Middletown transcript., 1897-05-29

faded little old lady, with soft eyes and
pathetic droop to the corners OF hel
mouth. These anxious curves were &C.
centrated now as she dropped her knit
ting in her lap and glanced up littlt
deprecatingly.
81 hadn't thought on it." sht
commenced.
swell, you jess oughter," broke in
her companion volubly. "IL's a sin and
shame TO let money 20 to waste al
b'longs ter you by good rights. Why
there's Seth Sawyer, claimed he he'd 9
gunshot in the knee-hed doctors
certificate made out an all that; bul
Farmer Jones sez he got it pilferin' a
hen-roost-he was with him when he
done it. OF course he can't come for
ward and testify fur he'd be defamin'
NV his own character. An Hannah
Pratt-she that wuz a Winslow-drawi
her stipend, reg'lar: though every one
knows Stephen Pratt never went inter
the war tell 'tWuz nigh on over, an he
died in his bed at his allotted time. No
one can say that of your claim, Pene-
lope. It's all open and above board"
A tender smile wreathed Miss Pene-
lope's lips as she lifted her eyes to the
opposite wall, where sword and knap
sack were suspended.
"Yes, Nathan, he fit in three battles
-Shilo, Manassay and the Wilderness.
He waz took ter the hospittle arter the
last one, an that's the only bit NV in
formation could scrape up. Couldn't
make out even where he wuz buried.
Corporal Brent he brought me them
things back; found EN- on the battle
field"
A tear stole down the Wrinkled
cheek.
'"Twuz grievous loss, Sister Pene-
Iope. That's the way look at it.
You've give life to your country, an
now it owes you recompensation."
Mrs. Bracket leaned back after this
statement, and looked at her friend as
if defying her to deny the allega-
tion.
The bereaved widow shifted uneasily
under that steady gaze. The remark.
able flow of Language confused her.
sit never seemed zactly right" she
ven tured timidly. Elder Little use
ter 60 on awful 'gainst insurance.
Pears tel, NE this is 'bout the same
thingp"
Elvira Bracket shifted contemptu-
ously.
"Sakes alivel The quicker you get
| that notion out yer head the better.
You don't hear no sech talk nowadays
in the pulpit. Times hev changed. Be-
! sides, you've got fer look out fur your
self. Think Nv hayin' ten dollars a
month, sides the arrears. Uncle Sans
| a good purvider."
Miss Penelope made no rejoinder to
this. but turned the heel of her stock
ing meditatively. Perhaps awe of Ell
vira Brackett restrained her from an
open expression of her views, for Mrs.
Brackett's mother was Peterson. To
have emanated from such a stock was
brand of nobility. One of the Peter
sons had borne the title of Circuit
Judge; all had heid offices of respecta-
bility.
Mrs. Brackett's sisters husband was
a prosperous plumber. They lived in
the city, and Elvira paid a yearly visit
to her kinfolks, returning from each
trip in an elevated and instructive
frame of mind. Elvira was a born
manager; so now, when she leaned for
ward with an air of settled determine.
tion, Miss Penelope sank back in htr
chair with much the same sensation of
q fly in SPIDERS web.
Its all very WE'LL" Elvira vent on,
in an emphatic tone of voice, ''to be
Independent when you're young an
spry, am can look out for yourself, but
now with old age staring you in the
face, it's a sliglitin of Providence
that what it bel We was talkin it
over at tie sewing circle last We'd
ensday. Hannah Jtwett said she heard
you hadn't been to meetin' since last
July cause you hadn't decent pair nv
shoes to wear. Now Miss Penelope,
you know what the Bible says about
hidin yer talents In napkin. If fhavin
q husband tibet ct 10 three battles isn'i
a taent don't know what isl''
Elyira's arguments were not exactly
logical. but Miss Penelope had not the
courage to refute them, and so she
| went on:
81 tell you now, / have an idea. July
Ann has sent pass for me to come on
an' visit her. / can't get of, seein it's
| jess preseryin' time, but you might al
well take it an' go to Washington
July AIMS sister-in-law keeps board
ing-houss there an she'll take you in.
I'll write her to meet you an shell
tell you how to 20 'bout Il. That's jusl
the very thingl III find some one
going on from Northboro ter put yor
in care Of. am nm give you q chance
70 see the CapitiI, too--it's o powerful