Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-10-29

and wide perpendicular
IL weather boarding, that
tl5A l9l|1 seemed entirely out Of
place ON busy Summer
street with it's strutting hustle and
hurried air of Importance. But the
house was relic ofxother days, when
the now thriving town was simply a
village, and the old residents. who
had long since died or moved to Quieter
and more fashionable quarters, had
considered Summer street the most
desirable place Of residence in the
county. The Honorable Peter Perkins
lived for years, nominally practising
law. hut in reality cultiyating that
unproductive field, so dear to the heart
of every true patriot. the field of POlit-
ieal Preferment; and being uniformly
unsuccessful, at length. after partic-
ularly disappointing campaign. had
died, leaving only his daughter Mar
tha-Miss Perkins-and his little old
fashioned house.
. Westfield. with ell it's miniature
metropolitan ways, had not outgrown
the habits Of everybody's knowing
about everybody elSes business, and
after The Honorable Peter Perkins was
laid in his final resting place. there
was Eot a household in Westfeld in
which the probable doings Of Miss
Perkins were not more or less dis
cussed. But Miss Perkins. being what
her nci2hbors called "a StrOng-lninded
person." did not leave her friends long
in uncertainty, for the very day after
her fathers funeral she announced her
intention Of opening "a flower store
new venture for Westfeld, but one
that she felt sure the growing refine
ment of the people. as they got more
money and were brought more and
more il touch with city ways, would
warrant
Accordingly. in few days there
appeared . neat sign over the front
door: Miss Perkins. Flowers And
into the little front parlor there came
a counter and q refrigerator. while the
window was filled with fragrant bios
soms-roses, carnations and violets
preGominating. The cut flowers came
from Il florist in nearby city, but il
was not long before a small green
house III the back yard did much to
supply the demand.
At first the young men Of Westiieiu
seemed in a fair way to bankrupt them
selves ut Miss Perkins counter, but
gradually they grew accustomed to the
novelty and the volume Of trade was
reduced to proportions that could be
relied upon.
And so Miss Perkins store became q
permanent institution. and Westfiel1
wondered how the town had ever got
ten along without it. It was such 4
convenient stopping place. too: the Ia
dies made it q sort OF rendezvous, and
drop iii when you might, you We're
almost sure to find some one to tell you
what was going on or coming Off in
Westfeld society. Indeed. the young
society reporter OF the Westfield
Weekly Watchman depended upon
Miss Perkins store almost entirely fo-
the social gossip that made up her
weekly society letter. It is true
that i'll this way she always printed
What every one already knew, but the
Waterman was a conservative paper
and did not feel called upon to assume
the responsibility Of printing news be-
lore 1t had been discussed and cor
nrmed by the whole town.
Miss Perkins was busy behind the
counter one morning, arranging fresh
cut supply of flowers. when TWO
Young ladies arrived at the door at
the same instant, and came busting in
together.
Why. good morning Miss Clemans.' y
exclaimed Miss Perkins, looking UP III
SURPRISE Good morning. Miss Elwell:
aren't you chicks out q little early this
mornin-:'
Oh. not at ALL replied Miss Glenn
ans with a laugh. You know. we're
eaIly birds at our house: I've been to
nlafkot already.'
Ne!l. dear mer' exclaimed Miss Ell
well WHO was a rather languid crea-
uAe' / IN sure you are an early one.
wv" Aofling in the world would usual.
- >'ef me out this early but I have a
W.! important piece of news. and |
could L@rlly wait to Get down town
to ten ~
". MSS flwell stopped and looked al
,''NS 'ielans to see that she was duly
np4} }'>Se;!, while Miss Perkins went Oh
"i[ahEing her flowers
NJ. NeA. now that you arc here" said
W., Ilemans, 'lets have the news
ra4. .!.' IS ttc wonderful piece of infor
hon1 h'l''' that has gotten Miss Lazy
@' <T ''1 OF bed before ten o'clock"
rfo =. lover was more surprised in my
ale' n &aid Miss Elwell '.and T know
omeFFio1y over will be completely upse-
"u, - Can't you guess what it 2"
yo,ia' 49, Oh course 1 can't! How pro
kna you are! Without hint Of any
inr ~: nI.,@ept that it's the most surpris
'niAs that ever happenedy,