The National tribune., 1894-07-12

They're made after Aunt Polly jenkins
recipe"
He hesitated moment, looked sharply at
her, then accepted the civility rendered to
him.
When the cough had ceased he observed:
"You are most extraordinary wonan!"
"BeI?" inquired the nowise insulted lady,
placidIy. "Well, if wantin' to help man
that is old and pore, and hain't got no one to
mend for him, is bein' extraordinary, dunno
but what be'
She smiled at him, and smoothed back the
| faded hair more snugly beneath her black
| bonnet
How do you know I've no one to mend
| for me?" cried the old man with asperity.
And-as to my poverty-who told you am
poor?"
A look of indulgent pity overspread the
woman's face as she replied:
That hole in your overcoat sleeve has
been givin' me the fidicks ever since | sat
eyes on you. An as to your bein' pore, l
don't suppose I'm much better off n what you
| be; but pore is pore, an man with a hole
in his coat big enough for a eat to crawl
through amt likely to be no John Jacob
Ast0r. Now be he?"
NO replied the man slowly; "he isn't.
| Where do you get OFF," he asked.
II don't know just where I'll get off, " she
| stanmered THAT isl kalkalate to go on
to StiIEngton, if I meet my folks there. That
| is -
Drowned in confusion, she dropped her
| eyes, then raising them with q sudden effort,
she said more boldly:
''You'Il excuse me- sir; rather guess Tve
| been kindo' pert talking to you. 1t seemed
to me you was older n what you be, an-an
i was sorry for you; but now look squar'
at you-you don't seem feeble-an' -
"Pm just SO years old, - remarked the old
man, smiling, 's52 years-and You are the
! first honest woman have met during the last
| 30 of them.''
For mussy sal1e!" cried Miss Tilly.
"Whatkindo o company hev You been keepin'.
Tain't possible that you've jest escaped from
States prison?"
An expression of amazed incredulity passed
over the face of the stranger.
s'Have you lived all your life in the
country? I" he asked
sYes, I have" she retorted: am I was
brought up among honest folks, too"
The man eyed her with profound interest.
"Suppose,7' he said, "you had a lot of
money; what world you do with it?"
Miss Tilly sat for few moments lost in a
| brown study, then she glanced at her ques
tioner and asked donbtfully: How much
| money? Some folks is rich on a dollar. /
| dunno as / could fix my mind on anything
oniess I knew how much-'
Oh, say few hundred dollars" replied
the old man 'A',< :
Why, land % goodness.n calculated the
woman; "a body could buy out the hull o.
Yanltown with that much, an it's maxim
fool o. me to ask me such question. / amt
no more likely to have sich a pile o. cash
than - she hesitated, then added with
conviction, than you be-
Well, Just make believe" urged the
man.
.sWall,' she said; {" kaIkalate the first
thing I'd do would be to buy the twins doll
| apiece"
''And then 2" he urged.
81 might get An easy-chair for poor Miss
Bunnit," she mused
Hang Mrs Bunnit.'' he exclaimed I
meant, what would you buy for yourself?
Il dunno, u replied Miss lilly "There's
jist one thing would do I'd buy old Pete
from Mister Otis. It's been on my mind now
long enough but the old skinflint won't sell
him for less'n $40, an he might as well ask
so as ~, for ali the chance there'd be o. me
payin it"
"Old Pete," echoed the man. "Who is
old Pete ?"
Hes the patientest old horse ever you
seelo cried Miss Tilly. 'SHe belongs to
Mister Otis, who lives next door 10 me, an
the way he licks that pore creetur would wear
you out. | declare if l could give Mister
Otis one good lickin' for all have seen that
pore old horse stand, I'd jest enjoy it."
And then," insisted the stranger; what
after that?''
II deciare!' laughed Miss Tilly, " Tm
stuck There amt blessed thing l could
lay my hands on that need-unless it might
be a new bunnit. / suppose" she added
doubtfully, '' the folks may be little ashamed
of this one; but the hens did lay go pore this
year. an / amt had much cash for spendin'."
Her eyes rested on the hole in the elbow of
his overcoat, now particularly prominent.
. If really had that money-whch is sup
posin' the biggest lie / could-I know where
Is OF them dollars would 60"
''Where would they go?" persisted the
man.
Straight into q new overcoat for pore
man that's not 10 mile away" replied Miss
Tily.
Is that all?" He spoke disappointedly
"Ieuess it is, she replied; an wouldn't
be perticlar about maxim it SIS. / dunno
but a new hat would be sensible. thing to
L
folks might be sOt up to see you look picked
up bit."
g / haven't any folks" answered the old
man; land they wouldn't cure if 1 had.
What's your name?"
Miss Tillys head was stretched half out of
the window.
'' / knew iti" she cried. " Uncle 'Riah's
there! Got out o. bed to come! OhLyou
asked me my name-Matilda Pearsall What
d YOU want to know for?"
The old man scribbled few words rapidly
on piece of paper which he took out of his
pocket-boolS Miss lilly was half way down
the aisle before he succeeded in catching
her.
my! my!" she exclaimed TO think
never said goOd-by. You see, I'm so worked
up seen' them twins an Uncle Uriah, that
don't jest know what Pm a-doin'."
She held out thin hand apologetieally.
'Take this," said the man. Its got my
name OH it. Take care of it."
He thrust the piece of paper into her open
PALM and with gruff "Good-day, ma'am,"
disappeared through the door at the other end
of the car Miss Tilly deposited the paper i'll
her reticule and entirely forgot it.
Later on. however, when she was sitting in
the trim little parlor in her sisters house,
with the twins rummaging through her bag
for the DrOmised candy one of them pulled