The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-12-20
LOST OPPORTUNITIES.
What a Railroad Accident Did
tor Susan Pettit's Neighbors.

Miss Abigail Meeker walked up the
graveled path to the porch with the
western exposure on which was seated
her friend Mrs. Brewster.
"How d. ye do?' she called out as
she drew near. 81 don't wonder you
like to be outdoors. 1 thought there
was a real chill in the house, which is
no more'n's to be looked for late in
September. But when you get out in
this meller sunshine-my"
She painted as she seated herself,
giving pleased glance about her.
"Well, I've said it time and again,
and say it yet, that If there's one
place that seems to get more o. the
real fall tints than another it's them
naples o. your'n. Look at them reds
and puppies. Solomon in all his glory,
sure enough"
Abigail" said her friend, and the
tone brought Miss AbigaiPs eyes at
once to her face to meet look which
caused sudden cloud to fall on her
own.
Whats the matter, Jane?"
HAS there been anything heard
from Susan Pettit?"
''Not as / know Of ] didn't know
anybody expected to hear from her."
mo, that's it." Mrs. Brewster, set
her lips and shook her head.
"What is a-troublin' you, Jane?"
"Do you know when she was ex-
pected home?"
"Why, no. Idon't know as anybody
knew. Did they2''
II s'pose not That's it,
What on earth's the matter, Jane?
You fairly make me creep, lookin' SO
woebegone. What is it? Anything
wrong about Susan Petit? / didn't
know you knew her we'll enough to
take it hard If there was"
.Yes, there tits again. l didn't"
said Mrs. Brewster, in a deeply-pained
voice. "Abigail, wasn't her initials s.
J.?"
"Like enough they was. Let me see
-yes-I remember her wonderin'
what the J stood for when she put
down her name for quarter on the
subscription paper to send Jerry Day
to the hospital. Susan Petit never
give much, but what she did give she
always give willin'. But what"
slave you seen this?" Mrs. Brew
ster held up copy of the weekly edi-
tion Of newspaper in the nearest
large city.
''No."
IAN awful railroad accident. One
car jumped right into another and
crushed peoples lives out A dozen
killed and plenty more wounded. Now
listen: KILLED, S. ]. Petit.
The two neighbors gazed into each
others eyes.
Couldn't it be mistaken"
.'It amt a common name. Twas a
train-see-" Mrs Brewster leaned
over with the paper and pointed to
some lines in the short chapter Of the
tragedy, comm this way. That was
why wanted to know if you knew
when she was comm But" Mrs.
Brewster's voice broke into sob, mo
body knew"
,"You don't mean it," said Miss Abi-
gail, taking up tie paper with little
air OF desperation. II can't believe it.
Dead! can't seem to sense 1t. Such
clipper little creetur She was, in
spite Of her lameness Always had a
pleasant word and smile for folks.
and all the children loved her. Well"
with tremble in her voice, "if I had
it to do over again I'm free to confess
I'd do different by Susan Petit"
With another huge sob Mrs. Brews-
ter covered her face with her hands
and cried.
"All the time that woman's lived
here amongst u.s." she presently be-
gan, 1--WE had it ON my mind that
when got round to it I'd try to make
things = little easier and pleasanter
for her. How long 10 1t since shc
conner"
''six or seven year. guess.