The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-11
NOT WHAT They SEEM.
A Little Story Showing That Appear
ances May Often Induce
Wrong Conclusions.
A Man In an Old Maids House
After IL O'clock at
Night.
And She = Professiag Christian, = Method
ist Ints the Bsrgain-And They
Were Married.

Were Married.
Written for THE HELENA INpEpENDHNr.I
M MAN"
VI lyon don't say? Well, I am sur
I'll prissd, " and the speaker drew = long
breath Of genuine surprise.
Eyes. he was a setting up by her Kitchen
windsr-ths curtains all down--but you
Know they are white cloth. and the lamp
cast his shadder. plain ~ anything"
well. / do doclsre, and MiIandy Sturgis
always lowed shs was 20 incident. an virtu-
ous--fairly feared of a man-wouldn't look
cross-sysd at Jonas Hartly, . good decent
Teller, too; but she was 30 shy-dscsitful
mink. Did You say you see him yourself.
Mis- Brown"
with my own eyes. I'd been up to
Cinthy's, you know her youngest 10 down
with the measles-an' il must have been
long after II at night, an quite dark. We'll,
a. was ~sayin',' stopping ! moment for
breath. and then rushing on. ~ il her life
depended on the recital OF the tale, well,
I come round BY the cider mill, an right
past Mirandy Sturgis'-an' sez !, I'll bot
MirAndy's sick, for al / sss was the light at
frat; but the next look made me almost
jump, for there. right by the windsr. sot =
man, an smokin' tooy' Here Mrs. Brown
paused completely out Of breath. while her
neighbor filled up the pause with:
Dew ~tell-you don't say-and her . pro-
fessin' church member, too. You're sure 1t
want JonAsT"
'surs-of course I BE-. An besides. even
- yA-n. -h>A Nrai~Aua ha1 an ~sr IL ~
old maids house after 'levon O'Clock. an
she livin' out on that lonely road by hex
"Thats 10. We'll, Mis- Brown. I guess I
must be goin'. l loft the children with
Mandy. an she won's want me 10 stay
long"
''Don't be in q hurry, Mis- jones'"
II don't think I am, mush-but I must
20, now. Ideclsre, what you told me com
pletely upset ms."
.! lowed IL would. But, Miss Jones.
hear Of il. I wouldn't. have her know l
told of it for anything"
'Course not,'' and in smother moment
Mrs. Jones was on her way, her mothsrly
soul fairly bursting with the desire to carry
the news TO some one.
On her way she passed Miss SturRis'
II b'lisvs I'll step in a minuts,' she said,
and, opening the door, she stood within the
neat kitchen.
"Mornin', Mirandy."
the timid old maid. kindly.
II was out, an l thought I'd Just drop in
an see how you was"
Glad you did. I &c: dreadful lonesome
sometimes here alone"
Why aSn't you git someone to keep you
'Oh, laws! I don't care for no girls
round. They're more bother than help"
why dom you ait . nan?' asked the
willy Mrs. Jones. s@ ~ y
Miranda bIushed a vivid scarlet.
me, Mis- Jonesp | don't want no man.
II heard you had a beau last night"
"'What!" and the maiden's face grew as
white a. it had been red.
"Oh, now, you needn't try to fool me,
Mirandy. We know you had 4 beau last
night. q asttin' right here by this winder.''
Miss Sturgis looked just ready to drop
guilty and confused.
"Who-who told your" she stammered.
oh, I found out" returned Mrs. Jones,
significantly. "Was it Jonas?"
NO."
Il thought so. Who was it,"
A little spark Of fire began to be visible in
Miss Stureis' eyes.
That's my business,' she returned.
Their Mrs. Jones' ire was aroused, and
she proceeded to pitch into" the little old
maid, as she afterwards said. and gave her
u piece OF nor TONGUE.
"Well, ali l got to say. Mirandy Sturgis,
is, that it's a pretty business when an old
maid like you, an a professin' Christians
Methodist into the barRain-sets up after
'leven O'Clock with = strange man. l always
thought there was something suspicious
I wouldn't be quite SO bold about it if l
was you. It's = disgrace to the ohuroh-sn'
you a old maid, too"
Even a worm will turn, ws are told, and
Mirandy did. in good shape.
1T amt any Of your business, n way.
Miss Jones. an you needn't come here
mindin' things you don't know anything
about. If I chose I could tell you ali about
II, but / won't, 80 there, an you can 20 an
tell the whole o fur all I care"
With that Mrs. Jones rose to GO. with q
baleful glitter in her eye. Y
"All right. If you're church mauled you
kin lay it to your own sinfulness an deceit.
I'm sure I meant what I said for your good,
an now you can look out for your eharao-
ter yourself. I shan't try to defend it,
and the angry woman slammed tho door
behind her.
No sooner had she gone than Miranda
seated herself in a low rocker, began to
rock herelf to and fro and to cry bitterly.
"Oh: dear! Oh, dear! What shall I do2
What have / done?"
there was a timid knock at the door and,
quickly drying her eyes, she said: "Come
H." In walked Jonas Hartly. the bashfuI
farmer, who had tried to court her ever
since she was a schoolgirl.
"Mornin', Mirandy."
Good mornin' Jonas"
II thought I'd drop in to her how you
was Qettin' along"
Not very we'll to-day. JONAS" and there
was a nervous twitch to her lips as she
said it.
II lowed you wasn't. When l come by
the store. l stopped in there. an the way
they was all talkin' about you was a eau
ton
About me2"
Yes; sayin' somethin' about some man
they see in here at midnight last night. /
lowed it was all a blooniin' lie. and told
'em so. An l offered to come up here an
prove it by you"
"Tve had one quarrel bout hat already,
Jonas, an if they want to believe that
woman's story, let 'em. l can stand it,"
and her eyes flashed fire.
Jonas was surprised to see the quiet
woman display 30 much spirit, but he SPOKE
to her in a coaxing tone.
Nov. Mirandy, that amt right. Eff you
hain't done nothing wrong, it's your duty