The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-26

about two year and lowed after while
that l mought pick up a chunk of a
wife, may do so this fall if my corn
down here on the creek turns out we'll"
Your shirt collar il unbuttoned
again." she said.
Blast me if don't go to the black
smith shop and git me horseshoe nail
jest to accommodate you. So you are
gon' to run the newspaper. Never
hearn of a woman runnin' paper, but
! have hearn of 'em ridin' straddle and
I don't see why newspaper shouldn't
come next"
by the way" she said, 81 should
like to find some pleasant place to
board. 1 don't care to stay at this
hotel"
You are talkin' sense, now, miss.
Let me see: live about a quarter of
a mile from here-just an easy walk
and if you don't mind you may board
there. My daughter Nell lives with
me, and you'd like her. Oh, she eats
more books than a sheep do straw, al
ways chawin' 'em, and you'd git along
well together. She's too smart for this
town, and you and her could trot to-
gether right well. Well, I'll send her
over to see you. / reckon you are all
right, leastwise you understand takin'
care of yourself. Good day"
She arose and as he reached the door
she called him. What is it, miss?"
Nothing, ONLY hope that you will
not forget t. go by the blacksmith
shop" ..f
The, old man puffed and tramped
heavily down the stairs, and at the bot
tom he found ALI and the other fell
lows waiting for him. Don't put your
self to no uneasness on her account,
gentlemen" he said. "She can take
care of herself, and if she can't CAD,
I can take care of her or come mighty
blame nigh it; but / reckon that eX-
preston is a little too strong for a
man that thinks as much of a revival
as / do, and l ask the Lord to excuse
me-"
But hold on and tell us somethin'
about her." ALI insisted.
II don't know a blessed thing about
her except that she's all right, and
that's all anybody need to know"
Shortly afterward a young woman
called at the hotel introduced herself
to the stranger and said that following
the advice of her father she had come
to SAX Miss Lopp to board with her.
I'VE have a great, big, old-fashioned
house." she said, "and you may have
all the room you want, so don't say you
won't. Will you please not say you
won't?"
The visitor had taken a seat on the
piano stool and not ungracefully was
slowly turning herself half round and
then back. She was a comely girl and
1t was evident that she was the belle of
the neighborhood; and 1t was also evi-
dent that she cared nothing for this
distinction, that she had studied and
read herself beyond any companion.
ship that the village might offer, and
that simply to be admired had long
since grown tiresome to her. Miss Lopr
never forgot that pleasing picture, the
dark eyes half humorously pleading
the abundant hair caught up here and
there as if by graceful and yet careless
dips, the pleasing face and yet a coun
tenance bespeaking strength of will
physical vigor and grace.
"You must not say you won't" the
girl went on, giving Miss Lopp no time
to answer, until you know how much
in need Of sensible companion am
Father-and let me request you not tC
pay any attention to his strong express
slons for he Is really the best man yor
ever saw-well, he does everything hi
can to Tighten my loneliness, but h,
can't do so very much, you know, be-
ing only man, and l am actually
hungry for some one to talk to-"
II don't see how l can resist 81
strong an appeal" Miss Lopp replied
There, knew you couldn't say yoi
wouldn't when you were brought t
understand 1t all. And we'd better e
now," she added, springing off tn,
stool. you shall have a large from