Gilpin observer., 1901-08-01
A Stray Man.

bOrn and reared in an inland manu-
tacturing town. "Miranly," as they
called her, had never found time to
waste any too much thought on her
personal appearance. She was up
wards of thirty, without relatives, and
dependent on her own eXertions as a
seamstress for support.
From her father, Mirandy had in
herited the wit, good-humor and self
reliance that made her pleasant,
agreeable woman to go into different
homes, while from her mother she
had to degree inherited the strict,
prim ideas concerning propriety and
womanly reserve, especially toward
"men-kind," that characterizes one
type of the New England woman.
Never on any account, my dauSh-
ter, have anything to say to a stray
man." her mother had cautioned time
and again. "They are dangerous crea-
lures. Many of them haven't any
conscience at all, and no knowing
when it Is safe in the least to trust
one."
What is bred in the bone will linger
there whether it "outs in the flesh" or
not. And Mirandy, lone woman that
she was, had unconsciously a deep
seated dread and distrust of the genus
man except as regarded such as she
knew well and felt that she could trust
with safety.
In her innermost soul, Mirandy had
certain vague longings that are as in
separable from the nature Of an affec-
tionate, willing, CHEEKY woman, as the
bloom is from the rose. She never had
thought it all out, but when in going
from house to house, she saw happy
children caressing their mothers. and
men turning gladly toward the hearth
stone at night, Mirandy would heave
kind Of smiling sigh, and half wonder
why she must forever go to her two
little rented rooms at nightfall and
amuse herself all by herself as it was
her portion to do.
And deep down in her spinster heart
was one desire that for summer after
summer had been a kind of dream,
want, an increasing longing, that now
she had more than half determined TO
crafty.
81 could" she mused, "and without
disturbing my little hoard in the
bank. I've been so industrious all
through the winter and spring that I
really could take the money without
pinching, and l declare, l believe I'm
entitled to it. 1 guess l nights well
run over and see what Cynthy Wells
says about my going"
Mirandy had never looked upon the
sea. By this we do not mean the rivers
that flow everywhere, nor the rippling
ponds that flow often through quiet
towns. Plenty of these Mirandy had
seen. aye, and feasted her eyes upon,
for "the water" was something she
could never see enough Of But the
ocean, the great, grand, limitless ex-
panse and waste of water that books
told of and that people talked about,
1t seemed as though Mirandy actually
painted to look upon with her own eyes.
1t was hot and dusty in the inland
town, poor Mirandy was tired out, the
great sea called more loudly than ever,
and now, oh, Joy! old Mrs. Farley who
had a plain little cottage at Serum
Island. quite resort of late, had writ
ten, fixing price for board for three
weeks that had sent such thrill of
excitement and delight into Mirandy's
maidenly bosom as she had scarcely
ever known before.
Cynthy Wells a maiden lady of forty
summers, lived in her own trim little
house directly opposite Mirandy's
lodgings. She liked Mirandy better
than she would acknowledge, but in
her heart Of hearts she was jealous of
her. Mirandy was good looking and
was cheerful and was liked. Cynthy
was faded, inclined to murmur and
not over popular. Dame Rumor had it
that she had been disappointed more
than once" but this other lone woman.
far better Off than poor Mirandy, held
her head we'll up. declared herself bet
ter OFF than as IL she wasn't her own
mistress. and gave the impression
strongly that she guessed she knew
a thing or two" when it came to such
n matter as giving up ones independ-
ence.
She listened bit grimly as Mirandy
laughingly unfolded her plan. ex-
claiming as she closed, Now congrat-
ulate me. Cynthy. do! You know
always like to think people approve
OF what do"
"Well, Mirandy Rose. I'd oongrat-
ulate you fast enough, IL / consclen-
tiously could" was the unpromising
reply. "But for woman to go all by
herself to a sea side place. and OF all
things! to an island running out into
the ocean where they have one of
those dreadful Life Saving Stations
well, I'm glad 1t isn't me, that's ALL"
why. | think a Life Saving Sta
tion is one OF the best things going"
said Mirandy, although her voice sank
and trembled n little. But the sta
ton Is half n mile from Mrs. Parley's