Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-08-10
A ROMAN SCARF.

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Miss Minerals knitting fell to the
floor, as rising hastily she adjusted
her spectacles and peered out of the
window.
The door leading into the kitchen
was open and Elizabeth Ann had seen
Miss Minerva's agitation. 81 wonder
what it is this time" she muttered, as
she poured hot water into pan, pre-.
paratory to washing the dinner dishes.
"Yes'm," she answered in response
TO Miss Minerals excited call of
elizabeth Amir
"That horrid dog from the next
place is chasing Peter. Run and put
.he little beast out"
AS Elizabeth Ann crossed the yard
a large black cat. closely followed by
Scotch terrier, whisked past her
and in at the kitchen door. The dog
waggeu its tail and frisked around
Elizabeth Ann.
"Oh, Flip, why do you worry poor
DID Peter SO? Go home, SIR" she
)aid severely. The terrier trotted
after her to remote corner of the
yard, where he submissively crept
through a gap in the fence which
separated Miss Minerva's property
rom the adjoining place.
A man at work ON the other side
threw down his hoe and came up. He
was tall and spare and was clad in
Glue jean trousers and checked shirt.
clip, tresspassin' again?" he
asked.
''He was chasin' Peter" said Eliza
beth Ann. cit was the chickens this
morning, Mr.. Dobbs.''
''Keeps you pretty busy, doesn't
it?"
Elizabeth Ann laughed. 81 don't
mind it, it's fun, she said.
''She always did set great store by
Peter, but Flip can't abide him. Still
he wouldn't hurt the critter."
''Miss Minerva doesn't like dogs"
,id Elizabeth Ann, laughing again.
Mr.. Dobbs chucklel. 81 reckon it's
hore the dogs owner that she doesn't
Ike" he said
81 must go back" said Elizabeth
Ann, in regretful tone. 'Good-by,
lor now, Mr.. DoDbs.
'Mighty interestin' child for only
bein' IL, too," said Mr.. Dobbs, rehec.
lively, stroked his grizzled beard, as
be looked after Elizabeth. "Wonder
what Minerva Collins d say if she
knew me and her is such friends
AS he resumed his hoeing his
thoughts went back to the years when
the relations between him and Miss
Minerva had not been in their present
strained condition; to that uTlucky
evening when discussion arose as to
the proper mode of baptism. He had
contended that sprinkling was sutfi-
cient, aud Miss Minerva had held out
for immersion. That was long before
Elizabeth Ann had come to live with
her aunt. Mr.. Dobbs had often told
her about the quarrels.
"And she's never taken any notice
of me since. [ tried once to make it
up. And it was strange about that,
too" he had added thoughtfully.
Elizabeth Ann had wondered how he
had tried to make it up, but had not
liked to ask.
"Did you see him on his own side
before you came back?" asked Miss
Minerva when Elizabeth Ann went
back to her interrupted dishwashing.
"Yes'm," answered Elizabeth Ann.
"Nasty little beast! CALCULATED Miss
Minerva.
When the last dish had been placed
IN the closet and the kitchen put in
spotless order Elizabeth Ann went
into the sitting room.
eff everything's done you may have
the afternoon to YOURSELF" said Miss
Minerva, who was now TRANQUILITY
knitting, and Peter curled up on a
cushion near her.
Elizabeth Ann stood awhile looking
out of the window. She was unde-
cided whether to go down to the fence
and talk with Mr.. Dobbs or to 90 up
to the attic. But she saw that it was
beginning to rain, and reflected that
Mr.. Dobbs would not continue hoeing,
for he had been having rheumatic
twinges lately. So with some regret,
she decided in favor of the attic, for,
great as were the charms which the
latter place had for her, Mr.. Dobbs'
society possessed stronger attraction.
He told her such interesting stories
and listened to all of her condolences
SO attentively, and he never told her
not to be foolish, as Miss Minerva had
done when she had ventured to com.
municate her thoughts to her.
"Don't get into mischief" Miss
Minerva called out as Elizabeth Anr
left the room.
There was an old-fashioned trunk