The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-05-15
EBENSBURC9, PA. FRIDAY, MAY Is, 1896

up happily, and, giving him a kiss, said,
imperatively: "Now. Tom, you are just
IN time; put out your hands, sir,''
You dear old fellow-did Grace get
off? What kind of time did YOU have
at the reception? Tremendously
crowded? oh yes, that goes without say
ing. Oh, Tom, it's such a blessed relief
to have yoa here, all to myself We
won't be at home to anybody for
week, viii we? but just have some of
our pleasant little evenings together
Have some tea? Here, L can reach the
bell BY the way, I've had a letter from
Florence Drayton. She's been up to a
new prank-been playing her cheer-up
act down at your aunt Martha's She
must be an odd old soul from what
Florence says. You've never told me
much about her. When did you see her
last?"
Aunt Martha? Oh. not since was n
hoy. / really have rather neglected her
suppose. She was all right so long as
her daughter liyed-Jane. She taught
school down there and they got on very
well; but, speaking of old ladies'
"Oh, Tom," broke in HarrietI "you
seem to he excited on the subject of old
ladies' You're twisting your hands up
frightfully, and the silk is a mess. The
trees look bare yet over in the park.
don't they? Ishall be glad when spring
really comes. If it hadn't been for that
frosti"
"Apropos of the park" said Tom.
humbly, beginning again rather abrupt
1y, when / was coming through the
park this afternoon there was a poor
old woman sitting on n bench. really
felt sorry for her, she looked so help
less and tired"
''Oh, Tom" cried his wife. in despair.
do please be careful. You're knotting
he silk worse than ever. Be sorrY for
me You can't waste your pity on every
loafer you see on the park benches"
But, Hetty dear, this old lady wasn't
1oafer; she was just n respecta BILE old
country soul, 1 should judge. who had
lost her way in the city. / really felt
sorry for her.
why didn't you bring her home for
dinner?" said Harriet, a little sarcastic
ally. "Oh. Tom now you have done it"
Tom dropped the silk entirely in his
dismay, and gasped, half laughing in
spite of his anxiety: well. Hetty dear
I did-bring her-home with mel"
Thomas Burr Waltonl What have
and before Tom could grasp his wife's
purpose or change his mode, she was
downstairs, flying through the draw
ing-room into the library beyond with.
IS she afterwards confessed, a mixture
of fears that the poor old woman
might have fallen in a faint from weari-
ness, or that she might have made off
.,ith the -brac"
Poor old thinnf Sha hal not
but she was almost unconscious from
sheer exhaustion. Tenderly they lifted
her and carried her over to the divan in
the bow-window recess. She asked
feebiy for her bag. and moaned out
something about being 80 many people
there" and she was $50 tired"
why, l do believe it's the very same
old creature that walked ahead of us in
the procession at the white house, said
Mr.. Walton; yes, it's the same green
yeil,"
They looked for the little bag in vain
Il remember she held on to it when |
took her umbrella" said Tom. ''She
must have dropped it in the street with
out my noticing it,
Tom, dear" said Harriet, as they
went into the dining-room for dinner.
leaving the poor old SOUL fast asleep
in the library-"Tom, | think you'd
better send around to the other houses
in the place and inquire if they are
expecting old lady. You see, it's
only block; and it might save her
friends great anxiety"
but who is there on this block that
could possibly be expecting her?" Tom
asked, doubtfully.
Haraxar ha tl,at oo,,l.l
be no harm done, and finally said he
would step around himself. But he came
back within half an hour without hav-
ing learned anything about IAN old
lady-looking for some number on Park
place" Nobody was expecting her"
''She must have meant Park avenue
they decided; I'VE will try to find out
tomorrow; don't disturb her now"
And SO, with cushions carefully ar
ranged to shut off all draft, they left
her on the wide window couch for the
night The next day they had doctor
call in and a trained nurse from the hos
p;tal. The old lady was very ill, and
talked feverishly.
Mrs. Cleveland was there; but /
didn't have chance to shake hands.
They made us hurry by so fast But she
y
have made II presidents wife-wouldn't
have been mite too good for her 1
think 1 dropped my bag-dropped it
yes, there 1T Ks; and I'm too tired to
pick it up"
Suddenly Harriet, listening, turned
and ran downstairs to the library. from
which they had carried the old woman
that morning up to the guest ROOM
which Grace Maynard had just left. Il
wonder if she could have dropped it
here," was the thought that had come
to her.
She looked about, near the chair
where she had found the old woman on
the previous afternoon; and there,
surely enough-there was the little
black bag! She hesitated for moment,
then decided to open it.
Then she few upstairs to the dress
ingroom, where Tom was polishing his
boots
"Oh, Tom." she cried, half laughing,
but with a Choke" in her rvoice--'Tom,
it's Aunt Martha,''-N. V Independents
Long Telegraph Line
me longest telegraph line in the
world, above ground and witbout >
break. has just been COMPLETED IN
Australia, that land of lone, d;s....-