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

room, but it has rag carpet, woven
half sentimentally by a woman that
lives not far from hereby half sentl-
mentally l mean that she thought so
much of me she wove 1t for half price.
But you don't mind that, do your
What, the sentiment or the half
price,"
"Why, the rag carpet, of course. l
didn't know but you might expect vel
vet on the floor"
my dear child" said Miss Lopp, lit
was not the thought of carpet that
brought me into this neighborhood,
and to tell you the truth 1 don't care
whether the floor is covered with rag
or with sawdust."
"Oh, Just know that shall like you,
because you are not stupid with even
ness of talk and kiln-dried manners.
So come on and We'll go over right
now."'
And so Miss Lopp was installed In
large room in an old-fashioned house.
Her two front windows commanded
the drowsy village, the town COW that
looked as though she had been patched,
having so often been scalded by irate
housewives; the prowling hog, the
sport of every dog that found himself
without amusement, the hitching rack
where farmers nags squealed and bit
at one another. But the two other
windows looked upon the garden, rose
tinted here and there, the dark shade
lying between rows of high peas,
tangle of plum bushes, long slope and
a creek.
The Office Of the newspaper was
found in a jumbled state, with black
and light types mixed together, but
with the assistance of boy who had
long been an apprentice, decent order
was brought about, and from the very
first number the paper showed an
improvement. The paragraphs were
written with vigor that made the
villagers wink as though their eyes
had lighted upon something too bright
for them; and the editorials on national
and international subjects were set
forth with that dignity which the
farmer demands that his editor shall
observe. A show Of frankness soon
wins the confidence of southern
town, and Miss Lopp became 50 evil
dent a favorite that within month
after her arrival her paper had picked
up an additional circulation of fifty
copies, a marvellous growth, neWspa-
per miracle in Broomfield.
Nell soon learned to pick up type,
nlnGpCt
most valued companion. They were
rarely seen apart; they strolled in the
woods like lovers, and together they
begged contributions to the mite So
ciety.
One afternoon, as they were going
home to enjoy the cool of the garden,
Nell swinging Polly's hand as they
moved along, declared that she had
never been so happy. II feel that
am useful" she said; II feel that | am
the dearest friend of a woman who
knows something. And do you know
what / have been thinking of? / have
been thinking that We ought to make
vow never to separate. l told father
the other night that l should never
| marry, and if you will live up the same
resolution why we will live together.
| There's a stage, and look, there are
three passengers, men, and they are
coming this way"
Polly made no reply, but. leaning
forward, looked eagerly at the men.
They had been looking about them,
but upon seeing her they came quickly
forward, and as they approached one
of them called: Hello, Polly and
| then each one said: Hello, Polly!'
Several of the townspeople were
within hearing, and they loitered near
to see what might follow. Polly spoke
to the strangers, and then requested
Nell to walk on, that she would over
take her. Nell hesitated. Wont you
please walk on?" Polly insisted. IN
soon catch up with you"
Nell obeyed, though not without
muttering an objection, and Polly
stood in the road, talking to the stran-
gers. What could 1t mean? Why were
they so familiar with her and why
should she desire to see them alone? y?
They turned and slowly walked toward
the stage coach, which was to go out
again at once, to take passengers to the
railway ten miles distant, and Polly
talked to thew in low tones, and then