The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-03-23

ly flowered dress that bulring hoop-skirt
showed to nd 'antage, and a shawl of vivid
red and yellow plaid. A bonnet of the
shape called poke was on her head, and
from it dan led a thick green veil She
wore gray cotton gloves, and one hand firm
~ grasrcd lumpy carpetbag, the other n
fat umbrella. She 10 ked comfortable and
common from top to toe. She peered at the
group through her steel bowed sppctaces.
and tucking her umbrella under the carpet
bag arm, she extended her hand. "Waal,
now, s'pose yer don't know me- Pm Je.
rusha Hevington-yer cousin, Jerusha Hev.
ngton."
The stricken family were dumb NJ.
Fenton was the first to recover. Ike took the
prof.red hand, shook it warm, and led the
lady to a chair, begging her to I've seated
b could not say that she was welcome,
but he tried to make Aer feel as if she were
Mrs Fenton then came forward and sitting
down beside her asked some friendly qnes.
tions about the journey aud the girls. lit
tie conscience smitten offered to take her
things.
"Waal guess won't jest now, thank
yer, I've got to % and see about my trunk
in minute ; | had it left in grocery store
jest around the corner. The young man was
awful pleasant when told him that was
one Of your folks-he seems to set heap by
you"
Good gracious ~ thought Florence, with
a shudder. 81 wonder if she has been going
all through the city advertising her relation
ship to us |"
"Wa'al, Samuel" began Mrs Jerusha
"Yer We got two fne likely gals; they ought
to help their mar a sight in doin' housework
and sich. 1t must take n powerful heap of
work to keep all them fussin's 'clean," with
an admiring, rather awe-struck q ance about
the room. Then went on, as them all the
children yer've got, Mira ?"
Mrs. Fenton answered that she had two
more, a son and little daughter. Mabel
offered to send for her little sister, thinking
that child might make converse easier, but
Miss Jerusha answered, with such evident
: alarm and disreish, "For laws sake, no !
cunt bear children" that she drew back of.
Tended, Mrs. Fenton looked annoyed, but
Miss Jerusha. u1aba,hed began to complan
of the awful droughtup in their place while
AN awfui silence fell upon the rest.
A quick light ring mad the girls start and
ferventy hope that it was not Mr.. Wander
POOL am sure for the first time in their
lives to have Mr. Vanderpool, of all being.
" in the world see this dreadful reariye-Mr
- Vanderpool, whose father belonged Ito III,
y Oldest of Koickerhocker families, and hos
" mother was an f. +. V; nho was 50 iaslidi
' Gus and re iiu,d himself! 1t took only Il lew
= seconds FIR this Ia ruth through their brain,
=, when in Mr. Vaud,rpool walked. He wa
greeted in rather embarrassed manner 81
them all and inveglcd into a seat as far.a
possible from Miss Jrrusha, on pretense Q
~ its being cooler by the window
But Miss Jerusha didn't mean to be left ii
the back ground-she got up from her chai
, ard stalktd over to the group.
- "Who's this young man?' she blandlV in
qnired indicating Mr.. Vanderpool with he
cotton fore finger.
= Mabel, with a very red face, introduced
\ Mis-, Heyington, mentally grateful that the
)" name wasn't Mukins or Snooks.
Mr.. Vanderpooi made an astonished bow
" but Miss Jerusha held out her hand anC
., gave his an unmerciiul grip, exclAjming
II heartily, "I'm real glad to see yer. mister
But, see here, sis'-to Mabel-''I ain
~ ashamed o bein' your cousn-yer nigh
he erdooced me as sch."
- ! Z ordering Mr.. Vanderpool 'to sci
dowl IN the sofy," she took her place besid,
him when he had obeyed.
"Wa'al, now, didn't spect to see sich
: fine young feller the fust night l COME
- beau O. yourn. s'pose ?" she said to Mabel
y, in a loud voice.
:, Mabel wished that the earth would oper
- and swallow some one of the party.
"Wa'al, yer needn't git so ALFRED red
- yer ainl got no call to be ashamed o. him
. he seems a nice nuf kind O. young man.
Mabel felt the cold shivers running up an
down her back, and thought she knew'th
7 meaning of purgstory now,
-, Miss Jerusha quite bliss!ul, turned to MI
=, Vanderpool, and put some searching ques
, tions with regard to his "trade." Mr.. Van
derpool politely answered that he was study
ing for the bar.
:, "Hum bartender / shouldn't he
- thought it W was Miss Jerusha's com
ment.
y The girls sat shuddering and wondering
~ what was coming next. Mr. and Mrs. Fen
~ ton were holding a council Of war INF tn
back paror.
90 Miss J rusha was silent for the space q
n three minutes, gazing upon Mr. Vanderpoo
.n with such ardent admiration that he begal
no to feel nervous.
"You're awful like Linus Swinefeld /
to she exclaimed at length-''the fust beau
as ever he'd. Ikuowed him when we went I
the deestrict school, They ulster call hin
Piggy then, and none o the gals could bea
I'd the sight o him, and when he growcd up,
he was the only one who'd 90 to prayer meetiu
: with him, My stars! hut he was powrrl,
d like yol. He'd 81 the same kiuder tow
ed coloryd hair, aud kinder whiry-blue eyes
RI, was awful fond o him" She sigh d, an
ny edged little nearer the now thoroughly III
comfortable Mr. Vanderpool; then she sighe
~ again, aud edged still nearer "Y,u'l
nv dreadful like him." she said, and buried h,
1t face in big rcd hal kkerclief,and groauin
es moved II arrr still another groan anOth,
iy sigh, made the girls rise in fright W,
,r- the woman crazy Sill another sigh an
as groau wedged Mr. Yanderpool agaiu7Ga shar
al Garner OF the sofa. lie, somewhat aIarme
up tried to get up when Miss Jerusha, wit
spssmodc witches all over her face, thre
IN her arms around his neck, exclaiming, col
vulsvely, "My dear, dear boyp
"a Mr., Vanderpool Indignantly STRUGGLED