Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-04-11

DAkoty. So now there's nothin' fer her
but to go to the poorhouse
"Poor thing |" said Mis- King.
"Wall, hain't mite nor a grain of
pity fer her." said the widow. "Them
that dances has got to pay the fiddler,
she added.
"Why can't she go out to her uncle?"
suggested Mis- King.
"Wall, now, Mis- King, who'd ye
s'pose would ever pay her way out
there?"
"You could" said Mis- King calmly.
The widow was woman of means.
"Sakes allve!" screamed that good
soul "Le ye crazy? I'd see myself help
that huesy," and she fairly spluttered
with virtuous indignation. 81 tell ye |
have enough given to foreign missions
without spending my cash on sech truck.
But here, here l must hurry. want
to go to Bailey's, and Peck's, and Mrs
Stubbs's, to tell 'em the news" and
away she hurried, no doubt legretting
she could not go two ways at once
Mis- King pushed her chair back from
the machine aud sat thinking. She re-
membered Mandy Ransom--a slight
slip of a girl with sweet, mild, and
rosy face. Dreadful that she must go
to the poorhouse. If she could only go
to her uncle. Ebenez'r Ransom and
his wife were the salt of the earth, and
would do what was right by her.
1t was long way to Dakota. 1t
would take quite sum of money to 90
there. Cold weather was coming ON
and the baby ought to be warmly
dressed
Mis- King looked up at the clock, An
hour yet before her good man would be
home In an hour she could walk to
Seth Doolittle's, where Mandy was stay
ing and back again.
1t was a will, black night and raining
torrents. but Mis- King did not hesitate
She folded her plaid blanket shawl
over her stopping shoulders, tied on her
musty black bonnet, and went into her
bedroom.
When she came out she was very pale
and her lips were firmly compressed.
She took down her faded cotton UNI
brella, opened the door, and went out
into the night.
Four months later gang of burglars
went through the country, and did not
scorn unpretentious Podunly Corners
The hamlet was in fearful state of ex-
element when one morning it was dis
covered that several houses had been
broken into
1t was one of those rare opportunities
which come only once OF twice in life
time. and the Widow Bean rose to meet
it. Forth on her round she started, and
the first call was made at the postmast-
er'S house.
She found Mis- King paler than usual,
with heavy circles under her eyes, and
complaining of terrible headache She
and her spouse had wakened that morn.
ing from strange, heavy sleep, both
feeling very ill indeed.
"Mebbe you was chloroformed, sug-
gested the widow, "an' robIel."
"Rohbed;" repeated Mis- King.
"Yes; hain't ye heard? There was
burglars through here last night; they
broke into Stebbinses and Powerses
an"
But Mis- King heard no more. She
pushed past the chattering widow into
ler bedroom.
In moment she reappeared. Her
face was haggard and drawn. She had
grown old in those few seconds She
clutched the widows arm as they stag
gered into the kitchen.
"Stolen!" she cried in an awful voice,
Ill 4
feet
One year later there is great COM
motion on Mis- Kings street. 1t even
extends to the corners, and passing
events are discussed from cracker bar
rels with due solemnity. In front of
the postmaster's house stands huge
van loaded with furniture. In the large
"spare" room pink roses trail along the
walls and a stout. red faced German
woman is tacking down gaudy Brus-
sells carpet
uperintending all is a pale, worn
woman with sunken cheeks and hollow
eyes, who pauses between her orders to
patiently endure fit of racking cough
ing.
Ahc ihoIi uilieHt 10 uH DttCheu duu
brought in, and Mr.. King stands look
ing on with manifest disapproval
Don't, Lester" she gently says; 81
want to enjoy it all I can't won't be
long"
AT last everything is in order, even to
the hair wreath and the wax fruit.
In the twilight Mis- King steals in and
touches the "instrument. AS her thin
fingers wander over the keys. long for
gotten melodies of her girlhood come
stealing back. She is SO happy.
Two weeks later Mis- King receives
her friends. The windows are all open,
and the soft June air comes stealing in.
Tne parlor is filled and so is the living
room-yes, even the kitchen. while
groups of men stand awkw ardly about
the yard and on the steps.
There in her parlor with the head of
her coffin on the marble top table, with
her tired hands peacefully folded, quiet
and cold lies Mis- King; while from the
little group standing about the "instru-
ment" comes the strain
"1'll soon be at raest over there
By the side of the river of light"
Edith Sessions Tupper, in Chicago
Inter Ocean.