The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-10-25

was not her way.
The Rev. Amos Dale, having hung
his hat on Its proper nail, as every mem-
ber of a we'll regulated household should,
proceeded to draw an armchair up to
the table, sat down, broke the seal of
his letter unostentatiously and read.
II was short letter, and he soon drop
ped 1t on his knee, looking around with
an expression of CONSERVATION.
Hannah" he exclaimed, "here Is an
agent-a woman at that-bearing down
upon us. What Is to be doneY"
I" Head her Off, IL ther's time" was
the concise reply.
"Let's see, Z" said the Rev. Amos, talk
ing up the letter again I" l am coming
to Fairfield to canvass for the Complete
analytical Commentary reso-
luton for you, Hannah
''I'akes book agents for that"
81 shall hope to make my home in
your family, If perfectly convenient to
Mrs. Dale''-Amos Dale read this with
an odd smile about his mouth.
Umph ~ was all Hannah vouch-
safed.
He read on in silence, but suddenly
spraug to his feet, looked up at the
clock on the wooden shelf, and said,
No heading her off now. This let
letter has been detained on the way
See, the date is three days ago. She is
coming on the 9:3O train this very even
ing, and have only just time to meet
her."
don't sees you've any partikeler
call to meet her. Them book agents
isn't in the habit of being beaued around
much, guess. Say, Mr.. Dale" she
called, for he had his hat on and was
out of the room already, "you'll take
her to the tavern, won't you, or to Dea-
con Bush's 7"
''Mrs. Bush is sick. We shall have
to keep her to. night, for all see. Get
the east room ready, and you may as
well put the kettle over, Hannah, the
poor woman will be tired''-and the
Rev. Amos closed the door and strode
off towards the little station, half mile
away, leaving Hannah to do his bidding
faithfully, albeit with some grumbling.
"He'll take in every analytical tramp
that comes along with comminterry
don't make no difference whether it's
man or woman, she said to herself, a
little confused as to the new adjective
which had impressed her as valuable If
vague.
Mr.. Dale walked rapidly along the
shadowy, grassy path, thinking as he
walked of the sort of woman whom lie
was probably going to meet-substan-
tial of form, harsh of feature, profuse
and emphatic of speech, a trifle dense of
sensibility-yes, he knew the type well
and did not fancy 1t overmuch; all the
same he must do for this woman, this
Mrs. Emily Payne for so she had told
him to address her, in case there was
anything in the way of her coming to
Fairfeld) all that Christian courtesy
demanded.
He reached the station just in time
to see the train coming in sight around
bhO bOhNf ohOWClb vi spdIhS5
and glancing colored lights into the
the quiet dewy fields. There was brief
pause, then the train swept on again,
and the Rev, Amos Dale was peering
about in the dark, with near-sighted
eyes, for the person he had come to
meet.
A slight little woman, dressed in deep
mourning, who had been the only per-
son to alight from the train, came to-
wards the door of the waiting room,
stopped seeing him looking thus, and
then stepped timidly up to him.
Ah!'' said the minister, I" is this
Mrs. Emily Payne y'-he spoke each
word slowly and distinctly.
Eyes, SIR" was the reply, in a quiet,
clear-toned voice. Mr.. Dale, think 9''
He took her into the waiting room
and left her while he went to find her
valise. AS she came into the light, he
saw what he had felt when she spoke,
that she was a lady. She had a pale
face, with smooth brown hair under her
widows cap; there was a refined, spirit
ual character in the features, and an ex.
preston of sadness In the gray eyes
Altogether, the Rev. Amos Dale found
difficulty in believing that this was one
of the persevering book agents whom
he had always held In disfavor.
AS they walked along the quiet road
he carrying the valise himself, much
against her will, there being no convey