The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-11-11
TABITHA'S FALL FROM
THE HEIGHTS
by ELLIOT WALKER
BY ELLIOT WALKER
Copyright, 1905, by 7. c, McClWe


o.O.O.O.O.O.OO.O.O.O.O.O.C
1T seems to me. Tabitha that some.
times you think don't knew any
thing observed Peter In tone of
rueful impaticncc as he stood just in
side the kitchen door. His hand held
II sufficiently ajar TO admit draft of
Icy mir which circulated freezingly
about Miss Groots we'll developed
shoulders us she kneaded her dough
in the bread pan with sounding
thumps
"observin' man." responded the Indy.
AT certain periods, Pete. have dis
cerned faint glmmerin's of intclli
gcntr under that shock of tow covcrin'
what in most folks is considered
brain cavity, but not often not often.
Boo, What's OPEN"
She wheeled her plump figure with
an emphatic. movement and transtiXed
s.se thoughtless Peter with II glare of
disappfoval
Tabitha was II student. not In the
ordinary sense. but of the rare variety
which nssiduously seeks for an en-
largcmcnt of knowledge. her special
ambition being the acquisition of Ian
guagc. tnhappily or perhaps other
wise, her opportunities were limited.
The Buntirld Gazette was her prlnci-
pal source of material and coming reg
ularly once n week, supplied an cfiec-
tive course OF general information.
In this sheet of wisdom Tabltha
delvrd for words of ambitious length
These nuggets after proper mental as
Sanitation were applied To Peter ms
test lf he endured them without
wnclng and With some degree Of com
prehcuSion Miss Groot felt secure In
broader paths Peter had served time
Mt the district school In the heyday
OF early youth and WINS therefore fit
subject. Being consumed with admira.
ton for Tabitha's qualities, physical as
we'll az mental. he was also n willing
one
Now he stood with ready finger
ON the door latch, for Miss Groot could
iipl''i Nohbh UNI liRi ~ W Nv a.
aroused, and eyed her With an express
sion Of shccpish pncihcation.
Come in or 20 OUT cried Tnbltha
in high wrath forgetting her scholar
ship. Herein |. all hct up workin.
an you tryln' to fix consumption on to
me Shct that door one way or 10th
err"
IFS worth while gcttn' you mad TO
have you talk like human bcin',"
grinned the culprit, with II horrible nb-
scnce of tact My head aches yet
from the dose you gin me last night
Folks will be lailin' at you first, you
know. Fact IL, pm nm ma does now
behind your back, an, while | believes
In cddicntion. hnvin' had some myself,
you're slngin' too many long words
for II hired gnl, If You nrc the purtlest
woman In Partridge Corners. L'arn all
you want, Tubithu. but don't shoot
EN- around free You'll hear from II,
an 1"
This speech of mingled common
sense and unntcntional Insult and com
pllment WIS cut off by II lump of dough
striking him squnrcly In the mouth. He
darted out, suffering.
Tabitha ragged across the room and
shot the bolt her round countcnancc
flaming. Then she bit hard on her rosy
under lip and sat down to recover. u
precept OF learning being an attempt at
philosophlc calm under trying cireum
stances
Lets see" she rumlnatcd. "Go slow,
now, Tub. Think. Petc's edgin' up to
to matrimonial ovcrtoors that's right
correct. | mean. You're nsSistin' his
ma In household duties an just M
good as he Is hired gal. that was
mean. The flesh is wllin', but the
spirit IL weakcnin'. | swan that Is, |
utterly swear that | won't give such
n fool another thought. Twill be a
mistake. My ideas is more elevated,
an I'll rise with EN-. oh. ginger, my
bread"
Miss Groot sighed rs culinary opera
tions were resumed. THE farm Will
come to Peter In the ordinary course
OF events" she reflected sorrowfully
Its n good one. an his pas falin';
but no; an edited mind has higher as
pIrations than COWS an pigs, an III
be ut the head Of II womans college If
] keep on. | amt only nineteen an
Impressive of bcarln'. If | do say II.
Wonder how III look In one of them
gowns with Il four cornered hat atop
OF my auburn locks. lmposin' NJ any
of 'em, | guess"
This modest view of the future cx-
allied Tablthas spirit M she showed
her loayes into the oven
'Pshaw" she exclaimed, striking an
attitude. Laugh at me, viii thcy2 I'll
start the laugh t'other way an do 1t
today. Hitch your wagon TO II star ms
Emerson says. He oughter have said
unite or attach but the idea amt
dlscouragin.' an I'll pitch right In an
get attention attracted. Then Mis-
Shields can look round for other help.
Maybe they'll want me In their office
right away"
Poor Peter! During the ensuing ten
days he was frozen with succession
of rcfrigerating snubs and acid re
pulses which cast him into the depths
OF dependency. Tabitha appeared abb
sOrbed In rapt contemplation of affairs
beyond the mundane. She was silent,
yet expectant, as one waiting for
message Of unbounded import. SIN he
fingered mournfully about the region
OF Miss GroOt's performances, with an
eye to lending an assisting hand. II
was not desired. Neither was conver-
sation. Peter vlsibly dropped.
Then came Thursday evening and
the Bunfeld Gazettc Peter welcomed
II and at once repaired to the kitchen
and held II out as II peace Offering.
Perhaps this beloved messenger would
produce benefcent thaw.
The girls eyes shone, and her cheeks
were like peonies. Look ii over" she
remarked In lofty voice. Of you find
anything about me read 1t aloud"
Peter glanced through the pages aud
started. "Lordy" he exclaimed. You
have got In the paper"
Read It," commanded Miss Groot,
sitting up excitedly. then laugh II
you want to-"
III. unu,,,y ,.a,,