St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-06
ALUCKY MISTAKE.
How Hattie Hardy Captured a
Young Minister.

bed-quilts, and embroider lace wells, instead
of running about in all the dirty streets and
narrow lanes in creation"
She had come up from Owl Brook to Wis
it her cousin Mary Ann, who had married
Ebenezer Hardy quarter of a century ago.
and settled down in New York; and, as she
expressed herself, ''things seemed to be all
turned topsy-turvy."
but, Cousin Prodigy" said saucy Hattie
Hardy, who was eQuipping herself Win
basket, bags, parasol and waterproof cloak.
sit is a work Of mercy and charity we are
engaged in" n,-;..
81 think you've all gone crazy together!
I'm surprised at you, Mary Ann, to let the
child 90 tramping all over the city by her,
self In my day it was not considered re-
spectacle"
You say, truly, that times have changed
since then" mildly uttered Mrs. Hardy,
who was knitting fleecy white wool by the
fire. BE sure. Hattie, that you come
home early. The new minister is to be
here tonight to tea, and Betsy can't be
trusted with the new set OF moSs-roSe
china"
II wonder what he is like" said Hattie,
as she tied the deep blue strings OF her hat
into a coquettish bow under her round
chin. 81 do hope he's young and hand
some"
''My dear!" demonstrated Mrs. Prodgitt.
''Of course - added Hattie, 1--WE know
that old Mr.. PuzzletOn was a perfect saint,
but one don't like saints with red noses and
spectacles and three layers of double chinw
Mrs. Prodgitt looked as if she expected
that Hattie would be struck by lightning on
the spot for that heretical remark.
''Harietr' was all that she could utter.
While Mrs. Hardy, more accustomed to
the audacious speeches of her pretty
daughter, went Oh in her purring, sing
song tones:
Don't forget that poor widow in Cobb
lane, Hattie. And if you go to Milo Re
neau's l think it would be well to speak
word in season to that great lazy son of his
who is always buying lottery tickets and
does nothing to support the old folks"
''Oh, yes! Pam glad you mentioned
that" said Hattie, penciling an entry on
her tablets. ''Mem-To give Gilbert Re
neau piece of my mind"
Hattie, Oh her errand of mercy, went
from house to house in the darkened lane
and crowded tenement districts. She could
be gay and flippant enough when cousin
Prodigy teased her, but here she seemed to
have assumed new personality OF dignity
and sweetness.
Old Milo Reneau's was the last house on
her list She glanced anXiouSly at her
watch as she went in.
Past s." she said to herself. 81 must
make haste, or the Gear little mamma will
be fretting.''
The dusk of the October evening had al
ready darkened the little room, where lay
the patient old sufferer from rheumatism.
As she came around the corner of the door
she perceived young man sitting at an UNI
covered pine table-a figure strongly sill
houetted against the window.
'Ah!r said she, the spirit of righteous
evaporation rising up in her heart so I've
caught you at last in the very midst of your
evil PRACTICES"
The young man rose hurridely to his feet.
Il beg your pardon" he began, but
the tide of Hattie's indignation was not
thus easily stemmed.
Don't beg my pardon" she said. beg
the pardon of SOcety-of public opinion
of everything else which you are outraging
by this shameful behavior of yours. Appa-
rently you have neither pride nor self-re-
spect left. Now, take my advice-turn
over a new leaf. Give up your evil practices
and set yourself to earn a decent living.
Look me in the eyes, young man." she
added, severely. Tell me if you are not
ashamed of YOURSELF"
To all appearances the culprit was stricken
dumb. InvOluntarily he raised a pair of
clear, honest gray eyes to Hatties face ac-
cording to orders, but he did not speak a
word, good. bad, or Indifferent.
Hes not bad looking" thought Hattie,
''but must not neglect the chance of max
ing an impression. / am surprised at your
she added, aloud. "a great ablebodied
fellow like you settling down as a disrepu-
table incubus on your friends and relatives.
Don't you know you are the talk of the
neighborhood? Get up-go to work. Never
let me see you idling here again! No;
don't answer me. never enter into ar
gument with the people in my district.
Logic is useless in case like this"
She hurried to old Milo, who, being stone
deaf, looked smilingly on during this brief
but energetic monologue as if it had been
recitation from Shakespeare.
Here's some extract of beef for you.
Mr. Reneau." she shouted in his ear, land
a tumbler of lemon jelly! L hope your lum-
bago is better. I'm sorry can't stay a
little longer to-day, but I'll come again very
SOON"
And nOdding and smiling good by to him,
she hustled away.
She arrived none too soon on the dOmes-
tic tapis.
Betsy had already broken one of the
moss-rOSe teacups and spilled all the salad
dressing, SO that Hattie had to go to work to
make more.
Cousin Prodgitt had lost her spectacles.
and Mrs. Hardy could not find her best lace
friIl.
Consequently she was only half through
arranging her hair when Mrs. Hardy called
up the staircase:
Harriet Harriet Mr.. Gray has came"
She hurriedly coiled up the shining
bronze locks and fastened them with shell
pin, tied the swiss muslin bow at her throat,
and, catching up her pocket handkerchief,
ran downstairs.
Cousin PrOdgitt was still adjusting her
capstrings in her own room.
Mrs Hardy had gone to see if the tea was
properly sleeping, and so our heroine
walked directly into the presence of the
Rev. Cecil Gray.
Il am Miss Hardy" said She 1 beg
-FOUR pardon, but
Here she stopped with the syllables Of
further speech fairly frozen on her tongue.
A cold chill crept through all her veins as
she recognized the curly brown hair. the
clear, honest eyes, the thick mustache.
But the Rev. Cecil was equal to the emer-
gency.
Don't beg my pardon" said he. gravely.
although there was roguish sparkle i'm his
eyes. BEG the pardon of Society-of pub
lie opinion. No. Miss Hardy" he cried.
suddenly dropping his solemn mannerism.
''don't look so distressed OF course it was a
mistake. Don't L know perfectly well that
it was"
''Oh, dear! OH dear!" gasped Hattie 81