Middletown transcript., 1892-09-29
MISS ALVIRA'S JUDGMENT.
LOUISE THRUSH.

L
turesque village Of PetersAam, %
years ago, that the :" Greatest living
combination of wild animals found
its way into the quiet streets. The
| little town had been for a week or
more torn from center to circumfer-
ence over the prospect. The young
er portion were wild with excitement,
while their elders shook their heads
and regarded it as a vigorous on
slaught of the Evil One himself, and
were prepared to makes a determined
resistance. 1t was all very we'll and
instructive for them to have sight
of The foreign animals, for the major
! ity of the towns people scarcely knew
the difference between q monkey and
leopard, had not band of strolling
players joined themselves to the in
structive part, thereby rendering the
| whole combination something danger
GUS and to be avoided.
The crowd of small boys which had
gathered to see the huge vans come
iato the village, were still lingering
at the corner, when an elderly spin
ster, the village tailoress, made her
way cautiously along the principal
street.
II was long before the days Of show.
bills, but large printed cards had
been placed outside the tavern an
nouncing the show. Also a crude
drawing of female figure in the
shortest of skirts, dancing tight-rope.
As Miss Alvira Griggs passed the
offending picture, she pulled her
ample calash before her eyes. lest the
sight should prove too much for her
maiden bushes.
She was dressed in large-6gured
mousseline de laine, the skirt Of
ample breadth. The long-pointed
waist made her already attenuated
form take alarming proportions. The
sleeves were Of the style known as
leg ofmutton, while short black mitts
covered her hands, leaving uncovered
the fingers 10 one hand she carried
o green cotton umbrella, and with ths
other held the string Of ber calash,
ready at any moment to shield her
eyes, lest through them she might
commit an objectionable ofense.
AS she tip-toed gingerly along,
glancing this wap and that, her eye
caught sight of the open windows of a
large frame house opposite-a CLEAN
of curiosity shot into them.
There's Miss Whipple's best room
winders open, she must be goin' to
hev company" she said to herself.
"I'll jest step over and see. My
bein out Of town for week, hev
kind O. lost track O things" and
lowering her umbrella, she stepped
inside the white gate and looked
cautiously 10 at the windows.
Seeing no one, she went quickly
| aroud to the back of the house, and
stepping across the long, low kitchen,
came upon Mrs. Whipple and her
two daughters busy at their sewing in
the cool living-room.
Howdy do! Miss Whipple," she
said, without the ceremony of knock
ing.
Mrs. Whipple looked up.
"Is that you, Alviry2 | thought
you was to Widow Beckett's this
week. Come in and sit down." and
she swept her carpet-rags off chair
to make room for her.
$50 l was to Miss Beckett's,
answered Miss Griggs, sinking into 6
chair, and he'd | known what wai
in this town I'd hev stayed, but the
Lord won't hold me responsible, one
that's jest as innocent as lamb about
it. | come ia last night, and | wui
on my way to the doctors to tell hin
about Miss Beckett's sore hand, wher
I see your restroom windows open
and sez I, Miss Whipple must b'
goin' to hev company. I'll jest steE
over and see; so here | be-"
"No," replied Mrs. Whipple, ave
have been so troubled with mildew