Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-25

The COMING OF THE BISHOP.

fringe of grasses along the encircling
banks.
What did she say? What did she
say? Can't somebody stop talkin' long
enough to tell me-" a thin voice QUA
vered. What with your pushin' and
SquigSlin' shoe-leather an h'istin'
your chairs for'ards. you made sAch q
noise Gabriel himself couldn't ha' been
heard. An Mis- North don't speak up
like Gabriel, She's good woman. but
she's a way d talkin down her throat.
nobody can understand a word lest
they set mighty snug to her. an | was
clear off by the door. What did she
say?"
She said-yes. Mis- Halves, a little
sugar an water ill stiffen it up like
NEWEST little. You might go 'thout
SWeetenin' in your tea an try. ] re-
member when -"
What did she say?''
"Sakes. Mis- Loveday. you gave me
sech start. grippin' me hathaway
like as not twill bring on my palpita-
tons"
Then you tell me straight off what
Mis- North was sayin' that YOU all
4f'tNtAI So tltklt'l ABOUT. Here We
been askin' an askin' as smiIin' as a
basket a. chips an the whole lot a. You
gabblin' like so many geese. an never
word to answer. Pears to NE YOU
forget who ! am, Amanda Siggery."
Its precious little chance YOU give
US to do that Mrs. Halves muttered,
you've been singin' the same tune
ever sence | came
Yes, | was here when YOU came. =
Almira Loveday retorted. her small
black eyes swapping angrily. an I'll
be here, | guess. when you 60. Ny
mother an father turned a hundred.
an Ia a grcat-aunt that saw one hun
dred and seven. But faint for me to
boast. If I take more intrest in the
doin's o. this house. that's only natural.
corsidern' it's been my home the long
est amt no upstart Of Il newcomer"
Them words don't apply to me. Mis-
LovedIy-"
Did | say they did? Only if the cap
fits YOU. Debby Halves. put it on. an
be thankful you amt called on to
Stiffen its strings with sugar an water.
As for You. Amanda, don't stand gapin'
like q fool, but answer me. What did
She say?"
"She said-she said-that divine
services tomorrer was To be conducted
by a bishop"
A little thrill ran through Almira
Loveday's small, wiry frame; she
Strengthened her bowed shoulders.
WHAT" she demanded. in an awe
struck whisper.
ITS a pity you won't have time to
send for an ear-trumpet," Mrs. Halves
sneered; "'thout it the bishop might as
well be any ordinary parson."
The old woman did not heed the in
terruption; the jibe if it We're heard
did not penetrate her understanding.
Her small, yellowish face quivered
with delight.
"A bishop" she said TREMENDOUSLY, "a
bishop" She threw back her head
proudly and beat her tiny clawlike
hands together. There was a cessation
Of noise throughout the room.
I've been in this house most a score
o years" she cried. II was the very
first to set foot inside its walls. Twas
a day in early spring. an ! drove up in
coach with my trunk on behind"
she fingered unctuously over the
words. IAN my furniture followed
after. in a covered cart. The matron-
not Mis- North. bless you, but a
woman she couldn't hold a candle to
there've been five matrons in my time.
an none, in my way o thinkin'. like
the first one Well there she stood on
the steps smiin' a welcome to me an
that Mis- Devreau, the founder Q this
house. was by her side. Yes. Mis- At
water you've jest come, so I'll tell you
that that marble busk in the parlor Is
a picter in stone. as you might say, o
Mis- DeVreau. but no more ike her
than chalk is to cheese. She was
tremendous hgh-colored woman an
that busk makes her out as pale as
death. She was standin' by the matron
with another lady who'd scarlet
noppy as big as cabbage in her
hunnit. | saw everything in flash as
came M the steps. an they all shook
hands with me an with the Reverend
H. Marsh. who'd brought me along.
we'd some tea an cakes in the parlor.
an, then we went upstairs an they
oa,e me nv choice o. rooms. I've lived
in that identical spot ever Sehce'
min, when for variety's sake. come
summers Id move lHtp 'il' -
,acont rooms an make as If was
nm, visitin' like | used to do long
back"
Cha naused. out Of breath. and looked
oro,nd at her audience: some oil the
.,.,,,,a,, tired of the familiar remlnls-
aancae we're exchanging little surrepu-
MN, o.bisners among themselves.
''U rant bishop" she said Sharply
...,nra.s never been a bishop here be-
s1 .,i we've had plenty o company;
eoI,,s from near an far have come 70
ai,I, RI us. both ministers an lays
81 ,rI'ara,s always been service IN lhe
me- hel sundays ever sense time was.
chap "noo+ the President himself came.
az o aortad a triumphant glance az
9ht ua' HAYES. who looked away ms
comiitedly' .oo.-dav. howsome-
an, saws Mis- Thompson the 'hen
ever. a. kind o. shy woman an
MAJ 49, n me to help her out. says sle.
iou ,. 3, Mis- Ioveday. she's peeh WIN
NJ sance the Home was opened
a. Nn. he put out his hand an ,; say o we,
An ne used 10 meet you, Mis- Love
l ~ r. thev don't show you proper at
day; Il ~ avs he. you jest send word TO
,9ll,ii an I'll MAKE EN- ~.
1 IN IL. IL N