Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-11-10


the work will be a heroinei I
will practise what Mr.. Rockingham
preachesl Where's the use of my good
resolutions if I haven't the moral
courage to face an emergency like this
offered me?"
So she took the splInt basket and
started out bravely into the raw, chill
atmosphere of the November day with
a valiant heart.
sit will be fun," she assured her
self; but nevertheless the two red
spots gloWed hotter still in her cheeks,
and there came a suspicious fiutter-
ing under her belt-buckle, when she
rang the bell of the nearest house in
the humdrum little red-brick row
that she had selected for the scene of
her first triumphs. Madam, f" as the
door opened, not quite three-quarters
of an inch, and a purple nose, sur
mounted by dirty lace cap, became
visible in the crevice, twill you allow
me to show you"
81 don't never buy nothing at the
door!'' shrilly answered the owner of
the purple nose.
So Mabel tried the next door knob.
A specialized old woman, with
double chin and big cameo brooch,
bounced suddenly out at her.
''Woolen shoulder capes!" said she.
''Wa'al, dunno. What ye ask for
'em? Lemme have a look. Mittens!
Lal I shouldn't think there'd be no
wear to them things. Eff yen leave
some of the comforters till my son
Zeke comes home to try 'em on, 1
might make sale for ye."
"Oh, 1 couldn't do that!'' gasped
Mabel.
"Ohl" said the old woman with a
toss of her head that had nearly I'M
settled the spectacles. "Ain't willin'
to trust me, Ell? Wall, then 1 guess
ye'd better go along"
And she shut the door in Miss Null
lens face.
Third customer apparent bawled
! out from out the back kitchen that
''she didn't want anything"
The fourth was tall, sallOW-faced
woman, who read Mabel lecture on
the propriety Of giving up this CAD
| ding about-the-StreetS business and
| taking up some creditable work
| The girl was beginning to feel weak
kneed and trembling now, the rose
! spots on her cheeks had Widened into
a decided flush all over her face, and
she WINGED before the sallOW-faced fe-
males harsh words as If they had
been blows.
81 haven't sold an article-not
onel" murmured Mabel ruefully view
ing the tumbled contents of her
| basket. ''Oh, dearl And I am so
tired, and it makes me feel so
ashamed when those people talk so to
me, and stare so rudely and slam the
/ door in my face. Butch, dear, this
! isn't being a heroine"
With a resOlute rallying of her
quailing spirits she ran up the steps
| of a ruinous wooden house and rang.
/ An untidy woman bawled at her out
| the window overhead
''Why don't We pull the bell wire
/ out while you're about it? Don't We
know there's a sick woman in the
! house?"
! Almost at the same nome Mt the
door opened.
Don't sass the lady, Marian said
a smooth, oily voice.
And d sinister-eyed man projected
his disagreeable visage almost close to
hers.
pets and knit gloves? Just precisely
what Pm a-wantin'. my dear. Oh,
yes, I'll buy anything such a pretty
here, and allow me-
But Mabel jerked away the basket,
of which he fain would have relieved
her, and with burning face and trem-
ulously throbbing breast ran away
! Il N CO.
she came so violently in contact with
an umbrella coming around the corner
that the basket, with its contents,
was scattered over the pavement, al
ready wet and muddy with the raw
autumn rain.
81 beg your PARDON she sobbed,
''but-''
''Why, Miss Mullen, what are you
running away from?'' cried a deep,
cheerful bass.
"Mr Rockingham"
And then Mabel burst out crying.
1t was not until the mittens, capes
and comforters were all CLEANED off
/ the pavement and returned to +heir
original place. and Mabel was sitting,
chilled. shivering and sobbing at in
/ tervals, like a grieved child, in front
/ VI bhC pdSOOI SIuub HISs ILAAS LO DS-
gan to comprehend the true nature of
/ affairs.
'It's no use trying" said Mabel.
''I'm not a heroine, and I never shall
/ be one. 1 thought was going to do
good work, but 1 haven't; Eve only
/ made a fool of myself and spoiled all
poor Louisa Blundells things, and in
my heart Pm full of envy, hatred
malice and all uncharitableneSsI Obi
why did you preach that sermon at
me?"
az, Mabel2 Preach at your
81 know Pm awfully wickedr' sob
bed the girl. II can't ever be a
saint or missionary, and I'm not
| 1T to come to church and say my
! nraYers with nfher nAnnle-I that.