The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-24

| supposed 10 FlSlt.
She was matter-of-fact little
woman, on the shady side OF forty.
although, as to that, II she had chosen
to keep the fact to herself. no one
would have placed her at day over
thirty-flve.
She had come to New York to do
her Christmas shopping. There were
stores in her own town. good ones.
too, where she could have parted with
her Christmas spending money quite
pprof,tably, but home shopping was an
every day affair, while this New York
trip was the one dissipation CT her
quiet. correct, commonplace life.
| People who knew her we'll said
she liked to get away from home at
holiday time,-there were scenes and
memories to run away from-that
there was an untold story away back
IN her life somewhere. At all events,
the quiet little woman seemed unlike
her calm self as the holidays drew
near.
There were others, and they were
in the majority, who saw only the
Miss Rollins known by the world in
general, and smiled at the idea OF any
thing sentimental, declaring II there
had ever been anything out Of the
ordinary in her life she would not be
one to run away from 1t.
Be that as 1t may, for fifteen years
Miss Rollins had not missed her
fortnight's visit to the big city. She
always spent generous sum, too,
although she was not rich woman.
The economies she practlsed before
and after this annual outing were
entirely her own affair. There were
a dozen or more on her list, children
principally, who were always remem-
bered-their gifts were sent to them
from New York. giving them an
added value, perhaps. Miss Rollins
never returned till the holidays were
we'll over. She passed the last two
weeks of every year in what was to
her whirl OF gayety, then returned
to commence the year again In the
old regular, monotonous round, her
only outside. interests being the
weekly prayer meeting and the Sab
bath service. Occasionally, but by
no means regularly, she INDUCED in
a church sociable. AS the object OF
these affairs was to bring the peo-
pie together and make them ac-
quainted, she tried to live up to the
idea and do her duty in this respect,
SO she shook hands with the minister
and the deacons and certain OF the
members. always being especially
, careful to notice children and strang-
ers. After these occasions people
said to each other. "What a pleasant
lady Miss Rollins Isl" At other
times they merely remarked that the
little old maid was we'll enough in
her way. but something Of crank in
her desire to be left to herself.
This particular Christmas was Just
like the others to Miss Rollins, ex-
cept that her pocketbook was lighter
than usual; not that that made her
unhappy-it was merely one of life's
happenings and she always took them
as they came, but 1t necessitated some
fine calculating to accomplish her
purpose. Instead of taking Mrs
Bowen's second floor front. she con-
cluded the third floor hall room would
answer her purpose quite as we'll
Her little gifts must be selected with
great care, In order that they might
give the usual amount OF pleasure tc
the recipients, though possessing less
money value. AS to her own par-
ticular pleasures, for she always in
dulged in several visits to theater and
opera, why, that was easily disposed
OF. The front seats were not at all
necessary; she had always INDUCED
in them, to be sure, but that was nc
reason why she could not be happy
In back seat or even in the gallery
Her sight and hearing were perfect
and her social standing could no,
possibly be injured by sitting a few
hours with the people who, from
choice or necessity, bought half
price tickets. The money question
being disposed of. the little woman
proceeded to enjoy the holidays in
her usual manner. with these few ex.
ceptions.
The hall bedroom was clean and
comfortable, though it was somewhat
cramped. There was room for he,
trunk-just room and nothing tc
spare. She did sigh little over that
for she was accustomed to plenty oi
room. so her kind-hearted landlady
came to her relief by offering to lei
her put the trunk in the third story
back room. which was empty just al
present. The man who occupied /,
had gone of in the country some.
where for the holidays. He was 9
/ Californian but was spending the
winter in New York. Mrs. Bowen
did not know that he had any regular
business. but he seemed to do a grea,
deal Of writing: perhaps he wrote fol
the papers.
The mans trunk was in the room
a trunk much like her own with tbs
Initials III. NJ. D." on one end. Miss