Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-08-02
"Oh, don't say word about it to pal"

where she knew tnat B1r. fOlanu hepI LIS
money, took out two-dollar bill and
handed it silently to Amanda.
'I'll replace it when Mrs. Willett pays
me for that butter, she thought. ''1t's
only loan"
At sight of the cash payment Amanda
regained her equipoise and smiled again.
"Have you heard the news?" said she.
"No. What news9"
sFrank Bond is engaged to Kitty
Pell"
Hannah felt herself grow scarlet to the
very roots of the redoubtable cowlick-
How she hated herself for that dreadful
habit of blushing at the wrong time!
'I-I hope they'll be happy" stam-
mered she, andAmanda secretly chuckled
to herself.
"Then it's true," she thought. "Han-
nah Poland was dead in love with Mr..
Bond. As if he would ever have given
a second thought to.such coarse, plain
girl as she isl"
Poor Hannah! She had had her day
dreams, and many was the scalding tear
that dropped into the milk pan of cur
rants that she was stemming to make jelly
that day.
She went over to Mrs. Willett to ask
for the butter money as soon as the cur
rant jelly was strained through the fan
mel bag. Mrs. Willett, however, like
many another boarding house keeper, was
short of resources.
~ can't pay ye, Hammer, till my city
family pays me, "said she. ''And what's
more, don't like to be dunned, neither.
P'raps on Friday or Saturday"
And with that, Hannah was forced to
be content.
On Sunday morning, she dressed for
church in her best white gown, neatly
laundried by her own hands, and went to
take out the pink tulle hat with the hum !
ming bird.
But, to her dismay, the closet door had
been left open-she had not replaced the
lid on the bandbox; and there, in the
very centre of the rosebuds and trlle I'7f-
fngs, lay the old gray cat with family
of three downy kittens
Hannah went to church dispirited and
sad, in her old straw hat, with its faded i!
yellow daisies and dyed strings.
Her father stared at her as she climbed
into the wagon.
81 thought you had bought new
bonnet" said he.
"The-the old cat has made a nest of
it." faltered poor Hannah, with tears in
her voice.
oval, declare! !" said Mr.. Poland.
That afternoon, of all afternoons, he
saw fit to count over the money he had
been saving to pay the interest on a
which had brooded on the farm
for full ten years.
"The Bond family are dreadful
+" he said to himself. "And it
won't do not to be prepared"
When Hannah came in from church,
she saw her father sitting at the table
with pale, stern face.
Hannah" said he, ~ shall have to
send Billy away"
"Billy' was the farm-boy, who had
been recently hired-a bright, willing
little fellow, the only support of his
mother, who was widow and rheumatic.
He was an especial favorite with Hannah.
She looked aghast.
"Why, father" said she, II thought
you liked Billy"
$50 l did, Hannah-so did! But
here's two dollars gone outen my interest
money. Gone! And if Billy hain't
took it, who has2"
Hannah sank Imply into chair and
hid her face in her hands.
81 took it, father" she sobbed.
And then and there she confessed to
him the whole story of her folly.
Farmer Poland was kind old soul,
and he remembered that Hannah was
young and motherless.
''Don't fret, daughter, don't fret, "
said he. "It's one step wrong, but it can
be undone. Only mind and be more
careful next time. Hush! there's young
Mr.. Bond comm up the path. Run and
wash your face and slick your hair"
And presently, flushed and agitated,
poor Hannah came down stairs to meet
Frank Bond.
He's come to take you buggy -ridin',
Hannah, said her father. ~ guess We
can go-eha"
''I've come to tell you some news, Han