Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-04-07

Miss Smith started back lnyoluntar1-
ly.
"Mercy on usr' she exclaimed.
"Why don't you speak little louder?'
she added, in sarcastic sort of roar.
81 said fourteen, marm-in my fif-
teenth yearr' Tad yelled, with the full
power of his lungs; for, unfortunately,
he took her ironical suggestion in per-
feet good-faith.
Miss Smith dropped the rake-handle,
and sat down on the piazza steps.
Joe, whoes face was of lively purple
which extended to his ear-tips, began
to edge toward the gate.
''You won't do, boy" screamed Miss
Smith, so shrilly that John Doty, who
was blowing in an adjoining field,
stopped his oxen and looked wonder
mgly across at the ''old Smith place, -
as it was locally called, while Sa-
mantha Mason, Miss Smiths '.hired
help" rushed bare-armed from the
kitchen, with vague impression that
Miss Smith was in Mysteries.
Il can't hire any one as deaf as you
are, and run the risk of breaking a
blood-vessel hollering to YOU" con-
hnued Miss Smith in the same high
key, as Tad stood confounded and de-
spondent at hn~ abrupt rofu-ali ''bc-
sides, Tim not so hard of hearing as
al that comes TO, ana .yUuI voice goes
through my head like a aknife-yah-h-hn
IL IL.
Miss Smith put her hands to the
sides of her pasteboard srn-bonnet and
shuddered. ''Why, l ain deaf, marm!'
wonderingly exclaimed Tad, dropping
his voice several octaves, land
wouldn't have spoke so loud only Joe
said you was hard Of hearing, an if he
was me he'd speak up good and loud y
Joe could stand it no longer. With
an explosive yell of laughter he lodged
through the gate, and, dropping in the
green sward, at safe distance,
doubled himself up in an ecstasy of un-
seemly mirth.
Joe Whitney, gasped Miss Smith,
starting to her feet and shaking heI
finger threatening in the direction OF
the PROSTATE practical joker, as the
truth of the matter flashed across her
mind, ''you see if your father don't
hear of this, sirr'
But her Indignation was always
short lived, and gradually grim smile
softened the hard lines of her face
though the overshadowing head-geal
hid it from Tad's anxious gaze.
"And so you want a place, ch?" sh,
said, abruptly, but not unkindly, as
she turned her sharp gray eyes full
upon Tad, who was looking reproach-
fully at Joe as, having risen, ht
cautiously advanced within earshot.
IF you please, marm,'' was the re
spectful answer, and Tad looked plead
ingly up at the maiden lady as h,
spoke. Something in his thin, pal,
face moved Miss Smiths heart curl
ously.
The boys who had worked for he
from time to time had generally beel
uninteIligent, brown-faced boys, will
large appetites and tenency to idl
away as much time as they possibl,
could.
''He's got look l kind of like
though he is pindling sort of boy,
thought Miss Smith, rubbing her nos
retlectively.
''Don't you dare enter that gate
Joseph Whitney" she exclaimed, wit
sudden energy, as Joe, with traces o
his recent mirth on his features, edget
himself along the front fence.
'.No, marm," responded Joe, in
voice suggestive of the deepest contri
ton. Affecting to be overcome wit
remorseful sorrow, he applied small
red-boardered cotton handkerchief t
his eyes, and sobbed Historically, afte
which, twisting it between his fingers
he feigned to wiring tears of bite
| grief from its folds.
| Turning her back upon the arch dis
sembler, Miss Smith proceeded to pu
Tad through a rapid course of question
ing. Did he smoke or swear? Had h
been vaccinated? Were his father an
mother living? Had he been to school
What church did he attend?
few other queries, of similar import.
On all points except that OF churcl
going Tad's answers We're very sati,
factory; and Miss Smith @racously n,
mitted that his lack of clothes was
tolerably reasonable excuse for his d,
ticiency in that one respect.
81 guess you'll do" she finally sale
"at least I'm minded to try you, so 70
can come over and begin work earl
Monday morning"
Thank you, marm," replied TIA,
with a beaming face. In be here earl,
and though I'm kind of green, Mi:
Smith, he added, earnestly, 'I'lllear
just as fast as ever l can, and work a
the harder to make up"
"Well, Wen see," was the only +
ply. Miss Smiths faith in juveni
promises had been rudely shattered |
the frequent breakages that she ha
known in her experience. At the san
time she felt rather drawn toward tn
pale-faced orphaned boy-though 81