The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1892-03-03
SELECTED.
The EPEhrakCE OF MISS
DEBORAH PARKER.
BY Mrs. W. $. Cartwright.

My story begins al the precise moment
that Miss ID borah Parker had flushed
ner spring cleaning. Laden with broom.
ius.pan, SCRUB pail, claw hammer snd
saucer of tacks, sshe WAS slowly desceld
az the fr)nt stairs secured TIL the7 were
Is slippery as glass.
"fn4ns gooiness, I'm through that
)b - she was saying to herself. MY.
now lame be! | don't believe I'll clean
that spare room twice a year no more.
Once Is plenty enough when faint never
sept in"
BY "spare roc m Miss De borah meant
her guest chamber which, indeed, had not
been occupied for twenty years.
Nevertheless, twice year she conscien
ttUusly removed every article of furniture
from The unused apartment, whitewa~ he'd
the walls, secured the sputless floor,
polished the tiny windows and finally
replaced each article of furniture in the
exact spot 1t had occupied for lifetime.
1t WAS Il quaint, pleasant old room,
that tiny guest chamber, and the pride Of
Miss DeDorah's heart. In one corner
stood the great old fashioned bedstead
piled high with fully feather beds. Just
opposite the bed stood II solid mahogany
|
lions paws In the uppermost drawer
lay,sundry garments of fine linen scented
with lavender. Miss Deborah often al
luded to them as her grave clothes, and
gave elaborate directions to her friends
as to how she was to be array ed in them
There was little toilet table covered
with white dimity between the front win.
dows. Above it hung long, narrow mir
ror with wonderful lands cape painted
on the upper division Of the glass.
When the minister's wife drank tea
with Miss Debby she always laid her bon
net on The high white bed and arranged
ner hair before the little mirror; but with
Ia those sacred precincts no lesser mortal
was ever admitted
As to slet ping in this spare room
Miss Deborah had some dim notion that
she might have last sickness in it; but
she had never really faced the idea.
But at the moment our story opens she
was entirely obliyious of these doleful
matters. She was deciding not to clean
| that spare room for whole year.
just as she set her foot on the last stair,
loud knock at the back porch door re
sounded through he little house.
Miss Deborah started nervousiy and
dropped the tack hammer, which fell OF
her toe. who on earth cali that bef
she exclaimed petulautly. "a tramp a,
| like as not, ~ and in no amiable mood she
imped out and threw open the door.
Certainly this was a tramp-not great,
| hulking, dirty man, but girl of sixteen,
with white. wOe-begone face and pair
of wild black eyes. Her dress was rag
ged and faded and her tai gled hair wound
untidily round her bare head. An old
black shawl was wrapped around her as
If to conceal the pitful truth, that was
all too plain TO see. The travel-worn
frame of the heggar girl was soon to be
torn by mothers paDgs. 1t WAS sight
to touch woman's heart; tut it woke
only righteous scorn in Miss Deborah's
viruous breast.
"Well, what's wantedY she said, sharp
ly. you'd better go ON, We don't har-
Dor tramp, here"
Pm tired" said the girl, and II
don't feel as if | could 90 step further.
Can't rest me here little" She leaned
against the porch and looked up pleading
ly at stern old Miss Deborah, who shook
her head decidedly.
What are you doing-in your condi-
,ion-roaming the country? You'd bet
ter 90 on while you are able. I've got no
room for you here. I'll give you some
thing to eat of course. A Christian
couldn't refuse you that aud off went
Miss Dolby to thu pantry and came back
with great slice of bread and butter.
The girl took the offered food but did
not eat She looked wistfully in at the
barn door, which stood invitiugly open
I'm dead tired, :" she pleaded, land my
feet ache SO. If | can't come in the
house, can't 20 and lie down on the
hay, in there? I'm honest, l won't do no
HARM
Honest! You look honest sneered
Mis- Debby No, | don't take in tramps
tell you. You'd better go right along,
before it gets dark
The wsnderer laid down the untssted
bread. "You said you was Christsn.
didn't youf If I'd been sure Of that 10
have gone on. I've seen good many
Christians these last few weeks and they
WAS all too good to let me in. s'pose
| can lay along the road somewhere.
There amt no policemen out here to tor
ment YOU anyway this last half to her
self as she turned YEARLY away.
Miss Deborah felt an uncomfortable
twiuge at her heart, and thought mos
unaceountably of that dainty room up
stairs with such comfortable bed for
weary limbs.
With half guilty feeling she stood
watching the girl as she plodded heavily
along the dusty road, till she turned
corner and disappeared
II reckon she'll stop at Sal Higgins
said Miss Debby. "She'll take her in y
Sal Higgins was disreputable and di'ty
old woman, who for years had sorelS
troubled the respectable people of the
town. She was notorious drunkard and
was suspected of being the author OF
petty thefts covering a long period OF
time. Her tumhledown shsnty was
known rendezvous of tramps. Miss Deb
orah quite comforted herself with the
idea that the beggar would get shelter
among people of her own sort, still her