Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-07-11
CHANGING HIS NAME.

Deborah Hancock was busily en-
gagged in decorating her birthday
cake. She sighed as she placed the
last candle, one more than the pre-
Eious year. How fast those little wax
en- milestonos seemed to multiply!
Several years before, when the
whole surface of the cake was so
thickly studded that she could find
no place for the new taper, Miss Han
cock paused to ponder.
Was not 35 good age at which to
lose count?
The temptation was great. But all
false pretense was abhorrent to the
sturdy Hancock nature. Prevarication
even to ones self was not to be toll
Grated. And what folly could equal
in Stiffness that Of attempting to con-
ceal ones age?
The tapers were red. white and
blue. The Republic and Miss Debor-
ah celebrated the anniversary of their
birth upon the same day.
A light tap sounded at the door.
Deborah carefully locked her pantry
door before admitting her visitor.
Mother wants to know if you
won't go over to the picnic with us
tomorrow"
"Me go to the picnic! Why, Ellen
Ann, I amt been to picnic for 20
years! Thank your ma, but"
"Oh, do come, Miss Deb. You know,
we're going to celebrate the incor-
poration of Hilton, as well as the
Fourth"
Come in and think 1t over"
With blush and giggle the girl
cast backward glance over her
shoulder II can't come in tonight.
But you be ready and we will stop
tor you in the morning"
Miss Deborah followed the girls
glance and smiled as she caught sight
of dark figure lurking in the shadow
of the lilacs by the fence.
ooh, it's JOEL" she said.
Ellen Ann giggled.
Perhaps it was the remembrance of
Der OWN unfinished romance which
made her heart particularly tender
toward all lovers. Be that as it may,
she was the village confidante. Many
awkward youths and shy maids
blessed her for the kindly way in
which she sped their wooing.
The next morning when Ellen AIMS
brother with a flourish brought his
hay wagon to stand before Miss De-
torah's door, he found her waiting,
lunch basket beside her.
The exercises ware opened by
long and fervent prayer by Parson
Elihu Griffin. Then the schoolmaster,
a spare. stoop-shouldered young man,
with peculiar irtonation which
made the thinness of his voice pain
fully apparent, delivered the Declar-
alton of independence.
Then the whole asscmblaGe awoke
the echoes with "My Country, 'Tis of
Thee" and the people cheered again.
Then Squire Cooper, who had been
recently elected to office, rose and
made some remarks, but detecting
signs Of restlessness among the
younger people, he brought his re-
marks dowp to the pith of his ad-
dress.
"Fellow Towpspeople: l have
surprise in store for you. Hearing
that this day was to he of special in
terest to the inhabitants of his birth
place, one of our sons who has made
4 name for himself in the political
world, yet has still retained in his
heart warm regard for his old name,
has come down to join in our festivi-
ties, and has consented to make
few remarks. Friends, I ask you to
ioin me in welcoming the Hon. John
Smith"
The cheering mercifully drowned
Miss Deborah's painful little gasps of
sonsternation. No one noted her pale
tace. All eyes were upon their illus
trious townsman.
The Hon. John Smith did not detain
his hearers long. He referred to the
9act that they were all more eager
to attend to the contents of their we'll
dlled hampers than to anything he
might have to say. He also said that
he was anxious to leave the platform
and come down among them and seek
out and shake hands with his old
friends.
Deborah felt that she must go away
by herself and recover her lost equan-
Unity. Selling upon two pals she in
sisted on going to the spring for
water. She started off briskly, but
behind the first clump of bushes she
cast aside the pals and sat down to
give her thoughts full sway.
Miss Deborah smiled as she contem-
plated the mental pictures of her
youthful self. There she stood in her
girlish pride. her head saucily a-tilt,
and a mischievous light in her eyes.
But the smile was quickly followed by
sigh, as ever faithful memory drew
the outline of a tall. awkward country
boy who stood beside the maid.
All. now the girls lips parted, and,
bending her head, Miss Deborah hears
the sound of light laugh. At the
sound the youth frowns. then speaks.
Dan Quincy is common feller,