The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-14

when Sister Todd heard her doorpeil
ring. and her mental comment was:
"Therei / reckon that'ss.my dele
gate! / do hope it amt some fussy
old maid, or, worse still, pair OF EN-
like those had to entertain the last
time the association. met here. They
was a trial. even If 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
lindly-looking, bright eyed and smil-
ing little man of about 90 years. He
had q satchel in his hands. and Sister
Todd was not surprised when he said,
in singularly soft and gentle voice:
1T suppose tat this Is Sister Todd?
am Mr.. Matthew Rolfe, one OF the
deacons in the church over in Hebron.
I have been sent as delegate to the
association and the committee have
sent me here for entertainment"
Sister Todd said afterward that she
had It "on the tip Of her tongue to
say that she did not expect to enter
tain a man, but she checked this in
hospitable remark and said. in some
confusion:
"Well, come in and set down. L
II have friends in the Hebron
church--the Tylers. Mebbe you know
them?"
sob, yes, indeed. They are among
our most useful and active members.
J. 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:
"Wen, he's real pleasant person,
and if he knows the Tylers 80 well
he must be real nice man. I'd no
hee the committee would send me a
man delegate, but can't turn him
out now that he's here, and I'm too
we'll known in this town for anyone
to pass any remarks about me enter
tainiu' a gentleman delegate single
or married. 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 rea
kindness and sympathy:
II know just how to feel tor you
Sister Todd. I lost my own dear
companion three years ago. l broke
UP housekeeping and went to live
with a sister Of mine, but she died il
the spring and have boarded since
then, but boarding is mighty unsat
isfactory to a man who has always
had a home Of his own. am a rea
home body and I'll never be satisfied
until I have a home my own onc'
more"
81 shouldn't think you would be.
should fly if / had to go to boarding
There's nothing like home Of one'
own"
81 feel just that way. I'm sorry
sold off my things. I planned to hav'
niece Of mine come and keep hous,
for me, but she died suddenly thre,
months ago. / feel like fish out o
water without a home. And / ain
been able to find a good boarding
place in Hebron. Hardly any on
takes boarders there. Fact is Tv
been thinking Of leaving Hebron an
coming over this way to live. ] hav
heard of a chance to buy half inter
est in shoe store over here, and
know all about the shoe business. 1
| things are favorable I think I'll bu,
| and settle here"
you'd find this real pleasan
place to live, and you'd like our min
lister and all our church people here.
1T know ! would. / don't know
when have been SO taken with
place as I am with this place. Wha
pleasant little home you have here.
eyes, it is real pleasant, but hav
spent many a lonely hour in it sine
my trouble"
~ amt doubt OF 1t. know jus
how you have felt. But / have com
to the conclusion that the Lord don
want us to dwell too long on an
kind of trouble"
"No, 1 suppose He don't"
1t was two weeks later when Siste
Phelps hurried over to the home {
Sister Brush in state Of NANTES
excitement and said almost as 500
as the door was opened:
"What do you think, Sister Brush
1 have been over to Sister TSdd's I
carry back a waist pattern she loane
me, and you'd never guess what sh
told mel She's engaged"
"You don't mean it'll"
cts so! And to that delegate W
sent her! Did you ever! guess sh
is going to do real well! Didn't tie
you that the wimmen that talked mos
about such trouble as Sister Tod
has had was the first to up and MARI
! the soonest7 Not that I blame 81.
ter Todd nonel I'm just glad she
to marry such nice mani recko
. she didn't callate on takin' del
gate to entertain for life, but that
just what she's done. Don't 1t be;
all?"