The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-07-25
Mrs. Twitchell, smoothing the sunny

1Oui uouio SISSY
"Anuie 5. Twitchell," solemnly ans
wered the little one, with a stea | y
look out of her deep blue eyes.
"Tnis little girl | used to know was
Sophrony = Sophro' y Miller. You
hain't no relations named Miller, have
your he asked Mrs. Tw.tchen.
"Yes, but they're tar removed" she
replied, with unconscious bitterness.
Far removed, indeed, was the beautiful
child Sophrouia from the middle aged,
worn widow Twitchell.
Azariah seemed to have forgotten
his usual energetic haste. With sofC.
ened voice and ingenious coaxing he
enticed the little one to his side, then
to his knee. Mrs. Twitchel took up
her sc wing and listened to the talk GO
ing on between the two.
"Where did you know those Millers
you spoke OFF, she said after while.
"Tney lived in the same place where
| was born" said Azariah. .'Sophrony
Miller was the prettiest critter you
ever did see. She looked just like this
little one of your'p and when she was
just about as big as this one, she and
used to go to school together, aud Sab
bath school, too. She hadn't no par
ents, so her aunt brought her up. 1t
don't seem but a little while since
Sophrony and | went along the road
hand in hand together, picking black
berries, or wintergreens, or whatever
--'cording to the seasou--or sat to-
gether in the meetin' with my old
grand'ther feeding us pep'mints to
keep us quiet. He was master hand
for pep mints-loved 'em and always
carried EN-. Fact, he smelt 80 strong
of 'em all the time they used to call
him old Pep'mlnt Adams.
ANNE had been regarding him with
great gravity, and now asked: "Do
you love pep'mints! | do.
Az,riah burst into laugh.
"You see if don't bring you some
next time l come" said he "But
there's a woman mile down the road
here that's expecting machine, and if
L don't get it to her this afternoon
she'll give me ballyhack, 80 must 90
now. Give me kiss, Sophrony-Au-
ME, mean, and good-by ma'am.
He took his lean, lank frame out of
the house leaving behind him two
firm friends.
He came again and brought the
hemmer, and some peppermints for
Annie. Then he called to show a new
attachment to sewing machines, and
insisted on leaving it for trial. Their
he called to take it away, as Mrs
Twitchell did not purchase it Their
he called to see little Annie. Then b,
called boldly to see Mrs. Twitchel
herself. The nearest neighbor looked
out of the window at the frequen
visitor and observed: l believe my sou
Widow Twitchell's got beau"
The courtship was short. Azarial
made his appearance one evening il
Mrs. Twitchells front room, and a
once assumed his favorite attitude, on
knee crossed over the other and balanc
ing his chair on two legs.
"See here!" he said abruptly. "Yo
know | told you once about p gin
named Sophrony Miller.
"Yes," answered the widow,
the breathless way which seemed to
habitual.
"Well, didn't tell you she was m
girl" continued Azariah, "but she wa
We was engaged. We was going d,
be married. Everything was all a
ranged, and | went to the city TO g
a job; / was gone longer'n l expecte
aud when | come back, 10 and behol
Sophrony was gone Yes, gonel
never knew where, nor why, exec
that her aunt died, and she hadn't |
home, but she would have had a hon
if she'd waited till got there.
swell never mind Sophrony no,
only she's the reason why / new
, wanted to get married since till no
You remind me of her, and l took
you the first time l see you. l CT
take care of you and Annie too. Sa
what's the reason you and can't g
along together'"
Mrs. Twitchell was visibly trem
ling, and her voice shook as she
,, piled, "if you can't have Sophron
! you'll take mei'
"No matter about Sophrony-I wa
you"
Suppose you could have Sophrol
and me toof"
"Well amt Mormon" CONNER
ed Azariah, but the widow interrupt
him by leaving the room abrupt
. Azariah stared after her for a momel
, letting the two fore legs of his chi
drop to the floor. She reappeared
=. hastily as she departed But was
! the Widow Twitchell, with spectacl
|, and cap discarded, a transient flu
2 lending the bloom of youth to |
= pale cheeks, her hair arranged iu t
fashion of her glrlhood, smiling,
n with tears sparkling in her eyes, me-
ing them bright as of yore. Azari
! made two strides across the narr,
:, room, and his long arms closed abe
!, her slender form. No doubts were
!, no question arose in his faithful hea
= all he said was, "Sophrony, Sophrol
q q is it you'"
!. 81 had TO go away after aunt die
d said Sophronia, later in the evenil
q 81 went to see if / could earn a lii
4. in the factory. l amt no hand
write, you know, l ever was,
N Ibid write after a while and ne
1t got no answer. Then some
e. the girls from home came visiting
10 factory, and they said they he
Ne you'd got married in the cityl"
Y, "Twas lie,' said Azariah, thur
ing the table with his fist.
p 81 just gave up them And when
Twitchell came courting me, thou
It. | might as well take him. He wa
Q, good to me, Azariah, he drank;
m died before Annie was born. Ann
ur name is Annie Sophronia. l expec
she'd tell you so long before now.
ly earned her living aud mine doing h
er sewing, and it weakened my eyes,
commenced to wear glasses,
n since I've bought my sewing mact
W they've grown stronger, and I'm 70