Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-11-13
ALONG THE LINE.

hhOlN VI L ILL LII Lf LIZ
There. Winn Wright, you have
tracked your horrid boots over my
kitchen floor! Won't you ever learn
what doormats are made for?" cried
Meb Wright, fastening her sleeves before
the open door of the little sitting room.
- do detest these warm, sloppy Fcbru-
airy days. | wish when we freeze up in
November we needn't thaw out until
the first q April. The mud and the
slop must be gone through with in the
spring. anyway. and this freezing and
thawing between whilcs is Just exhaust
ingm J9::sts9
Winp Wright, locomotive engineer, n
big fellow. not graceful, sat abscntly
gazing into the narrow front yard. and
drumming OF the window ledge. He
looked tired.
I'm tired, too, - thought Mcb. Its
hard, tiresome world, han der for work
ing women than for men-no use in
whining over il. though. We must take
life rs it comes
Il don't believe you care much for
me nowadays. Meb.' said Winn,
bluntly.
Meb curlcd her lip. 1t seemed parlic-
ularly ridiculous in Winn to talk scnti-
ment now, for he had tar streak OBJ
liquely across his forehead, and wore
coarse cloth with imperiectly-prcssed
seams and ragged buitonholes.
/" wish YOU wouldn't drum on that
sill, Winn, you know how annoying it
is"
After half hour which Meb spent.
for the most part. outside the little sit
ting room, Winn said goodbye and
started for the depot. Out to Plympton
and back would make up his days trip.
Meb put on her pretty brown cash
mere with white lace and cardinal rib
bon mt her throat, and cardinal loops in
her hair. and took the chair by the win
dow.
She heard the Occasional slush Of
wheels through the melting snow out
side. or the thud of rubber shod feet
through the water on the spongy ice.
the ceaseless drip from the roof into the
tin conductors. and the drowsy chirp of
the canary above the window garden.
Mob ielt sad. Little did she think
when playing the organ on Sundays in
the Sweetville Methodist church, and
taking lessons in French and water-colors
at the Young Ladies Institute, that she
should one day be doing her own work.
and economizing to pay for a little house
with four rooms only, on the lower floor.
She might "haye done better" There
IA Samuel Fletcher who every sum-
ier now came to Sweetville with his
rriage horses and his saddle horses.
here was Charlie Fordyce and, why
Einn was good fellow. She loved
Ninn, of course; but Winn had kind
ofhonest stupidity that she feared would
revent his ever rising" That stupid
tty wearied her. Lite was wearisome
anyway-cheerless and prospectless.
Meb's dooT-bell rang. She was IA
miliar with the humiliation of answer
ing it in person. Charlie Fordyce was
on the steps. Charlie Fordyce had no
tar streaks across his face. He was
starchcd, brushed and polished to the
last degree. Charlie was employed mt
the "Oflice." lie inquired for Winn.
:" Has he left the depot. think?" asked
he IA he followed Meb into the little sit.
ting-room.
Il heard the Bucepha,us signal ut the
FerTy-sireet crossing n minute ago"
That's too bad; Ellis sent word 10
have McGregor take Little Rhody out
20 Plympton in Winn's place, and the
Bucephalus 10 60 on t. Sidon and come
in with the night freights. We've just
had a telegram that there are n hun
drcd and twenty five cars waiting 10 be
moved from Sidon. They were delayed
by the snow w-stOrm on the Central and
Shore Line last week, and have only
Just got through
The chair Meb had set for Mr.. For
dyce was very easy. He was tired after
the slippery, sloppy walk. and. since the
pay went ON just tho same, why shouldn't
he linger?
Were you out TO hear Janauschek
last EVENING"
No; there was some delay n bridge
gone-and Winn didn't get in until nine
O'Clock"
"Of course you were Mt the concert
of the Glee Club last week.
No; Winn seldom took her any.
where. lie liked to settle down at homr
evenings"
MFR. Fordyce reviewed the perform.
ances, mingling the choicest Of the arl
phrases cuilcd from his daily paper will
Others of unknown derivation but legiti
mate sound.
Very humble and hard seemed tho
round Cf uncducated labor in which
Meb moved to the circle OF art and cuI
ture in which Mr.. Fordycc cornamcntallt
Tcvolved.
Mcb failed 10 retollect that Mr.. For.
dyce's monthly receipts were little NOR,
than Wiun's. and That artistic rcvolu.
tions. II continued for ans length oI
iinlc. must dcrcnd upon some consider.
able pecuniary steam power and quite
tangible betting. She lad ali tliat blind
confidence in The money getting powers
OF u fluent man. which Is one of the
most curious segme.is In that cir-ie oi
faith from the center of which women
look out upen the world.