The Red Cloud chief., 1901-06-21
The Black Alpaca.

There was no denying 1t, Lucy Ann
Hobart was queer!
From the prim, low-posted, white
fence. enclosing her story and a half
house. surrounded by a profusion OF
flowers. that traced their ancestry
back to the hollyhocks, marigoids,
phlox and morning glories OF her
grandmother, to the square front par
lor. closely shaded with lowered green
curtains-a proper pretty pattern
thirty years ago-there was every In
dication of Miss Hobart's sympathy
with ancestral worship.
"Strange she doesn't have that little
old-fashloned fence removed" was the
often repeated soliloquy Of Mrs. Eli
jah Hobbs who lived next door. 1T
does seem 30 out Of place when there's
nothing but green lawns or both sides
the street. l don't mind the flowers SO
much, but that straight up-and-down
white fence reminds me for all the
world Of an individual graveyard"
yet the parlor," declared Miss En-
erson, who was visiting at the Hobbs
"is the queercst. When I was in there
yesterday, It was too hot to stay In the
kitchen, so I was taken into the holy
of HOLES, and 1t seemed al though
I'd stepped into the last century. There
were hair wreaths framed on the man
tel piece and such quaint green glass
candle sticks.
But the whatnot In the corner
you should see II! Such a variety OF
object as It holds; 1t Is rightly named.
Daguerreotypes, shells, samplers, a
bunch of wax flowers-really, l can't
begin to name al. the things those
shelves contain. II l had the money
she has. I'd let the dead bury its dead,
and be more modern"
mo. she's too odd. II she did that
she'd be like other folks, and that
would do for Lucy Ann Ho-
bart" and Mrs. Hobbs glanced out OF
her window across her w neatly
kept lawn to the little white-sentinel-
ed cottage on the adjoining lot.
In spite Of all Miss Hobart's queer
ness she had as kind a nature al
could be found in Hebron. She was
always helping some one, but In such
q way that her left hand never knew
what was being dispensed by he
right. to suffering humanity.
However, Miss Hobart's philanthro
by had never extended beyond tn
boundaries Of New England, rarel!
beyond her own state.
III folks everywhere looked OUT 70
the suffering right around them. Their
would never be this continual callinI
from place after place a person neve
heard Of" was always her closing ar
gument against foreign missions, n
matter how urgent were the need
presented.
Il don't know whether to ask Mis-
Hobart for anything or not" hesitate
Alice Randall OF the soliciting corps
rs the aid committee was about to ad
journ. she's always refused In othe
cases and there's no reason why sh
won't In this, unless their being a Me-
England family may carry som
weight"
There won't be any harm In try
ing" suggested Mrs. Thompson. ut
such a destitute case we mustn't los
any chances. II reports are true the
haven't clothes enough for the chi
'dren. to say nothing OF food"
In the spring Of 1897. Rev. Il.
Hammond had volunteered to open
mission school in the Indian Territor
1t had prospered much beyond the
expectations until the falling health
the overtaxed preacher and teach,
compelled him for a time to aband1
his cherished work.
III we can only get along throui
the winter" he said, encouraging
II am sure I can go on with the wol
IN warm weather."
Instead Of improving. he grew slo'
ly though steadily worse, but not on
did he or his brave little wife 10
faith in Him who sent them to do Fl
work.
IF we could only have nourishi
food for Just you." said Mrs. Hai
mond. glancing from her HUSBAND
leoush around the destitute appssrl