Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-10-12
AMELLA'S
RECLAIMED
LOVER

(@ by b. J waish.l
8 MRS. TABOR laid a kind

N hand On her shoulder Amelia
n Tanner looked up into the
pleasant face above her. She
was just leaving the Tabor house and
Mrs. Tabor had come to the door to
see her depart
II am sorry you got so tired today,
Amelia" Mrs. Tabor said. But the
work seemed to pile up. hope you
will get nicely rested before you have
to start out tomorrow. Here is some
thing for your supper" She placed
paper bag In Amella's work-worn
hand.
A slight flush Of gratitude and APP
probation tinted Amella's tired face
She murmured thanks and hurried
away, slight, dropping figure in In
descrlbably quiet and threadbare
clothes.
fastening away from the pretty
residence section of the town, where
she was employed by the day, she
turned into Lincoln street and there
was her home. The smile that the
sight of the shabby little brOwnisn
house always brought to Amella's face
came now. She loved that house; she
was trying to pay for 1t, literally, by
the sweat of her brow. All her life
long she had wanted home, haven,
place Of her own, where she could
be her own mistress for few hours IN
each twenty-four. It was after she
bought the house that she had given
up serving as a maid and had entered
upon the harder job of being a blythe
day.
Amelia did not go In at the front
door, but, taking few more steps, she
went round to the back of the house
and entered that way. In the kitchen
by the stove sat woman crying.
"Oh, Sister Dora !" exclaimed Anne
liza. whats the matter now"
"Pm cold" quavered the small sal
low woman, hugglng herself in her
shawl.
"Why of course you would be. The
windows are open and there is
draught."
"But l must have my fresh air."
sighed the woman. "Fresh air Is nee
essary to me In my state of health. ]
couldn't make the fire burn. That
wood you bought is too green. Barney
would never allow bit Of green wood
on the premises. He took such pains
with his fuel. Oh, dear" And here
Sister Dora began to weep again.
Amelia had closed the windows and
now laying aside her hat and coat, she
began with quick movements to start
a fire. The helpless and dissatisfied
Dora watched her gloomlly
"Fve been thinking Of Barney all
day." she said. "Pve been thinking
that If 1t hadn't been for you he would
never have gone away and left me-"
Amelia was silent. II was Doras
favorite complaint that her sister was
the cause Of her husbands vanlshment
into the unknown. He had been gone
eight years and Dora, left alone and
unprOvlded for, had come to Amelia
Ever since Amelia had provided for
her, cared for her, borne with her.
Barney was fine man." Dora went
on. 1--WE got along good together till
you made trouble between u.s. don't
know how you did 1t, but you must
have made trouble or there wouldn't
have been any. loved him when we
were married and he thought his eyes
Of me. never dreamed 1t would come
out like this. oh, I am miserable
woman !"
She was shifting. Amelia, still ST.
lent, set on the tea kettle and laid the
table neatly. She cut bread, opened
can of something arranged the
peaches temptlngly. When the tea
was made she touched D0ra's shout
der.
"There, come" she said, "eat a BIT
of something and you'll feet better"
81 can't touch a crumb," said Dora
But Amelia holsted her from her
chair, made her sit down at the table
and poured a cup of tea for her. Pres
emily Dora began to eat heartily and
with enjoyment. Amelia, however
could not eat at all she was too tired
too dlsheartened To come home to
this night after night, her poor sister
mourning for the worthless and delln
quent Barney instead of exerting her
self to get a new grasp on life. Years
before Dora had driven away the one
lover Amelia had ever had, worthy.
honest, plain fellow, because he did
not match up with the snowy Barney
But Amelia, instead Of grIevlng her
life away, had gone bravely to work,
filling her life with what she could
get hold Of. She thought of LAIR!
Hicks now as she slipped her tea and
wondered If Dora ever realized what
she had done.
Suddenly Amelia covered her face
with her hands, making a shelter for
her poor features, while she tried to
stralghten them back into their nor
NAL placldlty.
"Well, II you are going to cry !
shall give up" said Dora, harshly.
Amelia had resumed her pOlse.
81 never cry" she said. whats the
use? Have some more tea, Sister
DOraH
Dora was peeplng from the window
"There's a man coming round to the
back door here" she said. excltedly
"Maybe It's Barney come back to met"
She tore to the door, Jerked It open
and fell back In her disappointment.
"AIlss Tanner?' she said. "Yes, she's
here. Come In II you want to see
her"
The man entered lie was thin. tall |
quiet looking and neatly dressed. His |
eyes went l." Ana la and rs Amelia