Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-07-21
L0TTIE'S SURPRISE.

1t had blown a perfect hurricane all
day, and eariyin the afternoon the ram
had commenced to fall, increasing in
violence until at O'Clock, when Lottie
started home, the streets were muddy
and the wind fiercer than ever
'Oh, how good home will ioo&!'' she
said 10 herself, pulling her coat collar
up about her ears, and tucking
her music-roll securely under her
arm. ''How happy L ought to be that
l have it to go to. even if it is only a
little room all hy myself. What do
poor girls do who have none, no work.
no homeland no Robertl"'
Then she laughed slyly to herself
and blushed-a happy, rosy blush down
inside the coat collar, and walked faster
than ever.
Home was quite a distance, but
her Veet steps carried her quickly there,
and the hall door had flown open
in response to her latch-key, when,
from somewhere in the darkness near,
voice came-a tremulous, pleading
voice:
"Pity-oh. for the love of God, p,th
melr
"Who are you? Where are you?
asked Lottie, startled, and stepping
right where the hall.light shone III her
face and daZZled her eyes.
"Here," and from the shadow behind
the door rose a woman's tgure-a
woman that the next moment also
stood in the light, showing a wrinkled.
aged face and snow-white hair, covered
with a tattered bit of shawl, II am
starving, and maybe dying. IL you
have any pity, give me some food and
some kind of shelter" she said, with a
desperate sort Of fanished eagerness.
81 will-oh, 1 will! Come in" cried
Lottie, her voice qniyering, and her
ewes shining with the generous pity
that flooded her young heart. 81 have
no place can take you to but my room
on the top floor. Can you climb The
stairsP'
"For warmth and food? Yes, yes:
lead the way" clied the woman,
eagerly, looking at the girl with trem-
bling delight burning in her hollow
ewes. 81 can follow anywhere.
But she was aged and weak, and the
four long flights Of stairs were slowly
accomplished /, Lottie assisting her COM
panion as well as the narrow staircase
would allow, and going very slowly.
.This is my room," she exclaimed at
last. throwing open the door and lead
ing the panting woman in ''Sit down
here. and in two minutes the fire Will
be alight. Are you very tlred!"
The weary woman could only nod as
che sank into the chair LottIe gave,
while her young hostess flew about the
room.
Everything was most exquisitely
neat. and the little crate. brushed and
polished. was already laid for the fire,
and, at touch from Lottie's match,
bIazed and cracked with amazing
brightness.
sis not that IovelyP" she crIel,
turning to her strange visitor. NOW
Won will soon be warm, and In
few minutes will make you cup OF
tea. Move nearer, won't your"
Apuarently speechlesS with grateful
amaze and delight, the woman did
as bid, throwing off her wet, tattered
shawl. and holding her wrinkled hands
over the blaze, while her eager eyes
still followed every move Lottie made.
81 am nv own housekeeper you see, ."
continued the girl gaily, as If wishing
to make her visitor less tlmid ana more
aft home. "IIere is my little kltchen'
and with a merry laugh she threw open
the door of a large closet, showing
within two neatly-papered shelves OF
dishes and tins, while on small taDie
halox stood a little single-burner OIL
s,ove "Here l bake and BREW" She
went on. lighting the single WICK
and quickly putting some water 10 6olI
n a djminutive tea-kettle; "and l
am inst as happy and independent
as can be. How do you ike ltr
Like It'll" echoed the woman. 'Does
.,ot look ike heaven to me? But are
you all alonef" how. M. q r.'a.
tive in the world that know oil, sald
Inttie taking off and hanging up
- things. now that she had all things
started al would be very lonesome III
had the time, but haynt. p"
Then YOU work-you too are poor
- the woman as though the sur.
oa"na;nos were to her suggestive OF
Sob YES, l am poor; and yet l am
r,.h for have health and strength ano
GOOD GOOD work" said Lottle, with a t,;sha MUl,a
ef thankfulness thrilling her Dll.he n.,H
Uo;cc. " SIN the morning l am up early, ~
soG solS': arrange my room and fire, ana
havo' @ nv little breakfast; then l an,
naay na ali day as a nursery -governe:ss 5:
I'D 80 %mnsic teacher in great nouSe Al
the The CITY. never have time 70 oe ion'
snrne su and am very happy" , -
sob Tbe woman turLed her eyes y,,O 70
che anS fire again, and as she sseaoHy ssaaa:
lne 5 s;Ientv % watched the dancing names,
Intt;e anu i seized the opportunity OF iooklng aa
- % her closeiy, when the woman 'uineU'
aia nYou were studying me. "hA'
% o.!sO0SS@why-I-I s0S was woneerinEm ls.n.
vou had always been 50 poor; pan.ras SEED sd
y2u ysred II I,ottie, honest but empaixs sSTou.
The woman laughed, ana mol u
s' Enc. - she said, 81 vas Y. MOI: ss.rsfors ncs
sJl are young and l aHP''' '''''''''