Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-02-21

little rose-scented snuff in poor old
woman's hand, picture book on the
pillow of some little child, d wooden
toy in the delighted grasp Of
skeletonlike infant, gentle admon
ition in the ear Of a wilful factory
girl and word Of comfort to a de-
spairing widow.
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 liat. She glanced anx-
lously at her watch as she went in.
'Past five" she said to herself. 81
must make haste, Or the dear little
mamma will be fretting."
The dusk of the October evening
had already darkened the little room
where lay the patient old sufferer
from rheumatism. 1t was always
neat and clean there, but in Hattie's
eyes it seemed more squalid and pov-
erty-stricken than usual tonight.
AS she came around the corner of the
door she perceived young man sit
ting at an uncovered pine table,
figure strongly silhouetted against
the window.
"Ah!" said she, the spirit of
righteous evaporation rising up in
her heart, $50 | have caught you at
last in the very midst of your evil
practices ~
The young man rose hurriedly to
his feet.
81 beg your pardon" he began,
but the tide of Hattie's indignation
was not thus easily stemmed.
"Don't beg my PARDON" said she.
BEG the pardon of society-ofpublic
opinion-of everything else which
you are outraging by this shameful
behavior of yours. Apparently you
have neither pride nor self-respsct
left. Now take my advice-turn
over new leaf. Give up your evil
practices and set yourself to earn
decent living. Look mo in the eyes,
young mani" she added, severely.
"Tell me if you are not ashamed of
yourself"'
10 all appearances, the culprit was
stricken dumb, Involuntarily he
raised pair of clear, honest grey eyes
to Hattie's face, according to orders,
but he did not speak a word, good,
bad or Indifferent.
"He's not bad looking" thought
Hattie "but l must not neglect the
chance of making an impression. l
am surprised at you!' she added
aloud. ga great able-bodied fellow
like you settling down as a disreputa-
bic incubus on your friends and rela-
tives. Don't you know you are the
talk of the neighborhood? Get up
60 to work! Never let me see you
idling here again! No; don't answer
me. l never enter into argument
with the people in my district. Logic
is useless in case like this"
She hurried to old Milo, who, beng
stone-deaf, looked smilingly on dur
ing this brief but energetic mono
logue, as 1t had been arecitation from
Shakespeare.
"Here's some extract of beef for
you, Mr.. Reneau!' she shouted in his
ear" and a tumbler of lemon jelly!
l hope your lumbago is better. lam
sorry can't stay alittle longer to-day
but I'll come again very soon."
And nodding and smiling goodbye
to him she bustled away.
She arrived none too soon on the
domestic tapis.
Betsy had already broken one of
the moss-rose teacups and spilled the
salad dressing, SO that Hattie had to
make more.
Cousin Prodgitt had lost her spec
tacles, Mrs. Hardy could not find her
best lace frill.
Consequently, she was only half
through arranging her hair when
Mrs. Hardy called up the staircase:
''Harriet. Harriet! Mr.. Cray has
GOMEZ"
She hurriedly coiled up the shin
ing bronze locks and fastened them
with shell pin, tied the Swiss mus.
lin bow at her throat, and catching up
her pocket handkerchief, ran down
stairs.
Cousin Prodgitt was still adjusting
her can.strin ps in her ovn room