Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-10-03
ALpENA ARGUS
MISCELLANEOUS.
WHAT MRS. JOHNNIE DID.

lS.lu, ION nuu saiu, Whoh "e
breakfast Mrs. Johnnie declared her
intention of running up to town.
ats slow and awfully dusty and
there's generally rowdy crowd
aboard. Wait for the 2:05express."
But no sooner had Tom taken his
departure than Mrs. Johnnie de-
cided to do nothing of the sort. She
was bustling little body, forever
on the go, and when once an idea
crept into that clever little head of
hers, she was inclined to carry it
through to a finish in her own par
ticular way.
Consequently Mrs. Johnnie did
take the 1910 local. and within five
minutes time she was wishing de-
voutly that she bad followed Toms
advice; for it was hot and it was
dusty, and they were crawling along
at snail's pace, and there was some
rough looking customers on board,
and--well, oh dear! After all, Tom
did know what he was talking about
occasionally.
At the far end of the car q young
woman was sitting. She looked so
young that one might almost have
called her child, in spite of the
fact that her pretty brown hair was
twisted up on the top Of her head
in vain imitation of the latest
fashion. And the Ito Mrs. John
nie) most atrocious fact that her
cheeks were covered with rouge.
Mrs. Johnnie gathered her belong
ings together and set out to take
possession Of the seat just in front
of the young girl, saying soto vocc
to herself meanwhile:
"It's really the most ridiculous
sight / ever saw. The child must
be crazy. If it were only all old
woman Of my age Mrs. Johnnie
was rather fond of calling herself
an old woman, although she only
owned to be twenty-eight)-if it
were only an old woman of my age
now, there might be some excuse.
But for child like that, with the
complexion of a peach, why-why--
it's perfectly preposterous!"
Mrs. Johnnie settled herself COM
fortably in the seat, and then, half
turning, she scrutinized the young
girl at her leisure. She could do so
without rudeness, for the girl was
gazing out of the window, and her
thoughts seemed to be far away
ats a sweet little face" thought
Mrs. Johnnie, "and | don't care if
it is painted; it's innocent and trust
full. Her dress fits her abonlinably,
but she has a glorious pair Of eyes.
She's apositive anomaly. I'm going
to introduce myself"
The girl turned her head Just at
that moment, and as their eyes met
both of them smiled, and each per-
ceived for the first time that the
other wore the little silver Maltese
cross of the Kings Daughters
They needed no introduction after
that. Mrs. Johnnie moved into the
seat with her, and they were soon
the best of friends. It did not take
Mrs. Johnnie very long to gain the
particulars Of her story. She had
never been to the city before, she
said; indeed, except for some little
excursion now and then, she had
never left her home, which was in
a little village on the coast of Long
Island. She was so glad to have
some one to talk to, for Of course
she was feeling bit lonely. Then
she told Mrs. Johnnie that her
name was Daisy-Daisy Hope-and
that she was an orphan with just
one sister. Her name was Sophie,
and she was married now. They
had always been the very best Of
FRIENDSHIP and Sophie--until Dan
Hackett came along. Nowadays,
she added with asigh, Sophie had eyes
for no one but Dan.
"But l shan't mind it so much
now," she added, suddenly brighten
ing up again, snow that I'm going
to be married too"
Married. exclaimed Mrs. John
ME in establishment. "You don't
mean to tell me so! When is il
coming off, and what's his name?"
"Yes; were going to be married
right away--Jack and me. This
isn't very much Of trousseau, is
it?" she added, with an expressive
gesture toward her old fashioned
carpetbag and two paper parcels. =
"But Jack said that wouldn't matter
He could fix me up when l came to
town. He told me in his letter not
to bring anything along; my coun-
try draseac xvou1d navar do for Nev