Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-02-27

L
a willful factory girl, and word of
comfort to encourage despairing
widow.
She could be gay and fiippar 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 five," she said to herself. 81
must make haste, or the dear little
mamny will be fretting."
The dusk Of the October evening
had already darkened the little room,
whore lay the patient old sufferer from
rheumatism. 1t was always neat AID
clean there, but in Hsttie's eyes it SEEM
ed more squalid anG poverty-strieken
than usual tonight, As she came
around the corner Of the door, she per-
ceived a young man sitting at an uncoy-
cred pine table-s figure strongly sill
houettSd against the window.
"Ah ~ said she, the spirit Of right
eous evaporation rising up in her
heart, $50 I've caughtyou 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-of public
opinion-of everything else which you
are outraging by this shameful behavior
of yours. Apparently, you have neither
pride nor self-respect left-now take
my advice; turn over new leaf. Give
up your evil practices, and set yourself
to earn decent living. Look me In
the eyes, young manr she added Sc
verely. "Tell me If you are not ashamed
of yourself?" ..
To all appearances, the cnlprit was
stricken dumb. Involuntarily he raised
pair of clear, honest gray eyes TO Hat
ties face, according to orders, out he
did not speak word, good, bad or In
different.
"He's not bad looking" thought
Hattie; "but l must not neglect the
chance of making an impression. 81 an
surprised at you =" she added aloud. "a
great, able-bodied fellow like you set
Ting down as disreputable incumbus
on your friends and relatives. Don't
you know that you are the talk Of the
neighborhood' Get up-go to work
Never let me see you hiding here again
No; don't answer me. | never enter
into argument with the people In my
district. Logic is useless in case like
this"
She hurried to old Milo, who, being
stone-deaf, looked sInilingly on during
this brief but energetic monologue, Ms
if II had been a recitation from Shakes
peare.
"Here's some extract Of beef for you,
Mr.. Reneau ~ she shouted in his ear
land tumbler of lemon jelly! | hope
your lumbago is better. Pm sorry !
can't stay II little longer to-day, but I'll
come again very soon."
She arrived none too soon on the do
mestic tapis.
Betsy had already broken one OF the
moss-rose tea-cups, and spilled all the
salad dressing, so that Hattie had TO 20
to work to make more.
Cousin Prodgitt had lost her specta-
cles, and Mrs. Hardy could not lind her
best lace frill.
Consequently she was only hall
through arranging her hair when
Cousin Prodgitt called up the the stair
case:
"Harriet! Harriet Mr.. Cray has
come! !" f..
She hurriedly colled up the shining
bronze locks and fastened them with q
shell-pin. tied the Swiss muslin bow at
her throat and catching up her pocket
handkerchief, ran down stairs.
Cousin Prodgitt was still adjusting
her cap-strings, in her own room.
Mrs. Hardy had gone 10, see II the tea
was properly STEPPING, and so our hero
Inc walked directly into the presence Of
the Reverend Cecil Cray.
81 am Miss Hardy" said she. 81 beg
your pardon! but"
Here she stopped, with the syllables
of further speech fairly frozen on her
tongue. r... .-.f
A cold chill crept through all her
veins, as she recognized the curly,
brown hair, the clear h2nes' eyes, the
thick mustache.
But the Reverend Cecil was equal to
the emergency.
Don't beg my pardon!" said he,
gravely, although there was roguish
sparkle in his eyes. BEG the pardon OF
society-of public opinion. "No, Miss
Hardy" he cried, suddenly dropping
his solemn mannsrism-"don't look SO
dis,ressedly. OF course it was a mis-
take. Don't | know perfectly well thai
1t was" ...... .....i
,f'Oh, dear oh, dear!" gasped Hattie
81 thought it was JONAS Reneau.
never had seen him, you know, and Il
was so dark and
"AnI 50 you scold9d the wrong man,
said Mr.. Cray. "Well, I'll pass the lee
ture on to the genuine offender at th'
very first opportunity, only pm afrsit
/ cannot emphasize 1t half SO neatly aI