The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-02-12

older ones seemed. In their hearts, to
share the feeling OF Tom and little Ru-
fus. that the only form of approach 10
Miss Pigeon was bean-slinger in hand
The valentine wasn't returned: but
nothing seemed 10 come OF il. The Bells
Jane heard from Miss Pigeons Jane
that her mistress had neuralgia. One
day after March had come, and a blue
bird had been seen To alight upon the
hlgh-top swceting tree, as Christine
came along the garden path there come
shrill, imperative voice through the
knothole in the fence.
If you have any more OF those
leaves, stuff them through the knot
hole; if you have the whole diary throw
il over the fence"
OF course Christine wasn't going TO
do that with the diary that seemed SO
precious; but she did send il around to
Miss Pigeons door by old Jeremy, the
gardener, for none of the boys would
go.
1t was about a week after that man
made, under Miss Pigeons direction. a
new seat in the crotch of the apple tree
"a seat that was delightfully."- comfort
able for back that wasn't straight.
Miss Pigeon seemed to know just how.
When it was finished she went up and
examined it and tried it. Then she
called to Christine, who was sitting on
the porch.
I'm a cantankerous old woman.
was born cantankerous," she said. but
there's your seat!"
No one at the Belfry knew what to
think of Miss Pigeon; it was little Ru-
fus' opinion that n good fairy had
tapped her with her wand and turned
her into something else, and he was
much disappointed to find, on peeping
through the knothole, that she looked
just the same.
Its delightful" Christine said. slow
ly. But it isn't exactly what meant
by the valentine" she added, to her
self.
But few days after, what Christine
had meant by the valentine really did
happen! Sometimes things that seem
too good to he true do come TO pass in
this world. Miss Pigeon mounted thu
high buggy in which she drove herself
and went down to Pequanket; when she
came back Mr.. Pigeon was with her!
Tommy discovered it first as they drove
into the yard and raised n shout. AL
| the young Bells rushed pell-mell into
the apple tree and dropped from its
branches into Miss Pigeons orchard.
| esen Peggy who was lG-shcuting ant
| laughing and crying all together. They
| quite forgot Miss Pigeon until her harst
| voice broke into the whirlwind of greet
| ings: with all its harshness there wa:
a queer little quaver in il!
"IIe's come back and he's going Il
stay," she said. at is he that belongs
here and not |. If you're born with 1
cross-grained disposition you've got tc
get over it when you're young or you'll
| have TO have more'n a ten-foot fence be
tween you and other people! I'm going
back to nursing people in hospital
yes, | can, though you wouldn't think it
and they like me. There's n doctor
| know who has invented n new con
triyance for-formalIing bac ksstraight'
| her voice really broke now, but she re
covered herself instantly; "theyr'
| easier 10 straighten than crooked dis
positions I'm going TO send ope here
and l want her to try it," She nodded
| toward Christine, and then she turned
away suddenly. Little Rufus ran afte,
Independently keeping his hand on the
bean-slinger in his pocket. (They had
discovered at an early stage of the ac
cniaintarce that IL Miss Pigeon had 4
weakness il was n terror of the bean
slingcrs.) Are you really just the
same? Didn't a good fairy turn You
into something else?' he demanded
breathlessly.
Miss Pigeon turned and looked down
upon him. her strong features working
YES. she did," she answered, gruffly
Did she tap you with her wandT
pursued little Rufus. eagerly, delighted
with this confirmation of beliefs that
were scorned in his home circle.
"Shc didn't tap me with wand,
said Miss Pigeon; "she sent me a valen.
tinel''-Sophie SWEET. in y. Y. Indie
pendent.