Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-11-18
NEEDLE AND THREAD.

AN old bachelor?" said Honora
haywood.
That's what he told me, Just in so
many words" said Mrs. Pennypacker,
who stood on the threshold of her hest
room, with her head tied up in a pocket
handkerchief and hair-broom in her
hand wherewith she gesticula lated, after
tro gic fashion, as she talked, while
Miss haywood, tall and slender as a
wild lily, stood in the hall, with roll OF
music under her arm, and her slight
figure wrapped in n shabby black shawl.
"And he's willing to pay my price,
cash down, every Saturday night.
Never a. '"mpted to beat down a penny,
Hyou W believe it, my dear"
"Why should heP" said Honora.
"Most people do, my dear" said Mrs.
Pennypacker. "A wrinkled old widow
like ne, who haS.her living to earn, is
mostly fair game for everybody. A real
gentleman, my dear-every inch of him.
But he's little particular, I'm afraid"
" suppose most bachelors are," said
Miss haywood, smiling.
Yes, my dear-yesw nodded Mrs.
Pennypacker. "But this gentleman is
beyond the average, think"
And if he isP"
Nothing" says Mis-. Pennypacker,
making aidab with her broom handle at
q stray mothmiller, which was futter-
ing blindly against the garnet damask
window nothing except that
one don't quite know where to have
him. He drinks old English breakfast
tea, and he wants his ple-crust made
with the best Alderney butter, instead
of lard as is good enough for other peo-
pie; and he must have ventilators to all
the windows, and an open CRATE instead
of the base-burning stove; and-I hope
you'll not be offended, my dear-but he
particularly dislikes'a piano"
"Dislikes. a pianop said the little
music-teacher, reddening in spite of
herself.
And he says. says he, l hope there's
no piano in the house. "A piano. says
he, plays the deuce with my nervous
system, with its everlasting tum tum !
These were his very words, my dear.
So l courtesys, and says I, You will
not be troubled with one here, sir
And so, my dear, I'll be grateful if you
. won't mind doin' your .practicin' until
he's out for his daily walk; from one to
three. Just as regular as the clock"
miss Raymond looked up piteously
m the old landlady's face.
81 will do anything to oblige you,
Mrs. Pennypacker," she said, earnestly.
81 haven't forgotten how much / am
indebted to you. both in actual money
and in kindness, which money can
never repay"
And the soft blue eyes filled with
tears as she spoke.
"My dear, don't say a word" said
Mrs. Pennypacker, hastily. you've
been sick, and you've got little be-
hindhand, and its quite natural you
should be little low-spirited now and
then. But you mustn't get discour
aged. Things will look up after whi lie
And you're quite welcome to stay here
until you are able to settle up your little
account"
Honora haywood sighed, as she
remembered howl often her little ad-
vertisement had been inserted in the
daily newspapers, without attracting
the least notice from che world of pa
irons and pupils. There were so many
capable music teachers, willing to give
essons at moderate prices, nowadays,
and how was any one to know how
sOrely she needed the money!
And as the time crept on, and on
upiIs came, Honora.began seriously tc
K herself whether she could 20 out in
some menial capacity, or stay genteelly
ut home and starve.
"Clothes, ma'am"
Honora started from her reverie, az
the washwoman's stumpy little Cir
banged herself, like human battering-
ram, up against the door, with !
prsposterously large bssketson her arm