Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-03-12
Mchancswn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday March T. 1884,
IN A COVERED BRIDGE.

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out the country, though Lovatt himself
was neither the architect of the str let
ure nor II shareholder therein. Lovatt
was simply the gatekeeper, and the
most unsuitable man for the post who
could possibly h.ve been found.
Nobody liked the Door fellow; ordi.
nary mortals detested him; the parson
and few other charitable souls said
that he deserved pity b 'canse he was a
hopeless victim to various physical ills.
noticeAbly dyspepsia, but the nelghbor,
hood at large agreed that even chrome
dyspepsia, which can cover multitude
of sins, could not account for Lovatt's
crossness and cranklness. Yet he kept
the post for years-how or why he got
1t, nobody appeared to know-and was
currently believed to have scolded ev-
cry man, woman, child, or four footed
animal that crossed the bridge IN that
time. But nobody ever presumed to
suggest that he should be superseded
by more amiablc individual; and there
he remained. ruling the bridge as if it
had been Il private stronghold and his
own. property.
Of course Lovatt was bachelor; TO
imagine him making love, much less
marrying would have required an I'm
possible stretch of ofimagination. Indeed
it was diff cult to picture him with II
father or mother, or as ever having been
a baby or a restless. tree climbing boy
He had no relatives nobody knew
where he came trom-nobody asked !;
Lovatt was there and likely to remain.
One person there was who always
tried to find excuse for his surliness, and
who kept on compan'onable terms with
the recluse, and that was little Miss
Tyson. the village tailoress "a meek,
pin taking, plous creature who lived
away up the river bank in cottage so
exqulsitely y clean 1t must have excited
LsvAtt's envy, had he ever entered it,
The acquaintance began not long after
Miss Tyson settled in the village, and
WAS brought about by the illness OF
Lovatt's pet Cat, an ungainly brute,
with one hind leg too long, one ear too
short, and pair Of eyes that did not
match, but beloved of her master to
such an extent that she could do what
no human creature ever attempted
take liberties with him.
The cat got hurt, and Lovatt was in
despair, which he showed by being more
cross grained and morose than usual.
Little Miss Tyson saw the cat looking
the picture of misery and, without a
word to Lovatt, she brought some med.
lcine and administered it, and in the
end restored Wltch-as the boys dubbed
her-to perfect health.
However, Miss Tyson became COM
plete mistress of the situation Witch
even invited her into the house, and
Mss Tyson went. Then Lovatt was
confined to his bep for Il fortnight, and
Miss Tyson not only took care Of hun,
but played gate keeper Il part Of the
time. Somehow nobody laughed or
gossipped, though the spinster was still
several years under 40 and rather
pretty little body-reminding one Of Il
slightly withered wild rose, with her
delicate complexion and faded tint Of
pink in her cheeks.
Miss Tyson was a person whom every
body, high and low, respected and spoke
we'll OF, for her advent in the village
had been notable. Small pox broke ont
soon after she settled there, and the lit
tie tMloress nursed the patients and did
more to prevent the spread of the dis
ease than all the doctors and uignita-
ries put together. Then il relatiye
somewhere out West died and left the
tiny spinster comfortable sum OF
money-wealth, in fact to one of her
simple tastes. She bought the cottage,
had an orchard, garden and an acre Of
land besides, and, between the fruit,
vegetables and chickens which she sold,
and the money she earned by her trade,
Miss Tyson bank account would have
been a very tidy one, except for her
dreadful extravaganza.
Not that she spent money on herself,
beyond what was necessary for dressing
neatly; yet her money went ireel y
lavishly. Miss Tyson had II mania; she
liked to help the people about her. If
sick person could not be taken care of
at home, Miss Tyson's house received
the sufferer; if Il poor girl fell into
trouble, the cottage was her refuge if
child was left all orphan, or some lit
tie waif strayed into the neighborhood,
Miss Tyson made home for the unfor-