Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-02-06

treasure, but l guess that pride of
mine will have to pay for 1t. l shall
give 1t to Annie Mason right now In
exchange for those things, and shan't
accept anything more than the value
of that food. I've often seen grand
mother pour ten from 1t, but Aunt Re
becca never used 1t that l remember.
It's odd how she asked for It the day
before she died and went to sleep with
1t in her hands Poor Aunt Rebeccal
She was so eccentric. But she meant
well, Pm 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 rosler
when she saw Adelia standing there,
pale and Ill looking.
"What Is 1t, Adelia2" she asked
quickly. us anything the matterr"
She sat back on her heels and shook
the earth from a monster beet root.
Adelia's voice trembled with emo
ton.
1--WE got to see you alone, ANNIE
she said hurriedly. ITS very impoF-
tant."
Mrs. Mason arose with difficulty, foe
she was very stout. and with trou-
bled 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 of, Adelia.
What on earth's the matterT She
dropped into n chair and waved Adella
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 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. 30 yesterday
when got home found big basket
of groceries on the back porch and
and-I was so hungry kept themp
She paused tragically.
"WellT" gasped Mrs. Mason.
well, they're yours, Annie Mason,
I'm sure they are. All had ordered
was 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 80 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 n word then.
but she few around and brought pill
low for Adella's head and little glass
of blackberry wine. When the color
came into Adelia's cheeks Annie Mason
leaned over her frail nelghbor and
spoke impresslvely.
Now, don't you dare say a word.
Adelia. till I'm through. 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 neigbborly things you've done
since we've been here And somehow
| knew that you was having some tenn
porary trouble. and yesterday morning
when ! was giving my grocery order |
said to the new man, My neighbor.
Miss York, forgot to tell you Nil she
wanted this morning. and you can
Just add these things TO her order.
And then ! made mp n list. and those
you found on tho porch were your
own, Adella York. | won't hear a
word against It! WHATS the use OF
having neIghbors n they can't help
each other out7 'Neighbor' mems to be
near to- and the time 10 be nenr TO Il
when we're IN trouble Don't you dare
cry, Adella York;
Mrs. Mason was crying herself as
she spoke. and after she and Adelia
had mingled their tears and had grown
a little calmer tho older woman sug-
gested that they drink u cup OF tea
made In the britannia teapot.
Adella dried her eyes and smiled.
and Annie Mason went to the kitchen
sink to wash out the teapot
1.-THE spout's all stopped up. AIDE
lla," she called. "Just bring me that
knitting needle on the table, will your
II declare, It's stuffed with paperP'
she exclaimed as she pried with the nee
die. what the landp She drew forth
the needle and with It wet and
crumpled roll OF paper.
Adelia opened It carefully. Aunt
Rebecca must have put something in
IT," she said In a dazed tone as she
qattened out the engraved certificates
OF stock.
"Pll bet It's those missing secur-
tlesp cried Annie Mason excitedly.
well, your Aunt Rebecca would be
likely to do that. Didn't you tell me
she had the teapot In her room the
day before she dledT
Adella nodded. Her eyes were heavy
with tears. ITS all so wonderful,
Annie. | mean my awful pride and
Then my yielding to temptation 10 take
your provisions. not knowing you had
given them TO me. and then my pun
lshlng myself by giving you the tea
pot and finding the securities But
there's one thing | value more than
all the money. Annie Mason" she end.
cd wistfully.
"Whnt's thntr' asked Mrs. Mason
cheerlly.
1.-THE understanding what 'neighbor'
means being near to- each other" re-
piled Adelia.