Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-06-18
Finding a Home.

a.g0in' to speak my mind fur once IN
my life, If never speak ag'in," an
nounced Miss Matilda Fennil, rs sht
briskly bit Off the thread with which
she was basting a founce on skirt OF
pearl gray cloth.
Miss Matilda looked as severely In
dignant as was compatible with hel
plump, mild face, which was still fair
to look upon in spite of her "thirty.
odd" years while her sister-in law,
Mrs. Henrietta, looked supremely in.
different to whatever she might have
to say.
Mrs. Fennil was quite the antipode
of her sister. r.in-law, being a SNOWY
brunette, with eyes that could look de.
murely coquettish, OR spitefully scorn
iul, according to her mood.
"You're a-doin' wrong, Henrietta,
an You know it," went on Miss NATL
da, "a,takin' up with this here strang.
er man, an acshilly goin' to marry
him, when you've been promised-an'
you know you haye-to Nat Norroway
fur the last two years."
"Oh, indeed ~ shifted the widow.
"Metbe you kin console Nat yourself,
seein' you're so anxious to take up fur
| him."
"It's a burning shame so 'tis." con-
tinued Miss Matilda, without noticing
the interruption. "An' him way off
in Maine, or Floridy, or some o. them
Western States, where there's Indians
and bears, a-diggin' an a.delvin' in the
mines, to git money enough to marry
you. You'd orter be ashamed ~
"Indians an bears a-diggin' an
delyin'-te-he |" Uttered Mrs. Fennil,
aggravatingly. "Thank you, Tilda.
amt a.goin' TO marry an Indian-nor
a bear, neither !''s
"Now you know never said nothin'
of the kind" protested Tilda, indig-
nautly. 81 said Nat was a-diggin' in
the mines, an so he Is an here you're
.goin' to marry this Mr.. What's-his-
name-''
"His name is Mr.. Theocrastus Belle
ville." snapped the widow, tartly an
if you've got any more to say agi'n
him, you kin 60 some'rs else to say it
This IS my house. an if you don't like
my doin's, you needn't stay under my
ruff another day longer. I've give you
a home here ever sence Joe died. an l
amt a-goin' to put up with no preach
in from you ~
"I've done my sheer o the work,
Henrietta" said Miss Tilda, mildly,
while suspicion of tears started in
her gray eyes, "an' I think I've earned
my vittles and clothes but il you
don't want me any longer, kin CO."
"Yon'd have to 60 sooner or later,
anyhow" said the widow, slightly mol
ified by her sister-in-law's pacific tones.
"Tain't no ways likely Theocrastus
would want to be saddled with a poor
relation at the very start. AS for mar
ryin' him, I'm a-doin' the! best | kin
for myself. He's just bought the ni-
cest house in town, an furnished it
complete, from garrett to suller and
allus did want to live in town.
'TaiD't no ways likely Nat'll ever make
forchin' out in the mines, anyhow.
AM as I said before, when marry
Theocrastus, you'll hey to find another
home j; an you might we'll be a-look.
in out fur it now"
Miss Matilda finished sewing the
founce on the pearl gray cloth, which
was to be the Widows wedding-dress
and then betook herself to her own
room to have good cry, and think o.
yer her future prospects.
Finding another home was easie +
said than done. and Miss Matilda was
naturally of timid, retiring disposi-
ton, Notwithstanding the bold manner
in which she had "spoken her mind'
| on the present occasion.
But she was not to be left long to her
own medltations, for Mrs. Henrietta
Fennil was not above asking favor of
her sister-in.law, though she had as
good as turned her out of the house
half an hour before.
II want you to 60 with me to see the
house, Tilda," she explained. tripping
into the room, in her Lest dress and a
hat bristling with ostrich plumes.
"Theocrastus wanted me to meet him
and look over it, to see If it suits me ;
and to 60 Alone"
And Miss Matilda obligingly donned
her black-and.wh shawl and her old.
fashioned hat, and accompanied her
sister-in-law on her tour of inspection.
Mr.. Theocrastus Belleville was a
newcomer in the little village Of Crab
Orchard, but his recent purchase of
handsome house and his apparently
ample supply of money, were sufficient
passports to the Widows favor, and the
wooing sped on rapidly.