The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1903-11-26

Ida let the leaves drop down on the
floor as she sprang up and threw bott
arms round the old woman's neck.
"Oh, Mrs. Nisbett," she whispered
softly, "you are so very, very kind. Be
lieve me, I appreciate it all, but-but-
l hardly know how to tell you"
Mrs. Nisbett listened intently. Ida
smiled and cried a little and then whis.
pered so low it was scarcely audible.
Il am going to be married"
Married." CALCULATED Mrs. Nisbett
with all n woman's interest in this i'm
portant piece of information. "And who
toT"
"Your son lives in Iowa-in Pairing.
toni"
Yes"
well, did he ever mention the name
Of"
-Lida paused, her cheeks glowing
roses. Old Nisbett had come in with an
arrnful of wood, bringing gale with him
from the frosty outer world.
'I'll tell you by and by" whispered
Lida as she went back to her work.
"Joel'll go out again arter awhile"
thought Mrs. Nisbett, "and then I'll hear
about Lida's beau"
But Joel sat down before the fire with
a complacent satisfaction which BODIED
i'll for the qualification of his wife's curl
osity, and finally accompanied Ida home,
thus frustrating all his wife's designs
and cutting off her chance Of hearing
Lida's story.
"Dear me.' thought she. 81 don't be-
lieve the man was ever born who know
ed when he wasn't wantedL How lone
some 1t seems when Lida's gone! What
does the girl want to get married for
when I could ha' took such a sight O.
comfort with her? Oh, dear, deari' 1t
does seem. as if the world was all
askew!
The next day, in spite of the weather
prophets prediction of snow, dawned
clear and brilliant as the dying smile of
Indian summer. By II o'clock Mrs. MIS-
bett was dressed in her best silk and
cap, with the turkey browning beauti-
fully in the oven and the cranberry tarts
doing credit to themselves us we'll as to
their maker, the table set, the fire high
heaped with cracking logs and the plates
dressed with coronals of autumn leaves
Aunt Constance, tall. prim maiden
lady of uncertain age, stood before the
bedroom looking glass arranging her coif-
fure. Ida, In blue dress with q late
autumn rose in her hair. was tripping
hither and thither as light footed and
helpful as half dozen household fairies
merged into one, while Mrs. Nisbett
stood regarding her with a loving eye.
murmuring to herself:
NUall u-all L. eoapns VINE he
Lords will to deny US of just what we
most want but if l had a daughter 1
could wish she was like Ida"
As the old kitchen clock struck 1 Mrs.
Nisbett, looking from the window, gave
little cry.
'.There he comes-there comes Joel.
and. as live, there's the boy with him~
Ida ran into the bedroom.
When she returned, Mrs. Nishett was
clasped in the arms of a tall, handsome
man of four or five and twenty.
"Lida," said the proud matron, striv-
ing to disengage herself from the affec-
tionate clasp. "this is my son Stephen,
and-why, what's the matterW
For Stephen had dropped her hands
with an exclamation of surprise and
amazement, and Ida stood there glowing
crimson. -.
"Lida! Why, mother, this is, a sur
prise indeed that you have prepared for
me!
81 prepared echued the astonished
old lady. swell, that's good un, when
Fm ten times as much surprised as you
be! Iida, what does this mean?'
...It means" said Ida, with demure
:amile-she was beginning to recover her