The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-03-11

"Hattie does not mean any harm,
Cousin Prodgitt, mildly pleaded Mrs.
Hardy, as she knitted on.
While Hattie, on her erraud of
mercy, went from house to house in
the darkling lanes and crowded tene-
ment districts, leaving an ounce Of
green tea here and lecture there, a
bottle of eef-wine-a and-iron by a 81 ok
bed, little rose-scented snuff in
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, gem
tie admonition in the ear of wilful
factory girl, and word of comfort TO
encourage a despairing widow.
She could be gay and hippant
enough when cousin Prodigy" teased
her, but here she seemed to have as.
snmed a new personality of 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 five," 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 poverty-stricken than usual to-
night. As she came around the cor
ner of the door, she perceived young
man sitting at an uncovered pine
table-a figure strongly silhouetted
| against the window
"Ah !" 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 practices!"
The young man rose hurriedly to
his feet.
Il 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 you
have neither pride nor self-respect
left-now take my advice turn over
II new leaf. Give up your evil prac-
tices, 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 Of
yourself"
To all appearances, the culprit was
stricken dumb. Involuntarily he
raised apair of clear, honest gray
eyes to IIattie's face according to
orders, but he did not speak word,
good, bad or indifferent.
"He's not bad looking" thought
Hattie; "but must not neglect the
chance of making an impression. L
am surprised at you'll" she added
aloud. "a great, able-bodied fellow
like You settling down as disrep.
utable incubus on your friends and
relatives. Don't you know that you
are the talk of the neighborho ID?
Get up-go to work. Never let me
see you idling here again! No; don't
answer me. never enter into argu-
ment with the people in my district.
Logic is useless in case like this.
She hurried to old Milo, who. being
stone deaf, looked smilingly on dur
ing this brief but energetic monologue,
as if it had been recitation from
Shakespeare.
"Here's some extract of beef for
you, Mr.. Reneau!" she shouted in
| his cur huo tuinoicr VI ieiuOu
jelly! 1 hope your lumbago is better.
I'm sorry 1 can't stay n little longer
to-day, but I'll come again very soon.
And nodding and smiling good-by
to him, she hustled away.
She arrived none too soon on the
domestic-tapis.
Betsey had already broken one oi
the moss-rose tea-cups, and spilled al
the salad dressing, so that Hattie had
to go to work to make more.
Cousin Prodgitt had lost her spec
tacles, and Mrs. Hardy could not fint
her best lace frill.
Consequently she was only hal
through arranging her hair when Mrs
Hardy called up the staircase:
Harriet! Harrietl Mr.. Cray ha