Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-28
The Daily Story

copzrlsnssa. asla. BY A.seslassa 11srary Rnrsaa.

Its odd how she asked for it the day
before she died and went to sleep with
it in her hands. Poor Aunt Rebecca.
She was so eccentric But she meant
we'll. I'm sure"
Wrapping the britannia teapot in her
little red shawl. Adelia went through
the orchard to the little gate in the
fence that opened into Mrs. Mason's
vegetable garden.
Annie Mason was on her knees pull
ing beets Her rosy face grew roster
when she saw Adelia standing there,
pale and ill looking.
What is it, Adelia:" she asked
quickly. is anything the matter:'
She sat back on her heels and shook
the earth from a monster beet root.
Adelia's voice trembled with emo
ton.
I've got to see you alone. Annie"
she said hurriedly. It's very impor-
tant."
Mrs. Mason arose with difficulty. for
she was very stout. and with trcn-
Dled expression on her comely face she
led the way to the house and into the
sitting room.
There amt soul to home this
morning They've all gone off. Adelia.
What on earth's the matter?" She
dropped into chair and waved Adelia
into another.
Adelia unwrapped the shawl and set
the britannia teapot on the table be-
fore she spoke.
Annie Mason, I've got a confession
TO make" she said in a low. shamed
tone. I've been short of money ever
since the railroad went to smash and
they stopped dividends. I was too
proud to borrow money on the house
or to get in debt, and I've been hun
gry-just plain hungry. So yesterday
when I got home found big basket
OF groceries on the back porch and
and-I was so hungry kept them!'
She paused tragically.
"Well?" gasped Mrs. Mason.
"Well. they're yours. Annie Mason.
I'm sure they are. All I had ordered
was a loaf of bread and 10 cents
worth of tea. and I've kept your pro-
visions. and to pay you back for them
and to punish myself for being so wick
eddy proud I've brought over the bri-
tannia teapot. It's for your Adelia
sank back In her chair. and her lips
! were very white.
, Mrs. Mason said not a word then.
/ but she few around and brought a pill
! low for Adelia's head and little glass
/ of blackberry wine. When the color
| came into Adelia's cheeks Annie Mason
leaned over her frail neighbor ana
spoke impressively.
Now. don't you dare say a word,
Adelia. till I'm through. I want you
to know that haven't forgotten how
! you helped me when the children had
the measles last winter and all the
kind and neighborly things you've done
! since we've been here. And somehow
knew that you was having some tenn
porary trouble. and yesterday morning
T, when I was giving my grocery order
! said TO the new man, My neighbor,
Miss York. forgot 20 tell you all she
wanted this morning, and you can
just add these things to her order
And then | made up list. and those
you found on the porch were, your
own, Adela York. l won't hear a
word against it. What's the use OF
having neighbors II they can't help
each other out? 'Neighbor' means to be
near to-, and the time TO be near to Is
when we're in trouble. Don't you dare
cry, Adelia York;
Mrs. Mason was crying herself as
she spoke. and after she and Adelia
had mingled their tears and had grown
1 Ill
gested that they drink a cup OF tea
made in the britannia teapot.
Adelia dried her eyes and smiled.
and Annie Mason went to the kitchen
sink TO wash out the teapot.
/, The spout's all stopped up. AIDE
fla" she called. Just bring me that
knitting needle of the table. will your
81 declare. it's stuffed with paperr'
she exclaimed as she pried with the nee
die. What the land" She drew forth
the needle and with 1t a wet and
crumpled roll OF paper.
Adelia opened It carefully. Aunt
Rebecca must have put something in
it." she said in n dHzed tone as she
fattened out the engraved certificates
OF stock
"IlI bet it's those missing securi.
ties cried Annie Mason excitedIy.
We'll, your Aunt Rebocra would he
likely to do that. Didn't you tell me
she had the teapot IA her room the
day before she died:'
Adela nodded. Her eyes were heavy
with tears. It's all so wonderful.
Annie | mean my awful pride and
then my yielding to temptation to take
your provisions. not knowing YOU had
given them TO me. and then my pun
ishing myself by giving you the tea
pot and finding the securities. Bu,
there's one thing | value more than
all the money. Annie Mason" she end
ed wistfully.
, whats thatY asked Mrs Mason
cheerily.
The understanding what 'neighbor
: means-belng near to- each other" e
piled Adelia.