Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-05-22
MISS DILLOWAY.
BY CARRIE A. GRIFFIN.

80 NhA'ANiS n. WILT
Miss Dilloway locked the back door
of her small house, and hung the key in
plain sight near the kitchen window.
How far the safety of her goods and
chattels was ensured by this simple aci
she never stopped to consider; but moth
ing would have induced her to leave the
door unlocked.
On her way down the narrow gravel
walk she stopped to pull weed here
and there from the flower-bed, and to
pick up an obnoxious piece of paper
which had somehow found its way into
the midst of the flowers. She straight.
ened young Balm of Gilead tree, and
tied it more securely to the small stick
which served as prop; then, closing the
gate carefully behind her, she walked
brislly down the village street.
She had walked rather timidly along
the platform of the little railroad sta
ton, and was about to enter the waiting
room when she was accosted by man
standing near, who was checking soli-
tary trunk.
"Wal, wal, Miss Dillowayl Coin on
journeys"
''Not much of one," she answered,
curtly.
oval, go right in, and I'll be in in
minute"
He soon appeared at the ticket office
window, curiosity written all over his
face. Miss Dilloway noted it.
81 want "a ticket to Preston. How
much is it?" she said.
''Oh, to Preston! Eighty-fve cents.
Let me see; got any relations up that
way?"
mo. Can you change five dollars?"
"Oh yes-twenty-five, if you say so!
Wal, didn't Ezry's folks move up Pres
ton way, or nigh there2"
"No; they moved to Clar'mont How
soon'li the train goa"
Old Mr.. McQuestion leaned forward
and looked out through the office
window at the clock on the wall.
'.In bout fifteen minutes. Set down;
set down over there in the rocking chair,
and make yourself comfortable. 'Taint
every depot that's got rocking chair.
Ahem Coin to be gone long?"
mo-" answered Miss Dilloway, with
a slight smile, rather enjoying the
situation.
"No2 H'm-h'm! Wal"
But the good mans curiosity was not
to be gratifed that morning. A call
from the baggage-room necessitated his
hurrying away, and the ten o'clock
accommodation soon bore little Miss
Dilloway out of sight and hearing.
In two hours time she was standing
before large brick building, over the
massive door of which were the words:
"Home for the Friendless. She trembled
a little as she assembled the granite steps,
and waited little time before she rang
the bell.
A white-capped servant showed her
into small reception-room. 1t seemed
as if her nervousness increased with every
moments waiting, and when tall,
serious lady came slowly into the room,
Miss Dilloway wished very much indeed
that she were safe at home.
'tYou came to see our little ones2"
said the lady, with a smile which drove
all the stern lines from her face.
Ye-es /; did come to get one--to
adopt but now't Pm here, l don't
know that I'd ought to-"
"Perhaps you can tell better after
SEEING"
Yes, yes, suppose can. You see
| made up my mind rather suddenly.
MIR. Thornton, our minister come
from Rentham-preached most power.
full sermon last Sunday from the text,
Whose shall receive one such little
child, and that sermon las been haunt
ing me ever since. He had Just come
from visit to Bosten, where he saw an
orphan asylum; and he said it made his
heart ache to see so many little children
who never knew what it was to have a
kiss on their foreheads."
Miss Dilloway wiped tear from her
eye, and went on
''And then he said. if the Lord was
going to ask us by and by what use we
had made of the talents He had given
us, he didn't see why He shouln't ask
us what use we'd made of our homes, es-
pecially those folks who had been given
houses bigger than they needed. He
asked them if the people didn't think it
wasn't burying rooms, as the man buried
the talent, to keep them shut up; and
he urged them to open their hearts and
be mothers and fathers to
some little waif who didn't have any
parents.
''Then he capped it all by saying that
ne and Mrs. Thornton had just adopted
4 fye-vear-old how from that varv aay