The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-10-09

by the gaunteSt, most 1II-lavOred OF AMI
mails. Mildred and Joe, standing side
by side in the dining-room window, had
been idly watching it's laborious progress
up the street, and freely commenting
upon il.
e"You could study anatomy from that
horse just as he stands" said Joe, ''or
walks, If you choose to call it that"
Il think it is meant for it, but il is
not a perfect imitation. Do you sup
pose this is pleasure excursion"
II don't see what else it could be;
say. :,
II always thought" said Mildred,
With a compassionate shake Of her head,
''that to be carried about in just that
style of conveyance would be violent
death to every last. grain Of pomp and
vanity that any one had in their COM
position But / must say that my
Imagination never stretched SO far as
that horse. It is a degree beyond my
worst fears
Stretching is q very good word for
its peculiar gait" said Joe, patronizing-
= ly; land, by the way, it looks as If it
meant to stretch no further than our
front door just at present; though you
have to steady yonr eye pretty we'll to
tell the difference between when it's
moving and when itisn't."
1t soon became apparent that Joe was
right, and in the suspense of the mo-
ment, all connected talk was allowed to
fall through. And first there climbed
cautiously down from the high-swung
vehicle, crab fashion" as Joe observed
> IN passing-an elderly woman with an
astonishing amount Of short hair curled
over her forehead, great, owl-like spec
tacles, with spure gold" rims, Joe said,
fat. rosy cheeks, and cheerful counte-
nance. A girl of fifteen or Whereabouts
followed her, and stood waiting at the
gate while tho other tied the horse to
the post
on earth-,began= Mildred, and
then stopped with gasp of horror.
Joe, my dear boy, they are those Perk-
-ins, Pensioners of uncle's, and they
have come to spend the day, whole
long, exhausting, improbable day.
They will not leave this house till sun
down, mark my words. And oh, to
think OF all l meant to do"
s'You will have plenty to do as it is,
if occupation is all you want Making
conversation by the wholesale, question
and answer, and every thing else, and
keeping at it for ten hours at pull
does not leave you much leisure. Mean
time, will bid you good-morning; you
know l really must go on that errand
for father"
What is the use Of getting up early"
thought poor Mildred, as she listened
disconsolately to the front door, then
the parlor door open and shut, land
being as brisk and industrious as you
know how about all of your everyday
chores, in order to clear space to ac-
complish something in, and then have.
your space all crowded up with Per-
kinses."
Mrs Perkins and her daughter from
Little Rum announced Joe from the
doorway, cap in hand. mildred, you
asked them to come to see you last sum-
.mer; / heard you. And l suppose they
thought you meant it"
Every likely" said Mildred, snap
pishly, II can't account for it in any
other way. But things being your own
fault does not make them any more
Welcome"
Well" suggested Joe, who was a
good-natured fellow and sorry for his
sisters disappointment, .'conldn't you
put them down under the head of pri-5
waite charity and consider them visit
alton from the Lord? Would not that
= fatten their welcome q little? And by
and by I'll be back and make them
some delightful observations of my own
on the state Of the weather and the
crops, to help along"
Mildred received her guests with
what grace she could muster, and in a
very short time they had laid asid @
their bonnets and wraps, and were es-
-tablished for the day
II never once thought O droppin' in
on you like this till ] was coverin' up
the kitchen fire last night" said Mrs.
Perkins, smiling geniaily over the top
EFF her spectacles and her flashing knit
ting needles. Then all of sudden it
come to me that this was Sylvy's birth
day, and it give me such turn to think
had so nigh forgot that said l must
mink out some special nice treat for
her. And this time she smiled fondly
over at her daughter, ''that limpish, in
animate object" as Mildred called her
n her much tried mind.
You see," Mrs. Perkins went on,
WI e..Sytvy watched the people in the
street with an air of utter disconnection
with the subject in hand, II couldn't
ever have leftlt to her to think any
. thing at all about it. She's so took up
with looking after other peoples wants
and notions that she hasn't got any time
A. remember her own. That's the sort
!. Ne is" r.
~" is she, indeed?'' said Mildred. Its
very comfortable sort for the other
people"
You are right said Mrs. Perkins.
heartily. .And so / thought turn
about was far play, and though ! had
good bit of work laid out for this
morning.
50 had j." moaned Mildred inward
ly>with further pang Of regret over
her dear, vanished plans. 'Sylyy, cer-
talMy, ought not to equal both of us,
eyeraif her own mother does think her
Meantime Mrs Perkins was finishing
her sentence.
Though 1 had good bit laid ont to
40 saw right of that there wasn't any
OF 50 good as to pleasure Sylyy on her
birthday You see she took great mo-
son 70 you when yoa wsrs V epr piAe&