The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-03-04

OF laughter, whlic Mrs. frodgltt resettled
her spectacles and uttered deep groan.
'Mark my words, Mary Ann," said
she, THAT girl will come to no good"
Hattie does not mean any harm,
Cousin Prodgtt," mildly pleaded Mrs.
Hardy, as she knitted on.
While Hattie, on her GRAND of mercy,
went from house to house in the darkling
lanes and crowded tenement districts,
leaving an ounce of green tea here and
lectlre there, bottle of beef, wine and
iron by a sick bed, little rosc-sccntod
snuff in poor old woman's hand, pict-
urc book on the pillow of some little
child, a wooden toy in the delighted
grasp of a skclcton-likc infant, gentle
admonition in the ear of willful facto-
ry-gir, and word of comfort to encour-
age dcspairing widow.
She could be gay and fippant enough
when "Cousin Prodigy" tcascd her, but
here she seemed to have assumed per-
sonality of dignity and sweetness.
Old Milo Rcncau's was the last house
on her list. She glanced anxiously at
her watch as she went in.
'Past fivc," she said to herself. "I
must make haste Or the dear little man.
my will be frcttng."
The dusk of the October evening had
already darkened the little room, where
lay the patient old sufferer from rheuma-
tism. 1t was always neat and clean there,
but in TIattic's eyes it seemed more squa-
lid and poverty. stricken than usual to-
night. As she came around the corner
of the door she perceived young man
sitting at an uncovered pine table-a fig
ure strongly silhouetted against the win
dow.
"Ahw said she, the spirit of righteous
evaporation rising up in her heart, "I've
caught you at last in the very midst of
your evil practiccw
The young man rose hurriedly to his
feet.
81 beg your pardon" he began;
but the tide of IIattic's indignation was
not thus easily stemmcd.
Don't beg my pardon" said she;
'beg the pardon of socicty-of public
opinion-of everything else which you
arc outraging by this shameful behavior
of yours. Apparently you have neither
pride nor self-respect left-now take my
aavioo; turn over a new leaf. Give up
your evil practices and set yourself to
earn decent living. Look me in the
eyes, young manp' she added severely;
"tell me if you are not ashamed of your
self"
To all appearances, the culprit was
stricken dumb. Involuntarily he raised
a pair of clear, honest eyes to Hattie's
face, according to orders, but he did not
speak word, good, bad or indifferent
"IIe's not bad looking" thought Hat
tie; ''but 1 must not neglect the chance
of making an impression. l am surprised
at you!" she added aloud; "a great,
able bodied fellow like you sitting down
as disreputablc incubus on your friends
and relatives. Don't you know that you
are the talk of the neighborhoodl Get
up-go to work! Never let me see you
idling here again. No; don't answer me.
Inevcr enter into argument with the peo-
plein my district. Logic is useless in a
case like this"
She hurried to old Milo, who being
stone deaf, looked smilingly on during
this brief but energetic monolgue, as il
it had been recitation from Shakespeare.
"Here's some extract of beef for you,
Mr.. Reneau," she shouted in his ear
"and tumbler of lemon jelly! hope
your lumbago is better. Pm sorry l CAM
stay little longer to-day, but I'll come
again very soon."
And nodding and smiling good-by tc
him, she hustled away.
She arrived none too soon on the do
mestic tapis.
Betsy had already broken one of thu
moss-rose tea cups, and spilled all th'
salad dressing, so that Hattie had to g
to work to make more.
Cousin Prodgitt had lost her spectacles
and Mrs. Hardy could not find her bes
lace frill.
Consequently she was only half througl
arranging her hair when Mrs. Hard,
called up the staircase:
Harriet! Harriet Mr.. Gray has come !!
She hurricdly coiled up the shining
bronze locks, and fastened them with
shcll-pln, tied the Swiss muslin bow a
her throat, and, catching up her pocket
handkerchief, ran downstairs.
| Cousin Prodgitt was still adjusting he
capstrings in her own room
Mrs. Hardy had gone down to see
the tea was properly stepping; and SO ou
heroine walked directly into the presenc
of Reverend Cecil Gray.
81 am Miss Hardy" said she. 81 be
your pardon! but
Here she stopped, with the sylables 9
further speech fairly frozen on her tongue
A cold chill crept through all her vein
as she recognized the curly brown hail
the clear, honest eyes, the thick mustacht
But the Reverend Cecil was equal
the emergency.
"Don't beg my PARDON" said HI
gravely, although there was roguis
sparkle in his eyes. 'Bcg the pardon {
society-of public opinion. No, Mi
Hardy" he cried, suddenly dropping h
solemn mannerism, don't look so di
tressed. OF course, it was a mistake
Don't | know perfectly well that it was.
ooh, dear Oh, dcar!" grasped Ha