The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-09-11
Loves
Faithful Haven
To Its Shelter Came the
Erring One.
BY MARIA cLIFFWoRTH.

Mrs. Ferry sat upright in her favor
tie rockerless chair sewing a strand Of
braided rugs into rug. Braided rugs
were Mrs. Ferry's hobby.
To be sure, she and Anna Jane were
the only people in the house, and Wis
Itors came very seldom. but to Mrs.
Ferry that was no reason why she
should keep her carpets covered.
The room was growing dim. for
night fell early. This having to light
up at half past was a great drain on
the oil can, but there are times when
one cannot see even with two pairs of
spectacles astride ones nose. She
leaned forward and called:
Anna Jane|
Anna Jane came scurrying down
at the top of the fight and almost los
ing her balance and tumbling over the
braided rug at the foot.
what have you been doing upstairs
all this timer Mrs. Ferry demanded.
looking at her sharply. She had a no
ton that Anna Jane had been crying.
You'd better go to the rnstof1ice right
away If you're going"
Anna Jane took down her faded old
jacket and limp hat. "Shall light the
lamp before go?' she asked timidly.
II guess not. ! amt in such ter
rjble hurry as you be to burn up the
last bit of oil there is in the house.
That's because I have to buy it, may
be-"
She set her old mouth grimly. Anna
Jane hurried into her things without
| another word.
There was really nothing to go to the
postoffice for. She had gone four days
now in succession without receiving
anything from the hands of the impa-
tient clerk. Yet, rain or shine. Anna
Jane must make her daily pilgrimage
to the postoffice.
1t never occurred to her to rebel
against this or any other task Aunt
Hulda set her. Aunt Hulda had been
very good, she thought. to take her in
when she was left a little helpless girl
without parents or friends.
She had childish memory of the
time Aunt Hulda came to get her. She
believed Aunt Hulda had favored her
sister Tilly more, for lilly was older
and far ~prettier. .-4
Tilly married early and well When
she had been married five years she
suddenly remembered Anna Jane and
sent for her to visit her. Anna Jane
nd hod hn nf hnt
Tilly was very good to her. but in
clined to make fun of her old fash.
ioned ways of dress and manner.
Anna Jane" she said. you've got
TO do your hair different and wear
something besides that made over
black dress of Aunt Hulda's I'm go
ing to get you pink lawn. and when
It's made I'll give you a party"
Anna Jane gasped with delight The
evening of that party and the first
wearing Of the pink lawn was the
most memorable of her life. for that
evening she met him. No man had
ever before paid her any attention,
| and her little head was quite turned.
He came to call the next evening. and
the next, and the next. OF a sudden he
had grown wonderfully friendly with
the Martins. and Tilly understood. She
worked with might and main to make
the match. and when Anna Jane went
home she was engaged.
Anna Jane was to be married from
Aunt Hulda's house. and she set to
work upon her simple trousseau. Aunt
| Hulda. grown suddenly generous. help
ed her. and Tilly sent $40 TO buy the
wedding dress. Anna Jane lived in a
heavenly dream. He wrote every week.
and she wrote back every week.
Then his letters began to lag. and at
last came silence. Anna Jane wept and
wondered. She could do nothing. Even
what was the trouble. But when she
did she wrote her sister
He's marriedP' she ragged. He mar
ried that Convers girl that was here at
your party. She always wanted him,
and now she's got him. They went to
the justice a month ago and were mar
ried on the sly. | wouldn't believe it
till l had it right from her own mouth.
the impudent thingl"
Poor Anna Jane! She packed away
her wedding things with dazed look
in her eyes that never after left them.
Aunt Hulda sighed and sighed.
She seemed to feel that Anna Jane
was all TO blame and treated her ac-
cordingly.
But there were times when the bur-
den pressed more heavily upon her
than at others. and tonight was one of
them. Her voice trembled as she stood
at the general delivery window and
| put the worn question:
ANY mail for Mrs. Hulda Ferry.
please?"
The clerk snatched a package of let
ters from pigeonhOle and thumbed
them hnrriedly. Then he shook his
head. and Anna Jane. with fresh hn
initiation upon her. turned away.
A