Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-05-17

ner No one can say that she amt
mourned Silas Todd faithful"
That's a fact, Sister Phelps. And
that, too, when everybody knows that
he want all that he might Of been in
the way Of a husband. but wen let
that rest. scein' that it amt becomin'
70 speak IN of the dead. II the min
lister from Zion and his wife come to
the association think we'd better
send them to Sister Todd's. TIN be
a real nice place for any delegate, for
Sister Todd Is such good cook and
the best housekeeper in town"
It was about ten o'clock in the
morning on Tuesday Of the next week
when Sister Todd heard her doorbell
ring, and her mental comment was;
"Therei reckon that's my dele
gatel 1 do hope Il amt some fussy
old maid, or, worse still, a pair Of 'em
like those 1 had to entertain the last
time the association met here. They
was a trial, even il they was sisters in
our own church"
But a second trial Of this sort was
not in store for Sister Todd, for when
she opened the door she saw on the
little porch in front Of her house a
ldndly-loolSing, bright eyed and smil-
ing little man Of about 60 years He
had a satehel in his hands, and Sister
Todd was not surprised when he said,
in a singularly soft and gentle voice:
81 suppose tat this is Sister Todd9
I am Mr.. Matthew Rolfe, one OF the
deacons in the church over in Hebron.
1 have been sent as a delegate to the
association and the committee have
sent me here for entertainment"
Sister Todd said afterward that she
had It ION the tip of her tongue" to
say that she did not expect to enter
tain man, but she checked this i'm
| hospitable remark and said, in some
| confusion:
"Well, come In and set down. +
/ II have friends in the Hebron
church-the Tylers. Mebbe you know
themP"
"Oh, yes, indeed. They are among
our most useful and active members.
1 have known them for years"
That "broke the ice," and Sister
Todd soon found herself chatting
freely and easily with her delegate.
When he had gone to his room her
mental comment was:
"Well he's a real pleasant person,
and if he knows the Tylers so well
he must be a real nice man. I'd no
idee the committee would send me a
man delegate, but can't turn him
out now that he's here, and I'm too
well known in this town for anyone
to pass any remarks about me enter
tainln' a gentleman delegate single
OF married. l wonder which he is?'
She found out at the dinner table,
for when she referred to her trouble"
and explained the nature Of the
"trouble" the delegate said with real
hndliness and sympathy:
81 know just how to feel for you,
Sister Todd. 1 lost my own dear
companion three years ago. l broke
up housekeeping and went to live
with sister of mine, but she died in
the spring and I have boarded since
then, but boarding is mighty unsat.
isfactory to a man who has always
had a home of his own. 1 am a real
home body and I'll never be satisfied
until have a home my own once
more"
''I shouldn't think you would be.
should fly if had to go to boarding
There's nothing like a home Of ones
own"
''I feel just that way. I'm sorry
sold off my things. 1 planned to have
a niece of mine come and keep house
for me, but she died suddenly three
months ago. feel like a fish out ol
water without a home. And I ain'i
been able to find a good boarding
place in Hebron. Hardly any ono
takes boarders there. Fact is I've
been thinking of leaving Hebron and
coming over this way to live. have
heard of chance to buy half inter
est in a shoe store over here, and
know all about the shoe business. II
things are favorable I think I'll buy
and settle here"
'You'd find this real pleasant
place to live, and you'd like our min
lister and all our church people here
81 know 1 would. 1 don't know
when 1 have been so taken with a
place as am with this place. What
a pleasant little home you have here
Eyes, it is real pleasant, but have
spent many lonely hour in 1t since
my trouble"
al amt a doubt Of 1t. I know Just
how you have felt. But have come
to the conclusion that the Lord dom
want us to dwell too long on any
kind OF trouble"
"No, suppose He don't"
It was two weeks later when Sister
Phelps hurried over to the home OF
Eister Brush in state Of manifest
excitement and said almost as soor
as the door was opened;
"What do you think, Sister Brush
1 have been over to Sister Todd's tc
carry back a waist pattern she loaned
me, and you'd never guess what she
told mel She's engaged"
''Y0u don't mean I'll"
"It's sol And to that delegate We
sent herl Did you everl I guess she
Is going to do real well Didn't tel
you that the wimmen that talked most
about such trouble as Sister Todd
has had was the first to up and marry
the soonest2 Not that I blame Sis
ter Todd nonei I'm just glad she il
70 marry such a nice mani I reckon
she didn't eallate on takin' a dele
gate to entertain for life, but that's
Just what she's done. Don't 1t beat
an3"
Hts Grateful Young Friends.