Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-10-05

Miss Sophia Pendelton sat in the
parsonage parlor with a thoughtful
frown contracting her brows. 1t was
perfect day, and the soft breeze au-
daciously rutiied Miss Sophia's gray
locks aud waited the perfume of roses
into the room.
The narrowing conviction was fore
ing itself upon Miss Sophia's mind
that her brother, the Rev. Harmon
Pendelton, at the mature age of A,
had actually fallen in love. This fact
was in itself an offence to Miss Sophia,
but it was not all, for the minister had
committed the supreme folly of losing
his heart to chit of girl, and most
OBJ. ectionable young person altogether
in Miss Sophia's eyes.
''Now, if he had only fallen in love
with Mary" mused Miss Sophia.
''She is a most estimable young
woman. But that doll-faced, vain,
frivolous Lottie-" and Miss Sophia
groaned. "a man of his age and a
minister of the gospel to lose his wits
over pink and white complexion and
yellow hair! Oh, it is too bad! If l
only knew of some way to disenchant
him."
Just then two girls and young
man passed along the street. One of
the girls was tall, dark eyed and
stately; the other was pink checked
and yellow haired. Her hands were
full of roses, and her laughing blue
eyes were uplifted to the face of the
young man by her side.
Miss Sophia snorted with disgust.
Flirting as usual, the shameless
piece!' she calculated. ga nice min
ister's wife she would make! Har-
MONS an idiot!''
Then Miss Sophia suddenly awoke
to the fact that the hired girl had
been left much too long to her own
devices, and rose hastily to her feet.
In SO doing she tFippel over a stool
and gave her ankle severe wrench.
A little later the Reverend Harmon
Pendelton returned home and found
Miss Sophia with her foot on stool
and her ankle swathed in bandages.
"Why. Sophia, what has happened?"
asked the minister.
'I've sprained my ankle" replied
Miss Sophia, with grim disgust. 81
can't so much as put my foot to the
floor"
"Why, this is indeed badr" mur-
INJURED the Rev. Harmon.
''And it is not ALL" added Miss
Sophia. Martha has just had word
that her mother is very i'll and to come
home Immediately. What to do /
can't imagine"
"Why, get another girl"
''.since when has it become so easy
to get help in Westonv:lle at mo-
ment's notice?" calculated Miss
Sophia, with supreme scorn.
ST met Miss Armiger down the
street." said the minister, with sudden
inspiration. ''She intends stopping
Oh her way home. Perhaps she can
think of way out of the difficulty. -
Il don't doubt it; Mary Armiger is
most superior young woman" said
Miss Sophia, with emphasis.
"Yes," she is indeed" readily as
sented the minister.
$50 utterly unlike her sister, Lot
I1C, OODlld.
''Yes, they are very unlike, certain
ly," said the minister, quietly.
''Did You meet Lottie also?' asked
Miss Sophia, furtively watching her
brothers face. ''She passed with
Charlie Saunders, making eyes at him,
rs usual. What an audacious fiirt that
girl is'
"Oh, I have not seen Lottie," re-
Piled the minister, and then he added,
Here comes Miss Armiger now"
He passed into the hall, returning
N few moments with Mary Armiger.
"Why, Miss Sophia, I am so sorry
10 hear of your accident" she said.
She had soft dark eyes and low,
,weet voice.
81 was just telling Sophia that per-
laps you may be able to help in bel
present awkward predicament, said
he minister. "Martha's mother is ill,
md she is going home this after.
aoon."
"Why. that is too bad" said Mary
Armiger. "How long will Martha be
gomez"