Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-09-20

the room, that had grown so still one
could hear the ticking of the clock.
fWimmen," said the switchman,
slowly, don't git no credit for bein'
brave and goin' through things count
of what they thinks is their dooty. Ny
wife thinks it's hern to live here count
Of me, when she left good home back
east. That little woman in there Is
larnin' the woman natur' of endurin'
for man; but where my wife 'ud live
and make comfort outer it, she'd jest
lie down an die a-frettin'."
"You've read her right" said Miss
Patten, solemnly, "an' I'm goin' to
take her home with me. She amt goin'
no further west, nor to no lone farms
IN mountain valleys, which was nearly
the death of her afore."
Oliver glanced at the clock, then alb
ruptly said good-by. He left no mes
sage for Mrs. de Restaud, nor did Miss
Patten ask him for one. She was
rigid in her ideas of what was proper,
and he respected her for it.
"P'raps," she hesitated, you'd like
to see the baby. 1 could fetch him out
without waking him"
"No," Oliver smiled; "a city bach
elor, as you called me once, Miss Pat
ten, has no interest in infants. IL
think 1 should be rather afraid Of
him."
He and the doctor walked up and
down beside the track, waiting for the
train. The latter had his big pipe but
not his lowered dressing-gown. His
embroidered cap was at the retreat for
invalid pets Skye had not chewed it,
Mrs. Mipny asserted, Tor she meant to
keep 1t forever, especially now, as he
was such dear man.
"She-she-likest the baby?" Oliver
asked, awkwardly, as he lit cigar.
~ am sorry to say she does not man
ifest any rapture at all think she
was more delighted to see her dog. l
always have the idea when see her
with young Francois that she is lit
tie girl playing with her doll. She Is
afraid of him If he cries, and means be-
cause he has black eyes and looks like
the Frenchman."
"Well," said Oliver, smiling sadly,
''the chapter is ended. l have turned
page in my life's story. She will be
safe and sheltered now, and l delegate
to you my position as adviser. In the
next elopement Mrs. Minny makes you
must be the assistant. There is my
train; and so good-by."
Oliver thought the whole affair
would pass from his mind, especially
as DR. John on his return said they
had gone to Maine and Mrs. Minny
had never mentioned him; but one day
q month from that time at the
switchman's house a letter came to
oliver He looked at the scrawly
superscription, the post-mark New
castle, and he knew well Hannah Pat
ten did not attempt an Italian hand.
He smiled with pleasure: it was good
to be remembered after the long
silence, and he had braved many
dangers for that ungrateful young
woman, the worst an encounter with
her frenzied husband.
DEAR Mr. OLIVER: To think you were so
near and could not see you cried when
they told me. am not going to pay your money
back yet until I get my own from Mr.. de
Restaud. We have put our case In the hands
OF On old lawyer here who was college-mate'
OF my dear dead father, and he thinks ought
Restaud SO. We watch the baby closely, for
fear Henri will try to steal him. have never
thanked you for helping me run away. How
good you worel think OF you often; but Aunt
Hannah will never speak OF you, and folks here
think 1t is dreadful to be divorced. They say
am she that married Frenchman-I suppose
they think he Is from Canada-and is going
into the courts TO get separation from him.
For no fault OF mine must be disgraced- Even
Aunt Hannah admits never ought to go back
TO him: 1t would not be safe.
II had nice time at that dogs home;
II was funny place. with the incest old dogs
and cats. Skye had q grand tune One dog
was fifteen years old and had TO be fed on
Cruel Still. think taking care OF poor ami
mails is better than theosophy and those fads,
and Boston does have some real good freaks
expect some day they will build an old maids
home. You never saw so many old maids as
there are there. Mrs Blinn has seven sisters
In one OF those Newton towns-there's an end
less chain OF them-and not one Of them-the
sisters, not the towns-ever had beau
please do not dislike me, or at the mention
OF my name put on your naughty look, as you
did when / said things offending your nice
sense OF what womans conversation snould
be- and write me one little letter to say you
are still my good friend shall never ask you
TO help me again; 1 do not need II: so you VIII
be safe in continuing acquaintance. Aunt
Hannah does not know ! have written you i
get too many moral lectures anyway from her,
for she says 1 must educate myself so my son
win have q high opinion Of me He docs not
bother about me- but divides his attention
principally in blinking at her and the lamp,
with a leaning towards the light That last is
naughty, is II not
always your friend (as the doctor calls mel.
THE TRoUBLEsoNE LADY"
The wound was not healed, Oliver
thought bitterly. Why of all women
must he care for this one and