Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-10-25
STRIKING A MATCH.

'Oh- Mrs. ColllnS, lnNeeu you are
mistaken. There has been no falling
out between Mr.. Sangster and myself.
Indeed am not on sufficiently socia-
bic terms with any OF your gentlemen
boarders to have quarrel"
Saying which Miss Hildeburn. a
slight. delicate featured girl of Is,
walked out OF the room with even
more than her wonted dignity of man
ner and carriage.
Nevertheless, Notwithstanding"
pursued Mrs. Collins, resuming her
ironing. Il do believe there's been a
misunderstanding between those two;
and a real pity il is; for he did admire
her amazinly. He couldn't conceal
it. Only they seldom know what is
good for 'em, and she's lettin' her
pride stand in the way OF her happi-
ness now"
Pride, indeed" sneered Mrs. Jane
HUMPHREYS. Mrs. Collins niece and
assistant. tall. red-haired, stylish
dressed damsel of five and thirty. Il
like TO know what right girl who
earns her Twin by givin' music lessons
at 80 cents an hour has to be proud;
and as for Mr.. Sangster, don't believe
he ever had a serious thought about
! her"
la, Jane, / don't know where your
! eyes kin be, il you didn't see how
! fairly wrapped up in her he was about
two weeks ago He is a splendid
young man, anyhow, and I'll see If
| can't mend matters between EN-. "
You'd better be mindin' your
own buiness, think, Aunt. Martha"
said Miss Jane, with spiteful
/ laugh"
Never you mind, Jane" persisted
! the warm hearted Mrs. Collins;
/ "Ill manage in some way. You
say she's afraid of ghosts, poor
/ lamb
! The following evening the kind
/ hearted landlady tapped at the door
/ OF the scanty furnished fourth-story
room occupied by Lucy Hildeburn, and
/ from which now proceeded a melan-
choly strain.
Studying your piano at nights
! again?' querried Mrs. Collins re-
proachfully, when the young girl
/ opened the door.
Il am very busy just now, and
must put all the time can into
/ study"
well, but you mustn't forget what
! the doctor told you about overworkin'
your brain" said Mrs. Collins. "How-
/ ever" she added, Il won't detain you
/ longer'n | kin help. I'm come to ask
favor. I'm goin' to the theatre this
evenin' So is Jane. Sos everybody
in the house, l b'lieve; and the girl
has gone TO bed with a toothache. SO
| I'm goin'to ask you TO give an eye to
the furnace. I've just put on fresh
coal and opened the lower doors; but
will you please go down at s o'clock
and close the doors?'
Certainly" assented Lucy, upon
which Mrs. Collins produced "A lantern,
saying:
just take this down with you; the
cellars all dark, you know"
Lucy took the lantern. closed the
room door and returned TO her piano,
while Mrs. Collins walked away, chuck
! ling TO herself.
That lantern'll go out just five
minutes after she sets it down, and
she'll find herself all in the dark. And
she's afraid OF ghosts, poor lamb. But
what il somebody who amt ghost
should happen TO be goin' down there
about the same time and be obliged to
strike match TO calm her fears?"
And even while indulging in this
pleasing reflection, Mrs. Collins tapped
at door on the second floor.
Her summons was responded TO by
pleasantlooking young man, who just
now, however, wore u very detected
countenance.
LA! Mr.. Sangster, Ididn't expect to
find you home this evening"
didn't feel like going out tonight"
replied the young man in weary
tone.
"Well, since you are going 10 be at
home,n said Mrs. Collins, would you
be so kind as To look after the furnace?
I've left the lower doors open, but I'll
be very much obliged il you go down
at about o'clock and close 'em. And
you needn't IKE a light. There'll be
one down there"
Mr.. Sangster readily promised TO
comply with the request, and Mrs.
Collins went away. hoping for what
she considered 1.-THE right results. -
Meanwhile, poor Lucy Hildeburn.
sitting at her piano. continued to draw
forth such melancholy strains that the
tears rolled down her checks.
II must go away from here" she
said, half aloud. IL can't bear il much
longer; indeed, | can't. seeing him day
after day. loving him as | do, and
knowing Tn matters can never be adj
justed between us. He is as proud as
but, oh dearl what am / thinking
OFF 1t wants just two minutes 10 eight.
/ must 60 down and close the furnace
doors"
Therefore she lighted the lantern
and proceeded down stairs.
Ugh! What chill draught was
blowing in through one OF the graf
ings!
And there were strange noises all
around.
Lucy's heart thumped so violently
she was tempted TO turn and run up
stairs again.