woodworking. Somehow
Amy Bevis was different: then she
went and married Howard Lane. and
everybody knows It's starvation bust
ness running a country newspaper.
But
The door swung inward With jan
Cling bell. and little. black eyed.
white haired woman hoped In Ike a
sparrow and perched on a chair.
well. Maria. how goes it, twittered
Ida Ramsell cirlishly.
I'm all right. Ida" returned Maria
dryly. Going out TO sew today?"
"Yes-up To Mrs. BreIner's. III
want two yards of slate colored silesia
and two spools Of black thread No.
10, guess. lust saw Amy" remarked
Ida.
$50 did l."
Amy looks sick. Maria"
Probably she eats too much pastry,
hear she lives out of the bakery
shifted Maria. squirting nearsightedly
into box OF thread.
'sThey are having a hard time to get
along" murmured Ida kindly.
"Humph. Howard better go to
work and do something that viii bring
in real money. never dreamed when
lent that money 10 Amy's father that
he would die without penny. When
l spoke 10 her about ii she and How
ard up and promised to pay every
cent. with interest"
u heard they said they would pay
compound interest"
Maria flushed. You do hear lot Of
trashy talk. Ida. Howard did say that
but it's all talk They've never made
but the one payment on the interest
/ never expect to get the rest"
Il expect it's good deal for you q
lose" suggested Ida lnquisitively.
That's a personal matter" returned
Maria stifiiy. ."Its enough that lent
ii TO Cousin Sammy. and he gave ms
the note for II payable on demand
Amy and Howard have promised tc
pay IL. But, land, I've given it up!'
Folks say you don't speak TO Amy
and Howard new." ventured Ida Ram
sell as she arose to go.
Fer once folks are right told ZEN
didn't hold to keeping acquaintance
! with cheats"
Maria" For once Ida's sharp voics
was warmly sympathetic for youns
Howard Lane and his wife. Amy
Swiftly she changed the topic. MIR
Busby told me 10 tell you that yot
was appointed one OF the delegates Il
the convention AT Ripple River.
There'u be twenty-five churches repre-
scented. Mrs Bremer's another
suppose you'll so?"
Go nowheret" cried Maria bitterly
II can't afford to. Ida. II Amy would
pay me that money conld go.'
We'll. I'm sorry. tioodby." said
Ida hurriedly. and the door tangled
after her My" she breathed as she
skipped down the street. Maria must
have lent them lot of-naoney. When
i think Of all the things she's wanted
TO do and couldn't because of the mon
ey tied up In that family loan feels
II she was a martyr"
Ida Ramsell repeated that remark
the next afternoon at the sewing so
cieJy. and a buzz of laughter went
around the group Of busy women.
lit must be thousands Of dollars" OBJ
served Airs. Bremen quietly. although
! never could understand how Maria
Bevis could get hold OF vefy much TO
lend. remember. when went into
black for Mr.. Bremen. | offered to sell
her my new garnet silk-but Maria said
she couldn't afford il just then: she'd
Lent every penny 10 Sammy's folks and
they hadn't paid her back
Too bad Of her 10 talk SO much
about It." said the minister's wife
Family affairs are best Kept In the
family"
That's what I'm always telling
Maria" chirruped Ida Ramsell. sew
Ing terkiIy. But she will gable about
II. Does seems If her milk of human
kindness was turned TO vinegar and
she just reJoiced in gettings siaps at
Howard and Amy"
Il wonder bow the baby is" muir
INJURED Mrs. Busby. the minister's wife.
Better. SO Amy said when ran In
there yesterday. Seems they had
trouble with the milk from Longs.
Howard wants 10 buy a cow. but /