Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-07

lyon could knock me Gown with feath-
er." said he presently. "That child is
the living image of one knew 80 odd
years ago. What's your name, sissy"
| Annie S. Twitchell," soIemnly answer
ed the little one, with a steady lock out OF
her deep eyes.
"This little girl I used to know was
named ophrony-SophronyM Miller. You
haia't got no relations named Miller, have
your" ne asked Mrs. Twitchell.
''Yes, but they're far removed" she re-
| piled, with unconscious bitterness. Far
removed, indeed, was the beautiful child,
Sophronia, from the middie-aged, worn
widow Twitchell.
Azariah seemed 10 have forgotten his
usual energetic haste. With softened
voice and ingenious coaxing, he enticed
| the little one to his side, then to his knee.
Mrs. Twitchell took up her sewing and
listened to the talk going on between the
/ two.
| "Where did You know those Millers you
| spoke Off" she said, after while.
They lived in the same place where I
was born" said kzariah. "Sophrony
Miller was the prettiest critter You ever
| see. She looked just like this little one
| of your'n, and when she was Just about
as large as this one, she and | used to go
| to school together, and Sabbath-school,
! too. She hadn't no parents, so her aunt
| brought her up. It don't seem but a
little while since Sophrony and l weht
/ along the road hand in hand together,
| picking blackberries, or winter greens, or
| misunderstanding 10 the season-or
sat together in meetin' with my old
grand'ther feeding us pep'ments to keep
Us quiet. He was master hand for
pep'ments-loved 'em and always carried
| 'em. Fact, he smclt so strong of 'em all
the time they used to call him old Pep
mint Adams"
Annie had been regarding him with
great gravity and now asked, "Do you
love pepmints? do!''
Azariah burst into laugh.
"You see if L don't bring you some
next time I come," said ne. "But there
is a woman mile down the road here
that's expecting machine, and if don't
get it to Der this afternoon she'll give me
ballyhack, SO | must go now. Give me a
kiss, Sol hrony-Annie, I mean, and good
by ma'am.
He came again and brought the hem
mer, and some peppermints for Annie.
Then he called to show a new attach
ment to sewing machines, and insisted
on leaving it for trial. Then he called
to take it away as Mrs. TwitcheI did not
pur chase it. Then he called to see little
Annie. Then he called boldly to see Mrs.
Twitchell herself. The nearest neighbor
! looked out of the window at the frequent
visitor and observed. 81 b'lieve my soul
| Wilder Twitchells got beaun'
! The cOurtship was short; Azariat made
his appearance one evening in Mrs.
1 III 80
sumed his favorite attitude, one knee
crossed over the other and balancing the
chair on two legs.
"See here!" he said abruptly. "You
| know | told you once about girl named
SoPhrony Miller
eyes," answered the widow, in the
breathless way which seemed to be habit
uaI.
'Wen, I didn't tell you she was my
GIRL" continued Azariah, 'but she was.
We was engaged. We was going to be
married. Everything was all arranged
and L went to the city to get job; was
gone longer'n I expected, and when 1
come back, 10 and behold Sophronia was
gone. Yes, gone! [ never knew where,
nor why, except that her aunt had died
and she hadn't no home-but she would
| have had home if she'd waited till I got
there.
"WelI, never mind Sophrony now-on-
| ly she's the reason why / never wanted to
| get married since-tilI now! You re-
mind me of her, and took to you the
first time 1 see you. Say what's the red
! son you and L can't get along together.
Mrs. Twitchell was visibly trembling,
and her voice shook as she replied: "If
| you can't have Sophrony you'll take
me?"
mo matter about Sophrony-I want
you"
suppose you could have Sophrony
and me too!'
| "Well, amt no Mormon commenced
Azariah, but the widow interrupted him
by leaving the room abruptly. Azariah
stared after her for moment, letting the
two forelegs of the chair drop to the
floor. She reappeared as hastily as she
had departed. But was it the widow
Twitchell, with spectacles and cap dis
carded, transient flush lending the
bloom of youth to her pale cheeks, her
hair arranged in the fashion of her girl
hood, smiling, yet with tears sparkling in
her eyes, making them bright as of yore?
Azariah made two strides across the mar
now room, and his long arms closed
ABOUT her slender form. No doubts were
| his, no question rose in his faithful
heart; all he said was "Sophrony, So
phrony, is it your"
81 had to go away after aunt died.
said Sophronia later in the evening. II
went to see if could earn little in the
factory. 1 amt no hand to write, you
know, | never was, but did write after
while and never got no answer. Then
some of the girls from home came visit
ing the factory, and they said they heard
you'd got married in the city!''
"'Twas a darned lie," said Azariah,
humping the table with his fist.
Il just gave up, then! And when Mr..
Twitchell came counting me, thought
might as we'll take him. Annie's name is
Annie Sophronia. expected she'd tell
You so long before now. I've earned her
living and mine doing hand sewing, but
it weakened my eyes, so / commenced to
wear glasses, but since 1 bought my sew
ing-machine they've grown stronger, and
I'm going to leave off my glasses now.
| Azarlah!"
"What say?" replied the lover, beam
ing with unmistakabie happiness.
"You was truer to me than I was to
you, for got married and you didn't.
But you didn't know me till took off my
cap and specs, and knew you the first
| day you came peddling to the door!"-
| Springfield Republican.
| He was Not Delicate.
The Argonaut.
| A thin, delicate looking woman sat in a
horse car one evening recently, and next
| her sat a native of the Queens realm.
The window behinded the Briton was
Al IL III L