Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-10-08


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"Nhat do you think ?" brcathless-
ly exclaimed Mrs. Roberts, as she
rushed into the presence of the isis
ters.' "As ! was on my way here |
overlook Mrs. Hopkins and our new
minister, and when she left him at
the postoflice heard him say he
would call on Der tonight, and that
she must not forget her promise ~
sThere, / told you sol" shrieked
Miss Simpkins, while several women
inquired
"Wbat did she say. Mrs. Rob
erts 20
why, that she would surely keep
her word, and she has gone off up
Oak street with little Elsie Jones,
and | came right over here. / should
have been earlier, but | have had
company al the afternoon. But I'm
beat about Widow Hopkins.
The pert thing and she nigh on
to 50 if she's dayl' spitefully re-
marked Miss Simpkins.
An hour later Mrs. Hopkins,
bright and rosy, appeared at Aunt
Nabby's.
"There, I'm here OF lastl" she
exclaimed, laughing. Dear me! if
only time would wait for poor NOR
tails to do all we. would like to do"
"Why, what has kept you so late,
Sister Hopkine?" inquired Miss
Slmpkins, glanoing significantly at
the others.
sob, l have been making sick
calls" returned the widow, and then
she proceeded to relate her days ex-
perience.
"Poor thing! You must be all
tired out" said Aunt Nabby, SYM
pathetically, while contemptuous
sniff from Miss Simpkins was plain
ly audible.
AS darkness approached the sew
ing was put aside, lights appeared,
and the young people and some of
the male members of the society be-
gan to arrive, among them the new
minister. The young folks talked
in subdued tones, and those of the
sisters" who had turned the first
and second corners and were still
sin the market" smoothed their hair
or adjusted their neck.gear as he en-
tered the sitting room.
The Widow kept her word and in.
troduced him to Aunt Nabby, and as
soon as the opportunity came she
brought them together in corner
and related the story of Elder Pot
ties sister as told TO her by him.
"Well, l declare r exclaimed
Aunt Nabby while her eyes dilated
With astonishment. Is it possible
that you are named Pottle? have
heard Harriet speak SO many times
of her brother James, who was
studying for the ministry, but ]
didn't think you were he. And
poor, dear Harriet I heard of her
death, but tell me all about her
Elder Pottle.n
Then followed long conversation
between Aunt Nabby and Che minis
ter, while some OF the sisters eyed
them furtively, now and then look
ing vindictively at the Widow Hop
kins, who hustled about with smile
and pleasant word for all. Miss
Simpkins was sorely puzzled, and
| mentally declared that she never was
SO beat in all her life.
When the evening was over Elder
Pottle declared that Aunt Nabby
Brown was really the dearest old
maid he ever saw, and to show his
gratitude to Mrs. Hopkins for her
part in the affair he escorted her
home, which act so enraged Miss
Simpkins that she vowed vengeance
on the widow, and made up her mind
that matters had gone far enough,
and that she would tell the elder the
very next day just what she thought
of it.
Soon it was noticed that Elder
Pottle declared that Aunt Nabby--
in fact, as Miss Simpkins expressed
it, great deal oftener than he did
on anybody else. And indeed those
were happy evenings which he spent
during the winter at the old farm
house. And when summer came and
it was announced that there would
he a wedding at Miss Abbie Browns,
Miss Simpkins declared it was sim
ply scandalous, while Widow Hop
kins laughingly maintained that it
was she who made the match.
Aunt Nabby's step grew lighter
and her smile brighter, and one day,
in conversation with the Widow
Hopkins, she exclaimed:
"And to think that / should marry
Harriet Politics. brother James and
settle right down here in Green
wood I declare it does beat alllp
You are making q great
mistake in not sending for 10 cent
trial size of Ely's Cream Balm. 1t
is specific for catarrh and cold in
| the head. We mail il or the IN