The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-11-30

COMING TO THE POINT.

'If there's one thing more to be de-
spised than another" said Miranda
Flint, bringing down her smoothing iron
with a decided thump on the snowy
linen before her, 'it's man who courts
one half his natural life without bringing
matters TO close"
Every true" replied her sister, glanc-
ing up from her sewing, "and it's my
opinion that Silas Weeks is hankering
after you quite long enough. I'd have
given him his walking papers long ago, If
1 was you"
'No you wouldn't" replied Miranda,
with toss of her flaxen head. 81 amt
wasted ten years for nothing, and mean
TO bring him to the point or my name
amt Airandy lint"
Time you did," said Priscilla, 'if you
don't want place on the shelf, as you're
nigh onto thirty now
She laughed spite iully as she gathered
up the drifts OF snowy muslin-new
curtains Tor the sitting walk
ing out on the low, broad piazza, left
Miranda very -uch excited. To saw that
Young lady's face WAS scarlet would only
be 4 mild expression it was a brisht
crims IN, outrlvaling the huge popp;e5
nodding at the easement.
Sisters are not always the hest of
friends. One would suppose by our
narrative that the Misses Flint were
auta-onistic. Far from it; they only
disagreed on one point or, rather, one
Individual - Silas Weeks AlIranlas
young man." Priscilla had no pre-
tens. ons whatever to good looks, while
her sister was quite an acknowledge
belle Her hair was fiaxen, eyes blue,
cheeks is rosy as apples reminding one
Of very bright chromo only dIspeillng
the illusion ly laughing occasionally and
displaying iaultless SET OF teeth.
Many country swain sighed for 4
glance OF encouragement, s,Shiny, alas
IN vain, however, as Nliranda's heart and
hand were already spoken for
Silas Weeks was the lucky suitor.
Once he had obtained the girls promise
TO become his wife, he appeared in no
hurry at all to settle down to married
life, preferTing TO "keep company" as
Miranda expressed II, zone half his
natural life'
To be sure he meant to marry the girl
IN his own good time, never dreaming
that by his conduct he was submitting
her 10 the idle gossip OF the village He
was a saving fellow, rather inclined to be
stingy. 1t was less expensive to keep
one than two, or perhaps more, for Silas
Weeas was iar-seeing fellow.
The spring Grifted into summer. the
bright autumn came, the SHOWS OF many
winters passed. Miranda saw scores OF
her companions married and settled,
while she remained Miss Flint Not
until she realized that the face her mirror
reflected was not quite as fair as it used
to be, that the blue eyes were growing
DINNER, the rOs s fading from her checks
Was she determined to bring her lover 10
the point.
I'm Just glad, said Pris lila, dropping
down into the first seat she came TO,
that Mirandy's coming to her senses:
but L n afraid that she'll never be mar
ned. I'm sorry | mentioned her age, It
always Tlled her so but then she knows
il, and even if she should forget, its
written down in the family Bible in
black and white, and there's no denying
figures"
After W len burst of feelings she went
back to her sewing, singing snatches of
an old love song.
Thump thump, went the smoothing
iron, while Miranda, with flushed face
bent over it.
Il IL just tel him how Ephraim Brown
invited me to the church picnic; thatlI
bring him round; he's awluily jealous,
Silas is"
She smiled proudly at the thought of
her lovers jealousy.
There is nothing that will make a
woman more independent OF her old
suitor than the advances Of q new one.
Never did Miss Flint look more bewitch-
ing than on that soft summer evening,
when, dressed in neat muslin, set off
with bright ribbons, she waited for her
10 er.
He came down The long country road,
wlistlng merry tune.
"Gracious, Nirandy!" he exclaimed,
drawing up IN front OF the gate, ''you do
look stunning, though! I've half a mind
TO eat You up
Miranda looked very dignifed, quite
unlike young lady to be made q meal
OF, as she gravely replied
oh don't do that, Silas; you might
be sorry for It.
he spent that evening as he had spent
many OF ers IN the trim little sitting
room, listening TO Miranda playing the
organ. They missed Priscilla's sweet
soprano 10 ioin them in singing She was
having good cry to think OF Miranda's
dressing up u receive that good for
nothing iel ow-"
q" on- to the picnic?" asked silas of
his lady love.
81 thiak So" said Miranda, playing
nervcCsly with the roses ut her bodice
''Ihat IS -Ephraim Brown wants me to
90 with him, and Pvc not cutie made mp
my mind vet" and she looked up coQuet-
tishiy into his face.
=
suddenly op-n 4 beneath llis feet, Silas
could not have been more astonishrd.
His face flushed, then grew suddenly
pale, as, thru ting h hands down deep
into his poc.ets, he exclaime -
Look ere, Miranda, so long rs Won
anl mes keeping company, III have
none OF this nonsense. Noull 20 10 the
church picnic with me-oo you under
Z ma -
So saying he was OF, emitting the GUS
toaary kiss
Toor Miranda! She felt that she had
made = dreadful mistake. What if Silas
sloU!d 90 away and leave her? How
scilla would laugh and call her an old
maid
sNever mind, she said, as she arranged
her back hair for the night. "IlI try
something else. I'll tell him that Aunt
Chsry has written for me to come and
live with her. He'll never hear of me
go;ng so far. OF course it's not true it's
q downright tib; but then women folks
have to do something TO bring tardy
lovers to terms, and l won't be an old
maid-sO there. ="
With this she blew the candle out, and
was socn safely tucked in bed, dreaming
that Silas and she were going TO the
parsons, wh,n horrors the wagon broke
down. After tying IL up as best they
could, they started once more on their
Quincy, only to meet with second de-
lay: for the horse stood still, utterly re-
fusing 10 20 another step, while the entire
village laughed and ieered.
How lon. they woald have remained
thus she did not know, rs he harsh voice
OF Priscilla broke upon her siumbers.
ADO get up, Mirandy she fairly
shrieEsd. ",iJ up hall the night courtin." +"
She added, "and lie abed 'he next day ="
The morning sun was streaming in the
little wincow rs she awoke. but little re-
reshed after her nights rest, and more
determined than ever. alter that horrid
dream, OF bringing Silas Weeks to the
point.
Her lover called the following evening;
II took more than twinge OF jealousy TO
frighten him OIL. Again Mirandy PLAYED
the or.an. Whiie he sat onnosite in a