Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-07-20

A. DOUBLE MISTAKE.

| n IclIcK you, AuuI
A bright young face, like a gleam OF
April sunshine, flashed into the room
where Miss Thankful Moore sat knitting
"a pretty. girlish face, with n saucy
dimple in either cheek and a merry
sparkle in the laughing eyes. A NAM
moth blue-checked apron much too
large for her, quite enveloped her slen-
der form, and both sleeves were fastened
up above the elbows displaying two
pump. snowy arms, the sight of which
/ would have sent thrills of envy to the
heart of any ballroom belle.
| ''Lay it on the table, child, and go
back to your mornings work.
"Who do you suppose It's from?'
questioned the girl, turning the letter
over, and viewing the superscription GU
Viously.
''Pll see soon's ever I've knit to the
seam-needle. L make it pint never
to lay things aside in a muddle, no
matter what happens"
''The girl coIored consciously"
"Oh, that everlasting seam-needle!
l believe sometimes you knit past 1t just
to keep me waiting"
Harriet
Miss Thankful never used this name in
addressing her niece except when ex-
tremely dlspleased. Slowly and care
fully she folded her work, sticking the
needles firmly and securely into the ball;
then wiping her spectacles an unneces-
sary length of time upon her spotless
apron, she adjusted themln their proper
position across her nose, and took up the
letter.
Meanwhile, Harrie had flown back to
the kitchen, where she gave vent to her
impatience by making a great gathering
among the breakfast dishes.
''She's the dearest old auntie In the
worIdl" she said, "but she does try me
so with her awful precision. Shed like
to spend the rest of her life IN the un-
varying routine of the old family clock
on the mantel yonder. But l can t; I'm
too full of life and activity. 1 want
something new, as dearly as love her,
I'd like a change once in awhile. Aunt
Thankful and the old clock are just
alike. The tick, tick, tick of the clock,
and the click, click of her knitting
needles, are about the only sounds l
hear, except the occasional racket /
make just by way of variation. The
clock is perfect model Of accuracy and
promptness, so is she. They never
make q mistake or 60 wrong"
In the next room. Miss Thankful
Moore had taken the letter from the
envelope and had read it twice before
commenting upon it. Then dropping
it into her lap her face assumed q
thoughtful expression, her eyes took
dreamy look; and no wonder, for she
was gazing far back into the past full
forty years.
Strange, Strange" she murmured,
meditatively, ''that Mehetable should
have writ TO me after all these years.
She's moved to Cramblevllle quite
lately, and wants to renew our acqualn-
tance, she says. Only twenty-five milse
from here, an the cars run right past
her house an mine, too. Seems most
like bein' neighbors. She's widow,
poor thing! an her children are all dead
an gone but Nell. Well, well! I
haven't been called upon to pass through
them Affections, an l reckon on the
hull, as how I'm as contented as most
O. women o my age. I'm right glad
that she hasn't any boys. Her Nell
must be quite girl, Mehetable's every
bit as old as am, an Nell's her young
est. she said. l wouldn't wonder if
she's about Harrie's age. Dear mel
how that girl does fret. She's so lone
some. I don't knows / blame her,
either. was young an clipper once
myself. Mehetable writ an invited me
to come an spend week or two with
her. I couldn't thirk Of leaving home
for so long time. Things would go
20 rack an ruin if / did. But 1t would
be real treat for Harrie, an could
run down an stay couple G days
when she's ready to come home, LII
Mehetable's as glib talker as she used
to be, we can talk up the past 40 years
in two days, an not half try. It's a
blessed thing that she's only got q
daughter. Ii she had grown up SONS,
I'd never tn nix O lettin' Harrle go; for
she's pretty, there's no denyin' that.
Yes. iii answer Mehetable's letter right
off. an ask her if barrie may come tor
a week or two. It'll be change for
her. an like as not, she'll be more con-
tented ter she gets home again.
"a letter for you, mother, and the
very superscription Is as good as the
photo of the writer. L can imagine a
prlm, dignifed spinster of uncertain age,
to whom the least shadow of indecorum
is an un npardonable sin. Mrs. Mehetable
MortonI Why little mother Hetty,
your name looks very unnatural, it is SO
plainly precise. I wonder if she accepted
your invitation to make us visit. ]
hope not, for we'll have to drop all pet
names while she's here. She'll Niche.
table you and Nelson me. 1 wouldn't
be surprised but that she considers il
altogether too familiar to address people
by their given names and we will al
once be promoted to Mr.. and Mrs.
ssDo let me take the letter Mel. I'm
so anxious TO read what she has written.
~SL -noJ ~ hn NV dooroct friend vnoPc