Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-01-03
THEIR NEW NEIGHB0R.

"GirisT cried Margery Kearney, I've
seen him!-Clive Sterling-our new
neighbor!"
In quite whirl of excitement Mar
gerry had dashed into the cozy room
where her three sisters were sitting.
She was shining with rain, from the
hood of her silver gray gossamer to the
very tips of her rubbers. The fluffy
brown curls across her forehead were
sprinkled with bright drops, and her
cheeks were glowing from her rapid
walk.
"You didT interrogatively chorused
three eager voices.
81 really did"
is he Handsome asked Janet, who
appreciated all beauty as intensely as
only plain looking person can.
intellectual looking?" inquired Clo-
tide, who dipped daily into Emerson
and professed to adore Ruskin.
jolly" queried little BERTHE, who was
at the age when jolly people seemed
created for her especial amusement.
"No-no-nor' laughed Margery
Not handsome, or learned looking, or
even jolly. He is simply the most awk-
ward looking mortal ever beheld"
And she broke into peal of heartiest
laughter at the recollection of her en-
counter with their new neighbor.
"You see it was this way, girls" jerk
ing off her gossamer, and disclosing a
form attired in dress of chocolate cash
mere-a form that was trim, slim and
willowy as that of sweet II is apt to
be. Il was running home in a great
hurry-for it's chillier out than you folks
imagine-and just as came opposite the
gate of The Oaks l stopped very sud-
denly. For right there was the most tre-
mendous black dog 1 ever saw. l said:
Go wayr and he didn't bulge. shook
my umbrella at him. He wasn't bit
afraid. said; If you don't get out of
the way I'll hit you'll! and he actually
grinned. There was nothing to do but
step out in the street--it was so muddy,
too--and walk around him. But Just
them suppose my dilemma was ap-
parent from the house-down the path
he came running, Oh, he looked so
ridiculous! He is about as tall as Jacks
bean stalk, lean as lath, and brown as
an Indian.
well" exclaimed Janet, ''he must be
charmingf'
oh" cried Margery, going Off into
fresh paroXysm of laughter. "What,
with his glasses and his coattails flying
straight out as he rushed to my rescue
he looked like some great curious. COM
ical birdr
Birds don't wear glasses" corrected
BERTHE. WAS his coat a swallow tail?"
The eappealf for information was ignored.
We'll, he called off the dog, and apollo
gized for the monster, and-thats ALL"
Il wish he'd offer me the use of his IL
brary." sighed Clotilde
They say The Oaks is perfect pal
ace as far as furnishing goes, murmured
Janet.
"l think I'll ask him TO loan me the |
lovely white pony" decided BERTHE.
But this rash resolution was rushlesslv |
crushed.
THE Oaks" had been shut up so long
ever since the Kearneys had come to
live in the gray green cottage near by. Its
owner had gone abroad on the death of |
his mother, three years ago, leaving his |
handsome house in the care of a couple of |
But now that the news of his |
return had spread, curiosity was rife in
the fashionable suburb of Riverview. And |
not the least interested were Give Ster- |
ling's near neighbors.
A pleasant room this In which the sis |
ters sat; homelike room, even if the |
carpet was threadbare, the chairs venera-
BILE, the damask curtains darned-per-
haps all the more homelike for these sug-
gestions of social service and experience.
Janet went on with her task Of re- |
an old dress. Clotilde went |
over to the window and looked wistfully |
through the drizzling rain to the red |
brick chimneys which rose above the |
house which held the coveted books.
Margery, obeying sudden impulse, had |
snatched up her ever ready sketch book !
from the table and was scratching Wig |
orously away An ecstatic giggle from |
BERTHE, who was peeping over her shoul- |
der, called the attention of the others to |
her work.
What is it?" asked Janet.
Margery looked up with a nod and a |
smile
"Wait a moment"
On her brisk pencil flew, the dimples
in her pretty cheeks deepening as her
smile grew.
"Therer'
She held up the open book. The others
6ocked around her
"Oh, Margeryr
HE can't look like thatF"
what caricaturep
Indeed, comical and grotesque was the |
of the long, lank figure, with
the spidery extremities, the flying coat
tails, the tremendous goggles.
"Oh, just a trifle accentuated-not |
quite caricature," she said laughingly, |