Connecticut western news., 1886-06-09
TWO OF A KIND.

sGuess I'll have look at 'em."
 Of all things, Mrs. Pilkington was least able to resist a bargain.
 The old Pllkington farmhouse at home was, crammed full of bargains" possible and impossible. The bureau drawers overfowed with ''bargains" which were of no use to anyone; the trunks were packed full of ''bargains.
 And herS on the crowded curb-stones of Grand Street, the swinging pasteboard sign of ''Great Bargains Withinp' at tracted her attention, hurried though she was with the manifold errands which yet remained incomplete.
 She had lot of damaged tab,e-linen under her arm, and some cheap hosiery in her bag, and dozen towels with mis- printed borders in her pocket and here she was crowding into the Grand Street store to buy blue-spotted pongee neck erchief for eighteen cents!
 ''It'll do for Sara Janetta to wa'ar around her neck of cool evenin'," said Mrs. Pilkington, land eighteen cents is really very cheap for real pongee."
 Mrs. Pilkington lived in little brown roofed farm house on the Housatonic River, and her main errand up to town had been to buy "store carpet" for her best room floor, and to exchange an old seWiny- machine for something of newer order.
 Her cousin, Mrs. Bruce Babbitt, who had spent the summer months at the farm, and made the most possible trouble for the least possible pay. had also en- gagged to hunt her up ''help" from the nearest intelligence office, and have the same on hand when the ''five-four train' left the Grand Central Depot that after noon!
 And sure enough, when the lady from the country arrived, red and panting, at the depot, with disheveled hair, bent bonnet, and shawl dragged all awry, a modest young girl stood at the door with card bearing the name of 'Mrs. Bruce Babbitt" in her hand.
 'Is it Mrs. Pilkington?" said she.
 ''You ain't the new sewing machine, be youi" said Mrs. Pilkington, rubbing her nose with puzzled air. "Nor yet the eighteen yards of carpet from Stoney bridge and Bounce's9"
 'I am Phebe," said the young woman -s'Phebe, at nine dollars month, if am lucky enough to sunt you, ma'am?"
 She was pretty, blue-eyed lass, witt fresh complexion, and a neat gown o green and white seer-sucker, and sh, wore bonnet of her own trimming, witt . cluster of butter-cups on the side.
 Mrs. Pilkington looked dubiously a her. She had prepared herself to expec stout, red-handed drudge.
 It did not seem possible that this deli cate little applc-blossom of girl could be servant of all-work!
 But there, sure enough, were her ere dentials, and the bell, even then, wa changing for the closing of the gates.
 .'Come onp' said Mrs. Pilkington, an, she rushed through, dragging Pheb after her. 'It's strange, though, tha the carpet and the sewing-machine ain here"
 "Did you expect carpet and sewing machine, ma'am7" Phoebe asked, respect fully.
 ''I bought lem and paid for 'em," sai Mrs. Pilkington, impressively, land don't see why they ain't here"
 'Perhaps they will be sent by express, suggested Phoebe.
 'I declare to goodness, Inever though of thatr' said Mrs. Pilkington.
 And she skurried through the crowde car to find seat.
 It was the dusk of chilly May ever ing when they reached Blackbird's Ho low, and alightei in the midst of dens pines and signing tamaracks.
 elf Pilkington hain't remembered come and meet us, shall be madp sai M1. 'Pilkington, stretching her neck fo ward the better to survey the glimmerin curves of the road. "And Pilkington always forgetting! My goodness, gr cious me! what's that" as Phoebe stoo] cd to recover something which she ha inadvertently let fall.
 ssNy handkerchief, ma'am!" Y