Middletown transcript., 1902-04-26

dared look nowhere but at the centr
/ table.
Z. They were not kept waiting long.
most graeious, fine looking old gentle
man entered, bowed and seated him
self 50 as to command the faces OF TIL
four. Few words were wasted, and
was soon clearly understood what wa
wanted:a person Of education and liigl
morality, who would at once take ul
residence at the farm, and assume entir
charge Of half witted son and bis prop
erty.
i "In Short" said the gentlemen, g
want to provide ease and satisfaction fol
myself the few more years may livs
and brains for my son against the tins
when shall not be here to guard him
helpless"
The preacher could not accept because
Of his calling; the lawyer because d
family ties; the traveller because Of dis.
inclination; and Miss Tompkins because
she had enough brains to see that man
was required to fili the position. AT
least that is what she said. But there
was queer futter in the fragment she
used as heart, her face being 30 much
colored thereby that she looked more
like her girlhood self than she had in
many day before The old gentleman
gave her more than the fourth of his
attention, and when tie conference Has
ended escorted her to her carriage. When
he should have bid her goodbye he hesi-
tated, stammered, colored and then mani
aged to ask:
"Did I understand you to say you are
Miss Linda Tompkins?n
A really natural, merry ripple Of laugh
ter sounded in the carriage, and Miss
Tompkins said:
''No, you did not so understand, for
I did not say it. But that's who / am
nevertheless. Howd'y' do, Philip?',
With that she put her hand in his
as il just meeting him.. 81 knew you the
moment you entered the room, she
added, laughing again.
The Mr.. Philip Passmore upon whom
Miss Tompkins had so unwittingly called
was the heart-breaker, according to the
public, of Miss Tompkins' youth, and
after many years residence elsewhere,
he had returned ''to die," he said, near
his boyhood home But after this mett
ing with his old friend, and after meet /
ings with various other old friends at
Petersburg, he decided that he would |
live some years yet. His advertisement
did not reappear, and in a short while
the Petersburg people had sweet NOR
sel to roll under their tongues: Miss
Tompkins had an almost constant yis-
itor, and seemed ridiculously happy,
despite the shadow resting on the family
name. That her visitor had addressed
her in her teens, and was now wealthy
glorifed both Of them in the
eyes of unlocking young people.
Miss Tompkins ceased to borrow The
iaily. Then 1t was rumored that she
vas buying her wedding outfit. And
Ihe was.
But all in an evening the engagement
vas broken. That no one knew why
but added to the interest, and Mr.. Pass
more affirmed that the cause Of Miss
unusual behavior was no bet
er known to him than to the public.
lie looked very detected, and once more
oegan to think Of the time when his son
would be without a protector. People
ave him all their sympathy, and called i
diss Tompkins heartless. f
But by-and by that lady lost the cheer
u demeanor she had kept up immedi.
tely after the storm broke, and she
eemed humble, even meek. joining III 9
as If it were an honor to be !
lowed to do SO. She again began 10
'atch the want column, and to ask for
tile jobs Of sewing. Then sympathy
egan to veer in her direction. People
lid there was something rotten In Dem
lark" land to nose it out would have
cen their dearest delight Soon they
ere petting Miss Tompkins as in the Z
ays before Mr.. Passmore reappeared
! her life, and were really grieyed that z
le did not brighten. The change in Z
le public extended even to Mr.. Pass z
ore, and he again called on Miss Toinp- Z Z
ms, the act creating quite ripple No :
her love affair had ever caused such &
terest in Petersburg Even the school =
Iildren talked about it. And they =
liked long, for weeks went By, and :.
onths, the two parties concerned Chang =
& not on any respect.
When winter was we'll advanced, it. -
IS whispered about that the old Tomp-
ms place was haunted. Some told OF j,
accountable noises in the basement !.
len Miss Tompkins was known to be :.
school; and others Of hearing sepul- ~
raj cough in the back of the house
cough that sounded exactly like that
old Mrs. Tompkins. Perhaps these :,
ports made Miss Tompkins more ner- =
us than she had been. She tried to i i
lgh at them, even going SO far as to tell = =
r neighbors that if they should see q, q,
in coil of smoke from her chimney dur g e
: her absense, they might know the -
ost was warming himself at her banked s.
3. The thin coil Of smoke had already E E
en- noticed, making cold chilIs creep s
the spine Of the superstitious. who ~ s,
'ked upon Miss Tompkins as tie brav- ,,,
woman in the town. IS, m
But by-and-by when several more win-1 81
9 had passed and the coil Of smoke III,
ltinued to be seen, it ceased 10 Be sol
ked Of except among few. HI. Pass iii
re continued his visits 1T Intervals. 81
! people were forced to be reconeiIed i
he course of events IL
hen came . winter 50 cold that the
est inhabitants said they had never
!, sk- III = A..r A. :. - : .. sss =