Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-08-24

a sewing woman, and in that hope she
opened the door, but in spite Of her.
self she could not keep from feeling
guilty and trying to steal out noise
lessly. When she got to the door ii
seemed as if she could not get it open,
and when the outer one slammed to
noisily behind her she thought surely
discovery was at hand, and she could
not restrain herself from running
down the steps and, indeed, to the ele.
waited station at the corner. If a voice
had by any chance cried "Stop, thief, +"
she would have collapsed. She even
glanced furtively around at the people
on the car. What if that harmless
looking little man in the corner should
turn out to be detective? Really
she could not compose herself. For
one thing her bundle was too big, and
for another she feared she would miss
her train. When she got off the ele.
vated she looked behind to see if the
little man in the corner was following
her. She bought ticket to cross the
ferry and asked the time Of the next
train to Orange.
500 you want ticket to Orange?"
the man at the window asked.
"No, I have one," she said.
''Then why don't you cross the
ferry on it2" he asked. She felt that
he suspected her and snatched her
bundle and ran.
When at last she was seated on the
train, with the big bundle in her lap,
feeling fairly comfortable for the first
time, her eyes fell to scanning the
newspaper that inclosed the precious
gown. Suddenly they were caught
by the notice of the lecture. Heavens!
1t was to be at 2. 80, and she was then
on the 1.30 train. She had never
| been to Orange before. she knew no
one; she had no idea where the liter
ary lady was to be found. If she was
not at the station to meet her, all was
lost.
She looked out eagerly when the
conductor called her station, but the
literary lady was not to be seen. She
struggled across the platform with her
bundle.
"Drive me to-the club," she said
desperately to the cabman who came
to her assistance.
"What club?" he asked.
"The Uluas," she said.
ooh, the hail." he aswered, and she
thought she was saved
She pictured vaguely the consterna-
tion she would create by bursting into
the hall in the midst of the lecture
possibly, but by this time she was
physically exhausted and mentally
] ,,,+,
ly and had started up the stairway be-
fore which he had stopped when she
thought she heard voices calling and
a heavy step running toward her. At
last she was pursued. But save
the gown she must and would. Spring
ing up the stairway she burst open the
door into the hall The platform was
empty, but there was a noisy hum OF
expectancy running through the
crowd. At first size heard nothing
distinctly. Then a heavy hand was
hind her said:
'Give me your bundle, miss
She looked up at the blue coated
policeman, who had come up behind,
and fell in faint at his feet. When
she revived she was lying on rug in
a little white plastered room. The
window was open, the cold snow-laden
air from without was blowing on her,
and sweet-faced, gentle woman was
bending over her, holding bottle of
smelling salts to her nose.
care YOU the matron?" she asked,
feebly.
"The what?" asked the woman.
''The matron?"
"No."
She waited a moment. 'Then were
you put in, too:" she said.
"In what" the woman asked
'Tn prison." she said, shuddering.
'Why, this isn't prison, child"
the woman said with smile. why
did you think you were in prison,
pray?"
''For stealing that gown" said the
girl
"Why, you didn't steal the gown,
did you?" And the woman burst out
laughing.
''No, but I thought they thought I
had, and the policeman arrested me"
'How very funny" the woman said,
still laughing. "Why, he was only
getting the gown to take to the liter
ary lady, who was waiting at the mil
liners across the way to put it on.
She saw you come and got him to run
after you. But how very funny"
''Bu. where's the gown now?" the
| girl asked.
"Why, the lady has 1t on and is
speaking away; don't you hear herr"
"Then for heavens sake let me get
out and report her. said the girl,
struggling to her feet.
"Not before you've had this cup of
chocolate and sandwich" the woman
said, putting them before her.
II am hungry" she said.
''Of course you are; that's why you
tainted.
When she went out by and by and
Z 4