Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-07-13


chuckled the old woman. "He's n
travelin' photographer that's what
he is. And he don't mind cold meat a
bit. and he says my riz bread and
cookies is Jest what his mother used to
bake, and he's jest as reg'la with his
five dollars q week as the Tuesday
mornin' comes round. What's that
you've got in the basket, Kitty-a
cat ?''
"Oh, mol" Kitty answered, spring
ing up with sudden recollection. 'It's
fowl, Mrs. Habits Old Lantern,
the speckled Dominique hen. They
couldn't find her when Eli Wardwell
bought in all tho others for two dol
lars and quarter and some Of them
real White Spanish, too. So, when
she came clucking and cawing up from
the swamp, the auctioneer said I
might keep her. Such a gentle old
thingl She used to eat out of grand
mas hand. may have her here,
Mrs. Hall?"
"Of course you can," assented the
good old woman. "Mine is all Black
Top-knots, but guess they'll agree,
and she'll pick up her living somehow
round the yard. Now come in and
have some dinner. I've got billed
pork and dandelion greens to- lay.
Mr.. Higgs he amt to hum, an it's
kind of scrappy dinner, but there's
plenty for You an me. Set down and
eat all we can. There's some folks
finds fault with dried apple pies, but
[ guess this ones pretty tol'able good.
I put plenty o. fennel seed in it."
And when Kitty Cotton had eaten
and drunk of the humble fare, she was
better able to her story to Mrs. Hall
how the old homestead, with all its
outfittings, had been sold to satisfy
the accumulation of debt which had
been rolling up since her mothers ILL
| ness.
81 surely must find some way of
earning my bread" said the girl. eff
only knew which way to turnp'
'It's pity, amt It," said Mrs.
Hall, industriously shaking the table
cloth out at the back door, greatly to
| Old Lantern satisfaction, "that Obed
Stilton amt back from sea? Second
mate he is now, amt he?"
Kitty colored deeply, and dropped
Glowing blue" cup on the table,
fortunately without its sustaining any
| damage.
cit would make no difference to me,
whether he was at home or not" said
she.
Mrs. Hall stared.
'Why, amt ye keepin' company?"
she bluntly demanded.
Kitty shook her head, and stopped
to pick up a two-tined fork-vain de-
vice--to hide her blushes.
"No," said she, Eve never were en-
gaged!"
.'But he used to come to your house
Sunday evenings, steady?"
"That was nothing"
"Obed Stilton was real smart fell
low," observed Mrs. Hall, rs she
spread a red and black table-cover on
the table.
Kitty cried good deal the first
night or two of her sojourn at the
Widow Halls, but youth and health
are cheerful elements, and presently
she began to smile again, especially at
the gradually revealed oddities of Mr..
Benjamin Higgs, the boarder.
"Isn't he homely?" said she to her
hostess.
"Well-no not Jest exactly home
ly," said Mrs. Hall. II don't deny
that his nose is little to one side,
and his eyes amt n pretty color, nor
his teeth amt exactly reg'lar. OF
course he amt got profile like Obed
Stilton had. But he's got a dreadful
pleasant face, especially when he
smiles, and he is handy bout the
house. He whitewashed my buttery
ceiling better'n old Jubal Jones
could'a done it, and the way he fixed
the stove-oven can't be beat"
'Do you think he is young''
"'Bout thirty, l guess.
"Oh, he must be forty"
"There's older folks than forty in
the world, said Mrs. Hall. young
people, they don't think nobody has
no business to live arter they're six
teen years old. But they find out
afterwards.
One day, however, Kitty WHO had
gone to the barn after eggs-came
crying back to the kitchen.
"Ill never speak to that man
again !" sobbed she-''never Oh, l
hate him-I hate him u
Claws sake, child, what's the mat
ter?' cried Mrs. Hall.
sold Lantern is dead. / saw him
shoot her !"
"Mr. Higgsl Shoot Old Lantern? p
"She sat there right on her nest in
the haymow, under the big beam
where the sunshine comes in. She
knew me, for | saw her black eyes
sparkle like glass beads, just as they
always do when she catches sight of
me aud then-and then--oh, | never
can forgive him T. walled Kitty.
"But never heerd no gun go of, "
said Mrs. Hall.
And at the same moment Mr.. Higgs
cane in, beaming and exultant.
'I guess | did it that time" said
he.
Eftty c,ull autv Aavh nm auury