The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-03-26
distinctly repeated

Hattie.
"She means visiting the poor and
seeking out cases of destitution," ex-
planned Mrs. Hardy. "Hattie, my
child, do wish you wouldn't talk
slnngp p
Hattie disappeared with a little
breeze of laughter, while Mrs. Prod
gift resettled her spectacles aud ut
tered q deep groan.
"Mark my words. Mary Ann, said
she, "that girl will come to no good
end!"
"Hattie does not mean any harm,
Cousin Prodgitt, mildly pleaded Mrs
Hardy, as she knitted on.
While Hattie, OF her errand of
mercy, went from house to house in
the durkling lanes AMI crowded tene-
ment districts, leaving an ounce of
green ten here and ecture there, O
bottle of beef ef-wine-anl-iron by Sit
bed, a little rose-scened snuff in a
poor old woman's hind, picture
book on the pillow # some little
child, wooden toy in the delighted
grasp of skeleton-like infant, gen.
tie admonition in the ca of wilful
factory girl, and wordof comfort to
encourage despairing widow.
She could be gay md fippant
enough when "Cousin Ppdgy" teased
her, but here she seemed to have as
snmed new personality of dignity
and sweetness.
Old Milo Rcneau's WIS the last
house on her list. She ganced anxl-
ously at her watch rs she vent in.
"Past five," she said to erself. 81
must make haste or the dear little
nanny will be fretting."
The dusk had already dekened the
little room, where lay the 'atient old
sufferer from rheumatism 1t was
always neat and clean thee, but in
Hattie's eyes it seemed moe squalid
and poverty-stricken thanusual to-
night. As she came aroundthe cor
ner of the door, she perceive young
man sitting at an uncoveed pine
table-a figure strongly silouetted
against the window.
"Ah!" said sue, the spirit right
eous aspiration rising up in hr heart,
$50 I've caught you at last in 10 very
midst of your evil practices!"
The young man rose hurrilly to
his feet.
81 beg your pardon" he began,
but the tide of Hattie's indication
was not thus easily stemmed.
Don't beg my PARDON" sa4 she.
"Beg the pardon of sosiety--ofpub-
lie opinion-of everything else 'hich
you are outraging by this shaeful
behavior of yours. Apparently you
have neither pride nor self-rqect
left-now take my advice; turn yer
a new leaf. Give up your evil 'ac-
tices, and set yourself to earn dde-
cent living. Look me in the es,
Young MANI she added sevely.
"Tell me if you are not ashamedof
!. yourself!"
To all appearances, the culprit es
stricken dumb. Involuntarily le
raised pair of clear, honest Gy
ewes to Hattie's face according o.
orders, but he did not speak wo,
good, bad or indifferent.
'He's not 'bad looking" thous
Hattie; "but must not neglect
chance of making an impression.
{ am surprised at you'll" she addi
aloud. "A great, able-bodied felloI
like you settling down as disrel
utable incubus on your friends an
relatives. Don't you know that yo
are the talk of the neighborhoo %
! Get up-go to work Never let n
see you idling here again! No; don
answer me. never enter into arg
ment with the people in my dlstrlc
| Logic is useless in case like this.
> She hurried to old Milo, who, beil
q stone-deaf, looked smilingy on du
, ing this brief but energetic monologu
! MS if it had been a recitation fro
Shakespeare.
"Here's some extract OF beef Il
You, Mr.. Reneaul" she shouted
!, his ear; ''and tumbler OF lem
Jelly I hope your lumbago is bette
I'm sorry can't stay little long
(. to-day, but I'll come again very soon
And nodding and smiling good
|, 10 him ahe bustled away