The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-29


up?"
turrible worried about, Maria" But
he went, with the protesting tongue
and the prompt legs of Il man who has
a many-careful wife.
At Miss Drusilla's everything was
dark and quiet. He waited Il moment: {:
then he knocked. 81 expect Drusilly'll
call me q fool for my pains" he NUT
tered
The answer came in groaning voice:
"Oh. is that you, Mr.. DUNN"
1T is
I'm dretful glad you've come. But
you'll hev to let yourself in. i can't stir
without it's KILN of me-"
why, Miss Drussily. how you talk
What's the matter with YEP"
"Oh. dear me. I've fell an expect I
shan't never get up again. You must
come right in"
How can 1? Amt the house all
locked up"
NO, it ain't, and that's how--Well.
never mind. You go round to the shed
door, Mr.. Dunn
Having entered by that way, he soon
heard about the misfortune. Miss
Drusilla's cat had not come back in due
season the evening before.
Tommy. he knows when it rings
nine o'clock. an he generally puts fol
home. But last night he staid out. an
then come to the shed door a-cryin',
an l got up to let him in. 1 was kind
o. dazed, wakin' up so sudden. an for
got to bolt the door again. I'd just got
back into bed when / thought of it, an
started right out to fasten up the door.
] expect ! ketched my foot on that
braided rug. for ! fell all in a heap An
here be. An guess my hips broke"
she finished dolefully.
The neighbor looked about him for
an idea of comfort. "'Twas a mercy
you was caryyin' taller candle instid
o. one O. them kerrysene lamps"
Yes. / s'pose / might have been
burnt up an the house, too-an' l do
know but 'twould have been just as
WELL" rejoined Miss Drusialla, who did
not care to have the silver lining Of
such a new and dismal cloud turned
forcibly out for her inspection.
So it was that Miss Drusilla Brock
way, who had always been the most
active and independent woman in the
township. became bedridden and help
less. For a time. the neighbors took
turns in caring for her; for though
she was little loved, she was respected
on account Of her virtues. which We're
genuine If grabbed. BY and by charity
cooled with custom: people began to
think that they had none too much time
for their own affairs: and finally it was
suggested to her that she ought to have
q housemate. Because there can't
nobody, however glad an willin'. tend
out all the time, an you ought to hev a
woman right where you can call on her,
night or day." Mrs. Dunn told her.
Miss Drusilla took kindly enough
from this good friend what she would
have scorned and resented from an
other. II guess you're right. Mis- Dunn.
I'm a turrible trouble to folks an |
can't expect but what they will gredge
what they do for me. Blood's thicker
than water: an I'm goin' to write to
some relations of mine to come.
don't expect they will, but can't do no
morn ask 'em to-"
So. with unused and stiff penmanship,
Miss Drusilla wrote a letter to her
nephew, Holman Brockway, in Massa-
chusetts. asking him to come with his
family to live In her house, which would
be his after death. She possessed a
farm, mostly run out. a man could
improve the land. She thought 1t
would pay him to come.
This letter was total surprise to the