Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-06-12
MISS DILLOWAY.
DY CARRIE A. GnIEr1H.

door unlocked.
On her way down the narrow gravel
walk she stopped to pull weed here
and there from the flower-bcd, and to
pick up IN obnoxious piece of paper
which had somehow found its way into
the midst of the flowers. She straight
encd n young Balm of Gilend tree, and
tied 1t more securely to the small stick
which served us prop; then, closing the
gate carefully behind her, she walked
brlskly down the Village street.
She had walked rather timidly alonr
the platform of the little railroad sta.
ton, and was about to enter the waiting
room when she was accostcd by II man
standing near, who was checking n soli-
tary trunk.
"Wal, wal, Miss Dillowayl Coin on
journcy?"
mot much of one" she answered,
CURLY.
oval, so right in, and I'll be in in Il
minute"
lie soon appeared at the tickct-ofiicc
window, curiosity written all over his
face. Miss Dilloway noted it.
al want ticket to Preston. How
much is it2" she said.
"Oh. to Preston! Eighty-iivc cents.
Let me see; got any relations up that
way2"
mo. Can you change five dollars2"
"Oh ycs-twcnty-fi if you say so I
Wal, didn't Ezry's folks move up Pres
ton way, OF nigh thcrc7"
"No; they moved to Clar mont. How
soon'll the train gol"
Old MIR. DlcQuestion leaned forward
and looked out through the office
window Mt the clock on the wall.
''ln 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 long2"
NO." answered Miss Dilloway. with
slight smile, rather enjoying the
situation.
"No9 II'm-h'm! Wal"
But the good mans curiosity was not
to be gratiiied that morning. A call
from the baggnge-room netessitated his
hurrying away, and the ten o'clock
accommodation soon bore little Miss
Dilioway 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
"llomc for the Fricndless." She tremblctl
little as she assembled the granite stems.
and waited IL little time before she RAM
the bell.
A whitc-cappcd servant showed her
into small reccption-room. 1t seemed
rs II her nervousness increased with every
moments waiting and when n tall.
serious lady came slowly into the room,
Miss Diiloway wished very much indeed
that she were safe at home.
on came to see our little oncs?'
said the Indy, with smile which drove
NIL the stern lines from her face.
% lc-cs did come to get onc-to
adopt but now't I'm here, l dom,
know that I'd ought to-"
Perhaps you can tell better. after
seeing"
Yes, yes, suppose 1 can. You sec
l made up my mind rather suddenly.
MIR. Thornton, our minister come
from Rentham-preached most power.
ful sermon last Sunday from the text,
Whose shall receive one such little
Guild, land That sermon las been haunt
ing me ever since. He had Just come
from n visit to Boston, where he saw IN
orphan asylum; and he said it made his
heart ache to see so many little children
VINO never knew what it was to have n
mothers 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 VIC
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.
pccially those folks who had been oiyen
houses bigger than they needed. He
asked them if the people didn't think il
wasn't burying rooms, as the man buried
the talent, to keep them shut up; and
he urged them to open thci. hearts and
homes-to be mothers and fathers to
some little waif who didn't have any
parents.
'Fhen he capped it all by saying that
he and Mrs. Thornton had just adopted
fve-ycar-old boy from that very asv
lum. They've got seven already! But
that's like Mr.. Thornton; he always
practises what he breaches.
"Well, when l sat down that afternoon
with my Bible and hymn book, couldn't
get my mind off that sermon. When 7
heard it, it didn't seem rs if twas meant
for me, but for married folks; but some
how the thought of Abby's chamber up.
stairs-Abby's my sister who died last
year-kind of worked Its way into NV
mind, and wondered if the Lord would
shy to me, Cynthia Dilloway, have YOU
Kept that room of yours hid in napkin
"Then l thought of the cellar full Of
provisions, and mole than enough in the
bank to take care of me if | lived to be =
hundred; and before knew it, I'd said
aloud, I'll do it! I'll give one of those
poor things home, and I guess can be
kind of mother to it, if am an old
maidn
"It's surprising how much company
just the thought of having a little nifi
around has been, for made up nv mind
of course, it should be a girl. Since
then I've been kind of getting ready
and-well, here ami"