The Osceola times., 1885-09-26

81 suppose it'll be hard for you, Sister
Bowen, to see anybody step into Pa
mela's Shoes" remarked Deacon Hale's
wife, as she helped Mrs. Bowen ar
range the coffee table.
dreadful hard" sighed the widow
who had secretly hoped to fill them in
person.
However, you must have known
Luther would marry again, being man,
Sister Bowen; and should say he's
chosen judiciously."
''Oh, I've nothing against Olive"
snapped Mrs. Bowen, tlattering the
cups and saucers. ''Some say she's
courted Luther through his boy more n
is becoming; but that sha'n't go from
me-"
'She's no occasion for courting any,
body. fur rs see," responded the dea-
cons wife. bridling. "lhcre's property
there. For my part, wonder at her
taking up with a widower with a child
to do for"
Him! AT her age Olive can't have
her pick of the men, and she knows il, Z"
cried the widow, pouring coffee with a
jerk.
She but wasted breath. Seeing Mr..
Narney approaching her own lunch Ia.
BILE, Mrs. Hale hastened thithcr to serve
him. Several lunch boxes yet remained
unsold, each containing supper for two,
and the card Of the lady who had
furnished 1t. Their pasteboard eyte-
riors gave no hint of their contents. Ac-
cording to the rules of the festival each
gentleman might purchase whatever
box he pleased, but having purchased
it, he must seek the lady whose card il
inclosed and share the lunch with her.
"Any crumbs left for me, Mrs. Hale?n
queried Mr.. Varney. handing her dol
lar bill.
"Help YOURSELF" answered the dea.
cons wife in the same facetious tone.
1.-The boxes are twenty-five cents
apiece"
"Let the change 60 into the parish
fund" said he, choosing box at ran
| dom.
"Much obliged; and hope you'll get
your moneys WORTH" said the deacon's
wife, demurely, adroitly substituting
another box for the one selected. She
was a conscientious woman and church
member but she saw no harm in help
ing her liberal customer to the lunch
she happened to know had been pre-
pared by the object of his affection.
Were not all things fair in love and
WARP II upon reading Miss Olives
card MIR. Varney suspected it had reach
ed him dishonesty, he neither then nor
afterward upbraided Mrs. Hale; but
promptly seeking Miss Olive. he escort
ed her to a distant table, and rang for
coffee for two. Thanks to Sister
Bowen's agitation, it was muddy as the
Tiber. Little did it matter. Mr.. Var
pey was thinking: "What shall sayp"
and Miss Olive: what will the neigh.
bors say?'
"Td give all I'm worth, Olive, If
could prevail upon you to always sit at
the head of my table," began the invin-
chile suitor, muncing n delectable bis
cult.
Have a pickle, Mr.. Varneyp" put in
Miss Olive, with warning glance to-
ward the nearest table, where sat the
gray-haired minister, supping with the
NOullDtsl ldillD vi his llOck.
'And | don't care who knows it."
went on Mr.. Varney. deliberately. "But
that won't be Parson Drew. He's deaf
as a stone wall"
IL think his deafness increases" said
Miss Olive, catching at the topic.
VERY likely" assented Mr.. Varncy,
with painful Indifference. '.But not so
much as yours does. Olive. | never had
such hard work to make anybody hear
in all my life."
TRY change of subject" suggested
the lady, with a nervous laugh.
II can't, Olive. Ifyou tell me that |
am up and down disagreeble to you, I'll
take myself off, otherwise"
"My papa isn't disagreeable, now is
he, Miss Meservep" cried Master Willie,
running up to the table in advance of
Mrs. Drew, his hostess for tine evening.
Don't you like my papap" persisted
the boy. leaning Familiarity on Miss
Olives shoulder.
"Yes, yes, Willie, of course" muir
INJURED she, strangling an impulse to
shake him.
Leave children alone for asking
troublesome questions" said the minis
ter's wife, smiling down upon the cozy
group. "But | assure you, Olive, Mr..
Varney and | shall not quarrel with
Willie for making you blush so prettily.
| embrace this opportunity to present
my best wishesfor your future happi-
ress.
"Oh, Mrs. Drew, I-you-you'rc very
kind, but"
"And, Brother Varney, l congratu-
late you with all my heart" shrilly
cried the observant parson, who had
read with delight the motions of his
wife's lips. at is not good for man
to be alone. saith Scripture. wish
Yourself and your bride every Joy"
"Thank you, sir-thank YOU" shouted
the unscrupulous lover, with a bold
glance at his confused partner. 81
can't explain, you see, without making
a scene," he added to her in a roguish
whisper. 'Let us make the best of it. y"
Attracted by the parsons loud words,
a score of people had gathered about to
offer congratulations to the interesting
pair. Speech would have been more
embarrassing than silence. Miss Olive
mutely accepted the situation and her
lover, and from that day to this has
never been sorry. But she still dwells
under the old roof-trce. 1t was Mo.
hammcd that came to the mountain.
Mohammed with one. devoted little fol-
lower.-Ptnn Shirley, in Harper's Basar.
The first ascent Of the Aiguille
Blanche de Penterie, that unoccupicd
peak of the Mont Blanc range. which
two years ago cost the life of Professor
Balfour and his guide, has been success
fully accomplished by Mr.. II. S. King,