Middletown transcript., 1895-02-09

usW~Ea7 snoss rass'as 'ss s'sa'S s1'''
an there was an amused look in he
dark eyes, as she answered, "If 20
are Miss Martha Bascom, then be.
Tht other woman drewa long breat
of rel,et. Twas SO afraid" she said
"thst something would happen to hen
der your coming. Now, just as sool
as the cars are out of sight, I'll brin,
around the horse. and we will 60 home
It's Deacon Kinds horse, and he
dreadful afraid of railroads."
Disappearing behind the station TO
moment, she presently came leading
a very metk-looking animal. She hell
him by the bit, ut arms length, ant
seemed very much afraid he woulf
step on her. II was quite evident Mar
tha did not feel at home with horses.
The small trunk was placed in thu
back Of The open wagon by the STA ion
master, and, climbing up beside hei
driver The sbnarder. whose name wa,
Marcia Ames, presently found herself
riding dowD'a most b-anl iful countI,
road.
1t har been warm June day, az,
The sun was still hit on he little depo
platform, but ss they turned into The
shady p th"ay, cool breeze mel trer
laden With all the fragrance of th,
pines and other sweet hors Of III.
woOd. The wild roses made plnk NJ
the hed9ss.< OBone side Marci. SAW
meadow. white With daisies. like sub .
mer snow and when Martha Bascpn,
on meeting carriage, turned out II
1T 1t o. by. her wheels crus; I'd = !.
mini that grew by he read ide, a.id u,
SIoug ftaaIapce camt a. Marcis t.
\ aelcnm-. She sighefi with ce,niti.
81 am Wlad ansa efrd tnsi queer a,-
vertisement," she said 20 herself. ''aud
will stay here all summer, if things
are hearahle"
"What a lovely ruan!' she said
her companion.
"Ain't it?'' replied Martha. "Snme-
times when Pm worried most to death,
walk down the depot road, as we call
it, aud my cares all fade away, and
things don't seem worth minding."
Miss Ames locked at her. "a char-
acter," she thought, Sand one that
shall like 10 study"
She saw straight figure that dis
d. ined the support of the back of the
seat care-worn face with grave gray
eyes and smiling mouth that did not
seem to belong to the rest of the face.
She. was dressed In brown checked
gingham, as clean Us possible; you
could see the folds where it had been
ir0ned. She wore q shade hat with
strings, which we're tied in a pink bow
under rather square chin.
She looked up and caugh' Marcia's
glance. f
II hepe,n she said, "you won't
laugh at my hat; I cart bear bunnets.
l know hats are for girls; but l put
strings on this, and thought they
would take the curse off,"
"I'm not a GIRL" said Marcia pleas
antly, and have hat in my trunk.
l hope you wont insist ON putting
strings on it,"
"Ohp' replied the other, "you can
wear what you have mind t.; don't
care"
"You need not be surprised, she
went on, "if folks look pretty sharp al
you. You see, l didn't tell anybody
was going to tske boarder, and they
don't know who you can be. I hope
you will be eontented | haven't got
much room, but can give you a good
bed. And pve bought hammock for
you. All the summer boarders ever
heard Of liked to set in Them"
And Marcia assured her she loved
hammocks, and did not care for room,
as she intended to live out of doors
most of the time.
People did stare when they met them,
and presently the horse was brought to
a standstill by Martha before the gate
Of low red house on the side of hill,
and she told her companion they had got
home. "You 60 in the front door,"
said she, land will get somebody to
help me out with your trunk, and carry
the horse home. Go In and turn to
the left. 1 won't be but minute"
Marcia followed directions, and
found herself in a large front roonS
The floor was painted yellow. and was
so clean it shone; various worn places
were trying to hide under braided
mats, and everything was spotlessly
clean. Between the two front win
d0ws table was set for two. "Her
dining-room," she said to herself, cor
her Kitchen" as she caught sight of q
small cook-stove. Aadoor opened be-
tween the side windows, and Marcia
saw piazza with q hammock in a
shady corner. There was q home
made lounge in one part of the room,
and she sat down on it, thinking she
would not remove her bonnet until she
went to her room.
And then Martha came in; she IN
tied her hat-strings which nervous
hands, - ~
II aoa't know how to tell you, = she