The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-04-17
asInmmIne.s dl.lIaellr repealed

planned MIRA Hardy "liattio, my
child. do wish you wouldn't talk
slaugi"
Hattie disappeared with a little
breeze Of laughter, while Mrs. Prod
git resottled her spectaoles aud Mt
tered deep groan.
mark my words. Mary Ann" said
she, 'that girl will come to no good
endp
"Hattie does not moan any harm,
Cousin Prodgitt, mildly pleaded MIRA
Hardy, a. she knitted on.
While Hattie, on her errand OF
mercy, went from house to house in
the darkling lanes aud crowded tene-
ment districts, leaving an ounce of
green tea here and a lecture there, a
bottle Of Recommendation by a sick
bed, a little rose-scented SNUFF in a
poor old woman's hand, a picture
book on the pillow Of some little
child, a wooden toy in the delighted
grasp of a skeleton.like infant, a gem
tie admonition in the ear OF a wilful
factory girl, and a word Of comfort to
encourage a despairing widow.
She could be gay and flippant
enough when "Cousin Prodigy" leased
her, but here she seemed to have as
sumod a new personality sf dignity
and sweetness
Old Milo Reneau's was the last
house on her list She glanced anxi-
ously at her watch as she went in.
'Past Ave." she said to herself. 81
must make haste or the dear little
nanny will be fretting."
The dusk had already darkened the
little room, where lay the patient old
sufferer from rheumatism. 1t was
always neat and clean there, but in
Hattie's eyes it seemed more squalid
and poyerty-stricken than usual to-
night. As she came around the cor
ner of the door, she perceived a young
man sitting at an uncovered pine
table-a figure strongly silhOuetted
against the window.
"Ahl" said she, the spirit of right
eous aspiration rising up in her heart,
$50 I've caught you at last in the very
midst of your evil practicesl"
The young man rose hurriedly to
his feet
81 beg your pardon" he began,
but the tide of Hattie's indignation
was not thus easily stemmed.
Don't beg my pardon" said she,
"Beg the pardon of sosiety--of pub
lie opinion-of everything else which
you are outraging by this shameful
behavior of yours. Apparently yol
have neither pride nor self-respect
left-now take my advice; turn over
a new leaf. Give up your evil prac
tees, and set yourself to earn de
cent living. Look me in the eyes
young mani" she added severely
"Tell me if you are not ashamed o
yourselfI"
To all appearances, the culprit wa
stricken dumb. Involuntarily hi
raised pair of clear, honest gra,
eyes to Hattie's face according .
orders, but he did not speak a word
good, bad or Indifferent.
"He's not bad looking" though
Hattie; "but l must not neglect tn
chance of making an impression.
am surprised at your she adde,
aloud. "a great, able-bodied fellow
like you settling down as disrep
utable incubus on your friends am
, relatives. Don't you know that yo
, are the talk of the neighborhood
{ Get up-go to work Never let m
5 see you idling here again No; don
: answer me. 1 never enter into argu
ment with the people in my district
| Logic is useless in case like this"
, She hurried to old Milo, who, bein
8 stone-deaf, looked smilingly on dul
, ing this brief but energetic monologu,
as if it had been recitation froI
: Shakespeare.
"Here's some extract of beef 70
you, Mr.. ReneauP' she shouted
|, his ear; land tumbler of lemc
+. iellyl I hope your lumbago is better
I'm sorry l cant stay a little long,