South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1888-04-13
LOTTIEs SURPRISE.

1
It had blown . perfect hurricane
all day. amt early in the afternoon
the rain had commenced to fall, In
creasing in violence until 6 o'clock
when Lot,ie started home, the streets
were muddy and tho wind fetcer
than ever.
OBJ. how good home viii look she
said to herself pulling her coat collar
up about her ears, and tuckiIg her
music-roil securely under her arm,
How happy l ought to be to have il
10 go to. even II it is . it'll room all
by myself. What do poor girls do
who have none. no work, no home
and no Robert
Then she laughed shyly to herself
and blusbed-s happy, rosy blus b
down inside the coat collar, and walk
ed faster than ever.
Home vas quite distance. buthsr
heet steps carried har quickly there,
and the ball door had flown open in
response to her iatchkey, when from
som where in the darkness near, a
voice came, q tremulous pleading
voice:
'Pity-oh, for the love Of God, pi-
ty mel
who are your Where are you p
asked Lottie, startled, and stopping
where the halt light shone IN her face
and dazzled her eyes.
Here And from the shadow be-
hind tue door rose q woman's figure
q woman that the next moment also
stood IN the light, showing wrink.
led, aged face and snow. white hair.
covered With tattered bit Of shawl.
i am starving. and maybe dying. If
you have any pity give me food and
some kind Of shelter, she said, with q
desperate sort Of fam;shsd eagerne,s.
Il. will-oh, l will! CJms in
cried Lottie. her voice quivering, AMI
her eyes shining with the generous
pity that footed her young heart. 4
have no place can take you to bu,
my room on the top floor. Can you
climb the stairs p
For warmth and food {? Yes, yes.
lead the way cried tue woman Gag
erly, looking at the girl with trem.
bling delight burning in her hollow
eyes. i can follow anywhere
But she was aged and weak. and
the four long flights of stairs we're
slowly accomplished, Lottie assisting
her companion as we'll as the narrow
staircase would allow. and going ve.
~ SLOW.
This 8 my room she exclaimed at
last, throwing open the door and lead.
ing the painting woman in. rSit down
mere and In two minutes the fire will
DO alight. Are you very tired p
The weary woman could only nod
as she sank into the chair Luttie
gave while the young hostess fiew a.
bout the room.
Everything was most exquis,telv
neat, and the little CRATE. flushed and
polished, was already laid for fire. and.
at touch FROM Lot,iessm atcb, biaz
ed and cracked With amazing bright.
ness.
lie not that lovely rshe cried. turn.
in to her strange vIsito-. mo. YOU
will soon be warm, and in q few min.
utes | will make you q cup of tea.
Move nearer. won't YOUR
Apparently speecbless with CRATE
fui 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 Lot,
tie made.
Il am MP own housekeeper, you
see, continued the girl gaiiy, as If
wishing to make her visitor less tim.
id and more ut home. Here is INV
little kitchen, and with merry laugh
she threw open the door of a large
closet, showing within two neatly pa.
pered shelves of dishes aud tins, while
on a small table below stood a little
siogle.burner oil stove. Here bake
and brew she went on lighting the
wick and quicSly puttiDg some waite,
to boil ia q diminutiye tea-kettIe
and l sm just a. bsppy aud iadepen.
dent IS can be. How do YOU like itg
Like il echoed the woman Does
il not look like Heaven TO me? But
are you all alone p
Yes, all alone. / have no. a rela-
tive in the world that / know Of. said
Loitie> taking of, and hanging up he.
thlngs, now that she had all things
started. q would be very lonesome
II had the time, but / haven't
Then you work-you too are poor?'
cried the wOmaD> as though the sur.
roundings we're TO Ler suggestive OF
wealth and ease.
ooh yes. ! ann poor; and yet am
rich, tor | have good health, ard
strPppfh and good work A., tho