Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-10-31
WHEN MISS INEVITABLE
LOVED.
Dy Mrs. Julia Falrfas.l

was enough to make a splnstcr of the
loyeiiest girl ever born. When she left
school they bore her OF to Europe,
where, while her five years OF travel
gave her an excellent knowledge OF
men In the composite, man as an indi-
yiduai was entirely unknown TO her.
Then followed her fathers death and
her mothers long years of illness,
when all the daughters thoughts and
| energies We're concentrated on the sick
room. Finally, 10 complete the bands
which all her life had been forged TO
keep her In single blessedness. she
found herself AT thirty-fiye with very
comfortable fortune and not sign OF
a near relative with whom to share il.
30 that she hadn't even that question
able excuse OF becoming married for
the sake OF home.
III Mehitable had been poor girl she
might have proved a genius, for she
could paint so cleyeriy as 10 make her
rivals decidedly uneasy. But now that
she found herself a lonely woman,
with cruelty plain silver lines over her
temples and no longer any trace OF the
old.time dlmples where the sharp
knuekies now showed, her only re-
source was her palette. One thing she
stoutly refused 10 do. however. and
that was TO make a workship OF the
old family home She al last hit upon
the tiny brown cottage in the next
square, where all the surrounding.
towering residences looked In heartiess
| disdain on the tumble-down frame
house. which the owner, weak-yoiced
little old man. had chung TO desperately
/ In spite Of all his fashionable neigh
bOFs' scorn and the tempting offers Of
/ frantic real estate dealers, The old
man had been found dead one morning
that summer with the rising suns rays
trying TO warm his thin, white cheeks.
| Then al 1.-The residents On the square
/ sighed In relieved way and the
shrewd real estate men began to hunt
/ up the heirs with new proposals for
the valuable bil of ground. when 10
and behold. Il Was discovered that the
poor. dead owners win was being con-
tested by a prpdigal son, and therefore
the house would have 20 remain where
Il was until the question was settled.
/ again the fashionable square squlrined
and finiIered, for IL WAS evident that
40 one with any geif-mspect would
want 10 occupy the innocent cause Of
all this trouble while there was the
terrible possibility that some sacri'
leglnns lanndress might rent the little
brown house aud mar the whole land
kcape with her outrageous signs and
long lines Of haunting. shameless
sheets aud petiIcoais
Al this point OF suspended hostiliiies
Miss Hopkins conceived the brilliant
idea ~ transforming the disputed
property into a temporary studio. 20 be
asei until the long legal qnibile should
end. wheneat the entire neighborhood
was enthusiastically grateful. IL II
true that Miss Hettie, at which prin
appellation poor Miss Hopkins nevei
failed TO wrilhe, shIyercd 4 little at the
dust In the corners and lifted her I'M
naculn,c skirts gipeerly as she sur
,yeycA the rickety front steps.
''pring over enough hammers and
nails 10 make Il strong and safe" she
commanded the carpenter. whom sh'
had brought with her on her final visi
Of inspection.
"Mlnd you. safe" she repeated. as
loose board in the floor crcaked omni
ousiy beneath her tread.
"Put on plenty OF locks. too, and
as the smoky walls doomed up befor
lher IN all their bare. grim neglect. 10
PHYS sake. get II clean"
Wh.reat the man promised profusel
nud as he went on grinncd NJ th
memory Of the timid little spinsier'
terror OF anything not scrupulousi
neat
Al last Il was finished and Its ten
pnrary owner held a reception TO tn
residents Of the whole square. The
came. one and all. and went ava
fairly delighted Mt the result The lo'
walls had been done In an unbroke
rtay.rrccn and the floors laid soft an
| enooth with something shade darke
The poor. battered woodwork no
shone IN 4 dark rich red. while the Tin
! wiudnw.panes. formerly so pitifull
chsnp looking, were now voted quaii
a. degree. The chiniz-covere
, touches were iantallzlngly invitir
and the simple draperics added wonde
! rully 10 the artistic whole. An
throughout II all there had not bee
; done one thing 10 mar any of the o
houses original charm beyond u
necessary nails aud braces TO stcat
the poor little wreck.
For the first time in her life Mi
ietty had time to be really happy nj
the big family house up on the corn
rarely knew her except when she ere
hack there at dusk to her solitary sta
dinner and the undisturbed nights re
] IN the big. quiet chamber on the secoi
floor. Canynscs seemed fairly 10
from beneath her tireless fingers. NJ
pretty soon everybody came to reco
nize her works, because OF the inev
able old man, with y thin. pale In,
who always stood out against I
background Of the old. slanilng bros
house. When she one day showed !
last thing she had done the VIII,
square tlptoed, wet-eyed, out into :
street again, with many q penlte
c nromise never again 20 speak i'll OF
y battered little house and its erstwh
I. owner. For Miss Hetty's masterpie
nictured the dend, quiet face. there
a The early sun. with the shadows
u the morning.glory vines across
y hlrh. lined forehead and with Q
J. huge. rosy blossom trailing In Mt
y omen easement as though trying to lie
e eome OF its beautiful warmth to
y wasted, patient cheek beyond.
IL "Now that have so many, l thinl
= shall try to sell them. for the orpll
= ASYLUM on the next street Is III
" n Rtft Il tnl