Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-03-25

the highways and byways and giving
them in charge with joyful alacrityl 1t
was Aunt Hannah who plunged into a
crowd in Piccadilly when poor man,
seized with IN epileptic fit, was sur
rounded by ring Of sympathetic by
ISLANDERS. Elbowing her way through
them, she speedily seized him by the
collar.
'Epileptic fit, is it? I'll soon cure
youi"
Leave the poor man alone'' cried =
tender hearted bystander. "Don't you
see he's foaming at ths mouth?'
"Soapl" cried Hannah contemptu-
ously, and, 10 and behold, the maDssdid
come out of his very artistic fit, spat
out lump of soap and said:
'Let me 60, can't yer? Ye're either
the devil or old Hannahw
you're right" she said triumph
antly. ~ en- old Hannah, and, what's
more, if ever l catch you having fit
again I'll run you in."
Aunt Matte was the very reverse Of
this. Aunt Hannah always alluded to
her in her milder moments as poor,
dear Matte" and in her more vigorous
ones as "that fool, Matilda" Matilda
had never been on board in her life,
but If you looked down the subscription
list Of any missionary society you would
be sure to find her modest initials.
81 never put my full name" she said
meekly. "Hannah makes such fuss. !"
1t was to this household that Kenneth
brought Sally. The girl had fallen
asleep as they drove along. Kenneth
placed her on the seat, but Sally prefer
red lying on tho floor of the cab and
coiled herself up at his feet like dog.
When they got homo, Kenneth car.
ried the tired girl in. and, seeing that
she was not fit for the drawing room,
placed her on the mat in tho hall, where
she lay-a little heap Of rags, dirt and
tousled hair. As he entered the draw
ing room he heard Aunt Hannah read
ing in her very emphatic voice the sum-
mary of paper she intended to deliver
at charity organization conference
next day. 1t was entitled "Sixteen Rea-
sons Against the Present System of Out
door Parochial Relief" She had got as
far as the tenth. Kenneth's entrance
was hailed with joy by the long suffer-
ing Matte.
ooh, here you areP' she Cried "Ten
O'Clock, and you were to be here by o. !"
"I've brought home girl"
Aunt Hannah dropped tho 16 reasons
and calculated, WHAT" Matte start
ed. Those five words might mean so
much. With the calm that preoedes o
storm Aunt Hannah took off her glasses,
rubbed them slowly and waited, bat
further explanation was interrupted by
a scream from Aunt Matte:
"Why, Kenneth, you've got great
cut on your temple, and there is blood
OH your collar!'
"It's nothing. I've had a fight. A
brute was kicking a girl, and licked
him and brought the girl home. She's
only child
Aunt Hannah put her glasses into
their case with snap and recovered
her voice. Brought her home! Is this
house casual ward or night refuge?
Why, heaven bless US, the boys gone
stark. staring madP'
Matte had forgotten the girl and was
giving her mind to sticking plaster.
GIVE left her on the mat outside, "
added Kenneth apologetically. "She
isn't as clean as she might be-" Han
nah strobe to the door. The hall was
pretty with fresh flowers. ferns and
bright tiles. Its prettiness emphasized
the incongruity Of Sally's appearance.
She was lying where Kenneth had left
her. Her ono shoe was tied Oh with bit
of string; her frock was ragged, but the
rents did net show, for her skin was as
black as her frock. One frigh5fully bony
arm fell across her knee, and the other
hid her face.
Matte peeped from behind Hannah.
Hannah said authoritatively
sect up and be off with you'll" Sally
Immediately gave vent to such torrent
of bad language that the two ladies
rushed away and shut themselves in the
drawing room. Matte began to cry, but
Hannah seated herself rigidly in her
armchair.
"This is too much, Kernethp'
"It's getting awfully late, said Ken
meth. "Suppose we don't talk Of this
till tomorrow. I'll get Bridget to wash
Sally and make her up q bed some
where"
Keep that thing in the house and be
murdered in our beds and have the house
ransacked from top to bottom?'
"You can't turn her into the street at
10 O'Clock at night. Bridget can surely
give Sally some supper and blanket,
and we will lock her in the back
kitchen"
The aunts protested, but yielded.
Sally followed Kenneth down stairs like
a lamb, but fresh difficulties arose with
Bridget. They increased when Sally an.
nounced that she would tear anybody
limb from limb who touched her. But
when Kenneth said that he wished he1
to be clean and neat the child changed.
and she informed Bridget that "she
might boil her alive if the boss wished