The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-08-11

less 1eudcn Sky, bne atmosphere |
charged with electricity, the trees in
the park powdered over with fine dust. |
-FheP children had been contumacious,
the lessons hard, the trustees unusual
ly eXacting in their visit of inspection |
that morning, and Miss Middleton, as
she united her bonnet-strings and sat |
down in the one easy-chair that her
room afforded, drew sigh of mingled |
relief and vexation.
"0ne might as well be slave at |
once.' said Miss Middleton. 'If were
man, ia snap my fingers in their
faces, send in my resignation and go
out to Kansas to farm government
land, or weave n-baskets, or make
my living in some other shape where
person can be independent. But, as
I'M a woman, | can't. I'm fond of
children by nature, but / could have
cheerfully choled every young imp in
my class to-day Now, ali this isn't
the proper state of things. I'm the
wrong woman in the right place-the
square block of humanity in the round
hole -
Miss Middleton looked at herself /. in
the glass. She was fat, fair and thirty
six, with here and there a silver thread
shining in her braids and incipient
erows-feet at the corners of her bright,
hazel eyes.
81 ought to have been Married. said
Miss Middleton, vaguely following mp
the current of her ideas But what is
girl to do when the men don't know
what they're about? And, dear me, i
never had button offer, and that was
from poor, Dick Brandegee, who couldn't
even support himself, let alone wife.
lie died in the lunatic asylum last year.
Perhaps he would have died there
sooner if he had married me
What is it. Mrs Moscovitz?"-to the
%landlady of the boarding house. "a
boy to see me? What on earth does a
boy want to see me for?"
He's been here twice, Miss Middle
ton" said the laudlady, pursuing up her
thin2lips. And I've seen him through
the basement windows a-hanging round
the airy, and | am free to say as sent
Caroline to bring me the spoon-basket
and the silver tray, for he amt exactly
what You would call an ornamental
member of society," t--t.
Send him in,n said Miss Middleton,
brusquely; and a tall, ungainly lad of
fifteen or Whereabouts slouched into
the room, ragged, dusty and wearing
shoes which scarcely covered his feet
'Ohl" said Miss Middleton, recognize
ing former mem ber@6f~~h eT-ctasy in
the public school 'tIt's Benny Pole,
isn't it? Yes, I'm sure it's Benny, now
And what can you possibly want with
me, Benny Pole?"
please, IN, l want to borrow five
dollars" answered the ungainly youth
"0hr' said Miss Middleton, satir-
ically. Wouldn't five hundred do as
well?"
please, IN, haven't never had no
luck since they turned me out of school
for laughing because Squire Hopkins
sneezea his spectacles off his nose,' said
Benny, dolorously. 81 got place to a
grocer's, but my errand-baslset was
stole, and ! tried newspapers on the
express train, and fell off the last car
and hurt my ankle so vas I've limped
ever since, And they say I'm too big to
learn trade and too little to go out for
days work. !"
"Well, said Miss Middleton, land how
can 1 prevent all this accumulation of
misfortune?"
Please, m" said Benny, piteously,
you was always good to me- l.
haven't got FREUD in the world, ex-
cept it's mother and you"
"Ilumphr said Miss Middleton.
That's taking good deal for granted"
And" went on Benny, slow
ly tul ming the ragged brim
, of his battered straw hat
around and around in his two hands,
there's fellow drives tin-wagon
out into the country-a peddler--and iii
j could raise five dollars to go partners,
he'd let me drive for him, and have half
of whatever l make"
Benny" said Miss Middleton, Sc
verely, you are trading on the good
nature of your fellow-creatures. Now,
what are you, and your tin-peddling
cart to me, that | should deliberately
gire you a five-dollar bill?''
Benny's countenance fell.
II didn't hardly 'spect You would,
ma'am," said he, but ! hadn't no one
else to go TO. ] humbly beg pardon,
ma am, for intruding."
And he was shuffiing away, when
Miss Middl, toms kind heart misgave
her and the words of the Bible flashed
INTO her memory: Zone Of the least of
these-one of the least Of theser"
"BennyH' said she, brusquely.
The Ind halted.
esCon4e back!'
lie obeyed 80
Here is five-dollar bilLr said Miss
Middleton II need it badly myself,