Feliciana sentinel., 1892-08-13

Itvas a sultry Jpne, day, Aithsa sun
less, leaden sky. the atmosphere
charged with electricity, the trees, IA
the park powdered over with hne dust.
The children had been contunactons.
the lessons hard. the trustees unusual
" exacting In their visit OF inspection
that morning. and Miss Middleton, as
she united her bonnet-strlngs ana SAT-
down in the one easy-chair that her
room afforded, drew n sigh OF mingled
relief and Eexation.
..One might as we'll be a slave ut
oncc." said Miss Middleton. III were
4 man, I'd snap my fingers in their
faces, send in my resignation and go
out to Kansas to farm government
land, or weave corn-baskets, or make
nv living in some other shape where a
person can be independent. But. as
I'm n woman, I can't. I'm 1ond OF
children by nature. but could have
cheerfully chol.ed every young imp In
INV class to-day. Now, all this isn't
the proper state of things. I'm the
wrong woman in the right place-thc
souare block of humanity in the round
hole" .
Miss Middleton looked at herself IN
the glass She was fat, fair and thirty
.;x with here and there a silver thre ad
shining in her braids and inciplent
crovs-feet at the corners OF her bright,
hazel eyes
II ought to have been married." said
Miss Middleton, vaguely following up
the current Of her ideas But what IS
a girl to do when the men don't know
wSat they're abouA? And, dear me,
never had but one offer and that was
from poor Dick Brandegcc, who couldn
even support himself, let alone wife
We died in the lunatic asylum last year
Perhaps he would have died thcr'
sooner if he had married nc
.:What is it, Mrs. Moscovitz?"-to tn
landlady of the boarding house
boy to see nses What on earth does
boy want to see me for'
..He's been here twice, Miss Middle
+on."said the Ian dlady. pursuing up he
@bin ips. And I've seen him throug
the basement windows Arranging roun
the ary, and am free to say as sci
Caroline to bring me the spoon bask
and the silver tray, for he amt cxacti
what YOU would call an ornament
member of society. s,..
ss*ANa3aph him in, !" said Miss MHfofe,o
brusqhely; and q tals unga'nly laf
6ftee1 or thereabouts sl9uchea .'n
the room, ragged, dusty and ~tearl'
shoesEhich scarcely coveredehiste te<
"Ohf' said Miss. Middleton, recogn
ine- a 9orner member sof her class
the public school TITS Benny 20
isn't it9 Yes, I'm sure it's Benny no
And what can you possibly want WI
me, Benny Pole?." .
.Please, IN, want to borrow
dollars. r%ars wercd the nngainly you
..Oh,. said Miss tMiddletons sal
,c,,lv. ..Wouldn't sfse hundred do
wen?"'F
"Piease, IN, / haven't never haa
luck since they turned me out si sen
Tor Laughing. because Sauiret Hopt'
.recla1 h:s spectaclcs off his nose,' S
benny. dolorously. ~ got a place
procer's, but my errand-oashe'
Stole. and ] tried newspapers on
express train, and fell off the last
and hurt my ankle 80 as I've nn,
.,er.ince. And they say I'm too bi
learn a trade and too little to Goou
days work ..,a,
c.n prevent all this accumulation
misfortune? ...,
"you was always good to me,
haven't got friend in the world
cont it's mother and you"
..Hnmphw said Miss Middle
~ What's taking a good deal for grant
"A,d~ went on Benny, S
y turning the ragged
~, his battered straw
s-oupd and around in his two ha
"there's fellow drives a tin-w
nut into the country peooiei-
conld raise Eve dollars to go part
he'd let me drive 1or nihi' "H' "
nf whatever l make
.Rennv.- said Miss Middleton
-.,elv. s.yon are trading on the
,.trre of your felicw-creaturcs.
-. arc YOU and your tin-pcd
49, 70 me. that I should deheer
uise YOU 6ve-dollar billy