The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-10-07
Aot<~, ELL, he's goln' ut last" said
7rUyk Mrs Deacon NIilman, "and
o wv Q I'm sure I'm glad ov It,"

1Ss~ neon. Her tall StcpSOn, wht
taught district school, and had jus
dropped in for n social chat. Poor OLE
man. 1 declare it's n pity"
II don't think So" said Mrs. NIilman
sharply. "Folks haven't no bUsines
60 live to be so old as Mcthusaleh.
declare, If I'd a kIowcl he was to liv,
with us I'd La thought twice aforc
elarricd Deacon Milman."
Simeon said nothing, but there was
something in the expression of his fac,
as he sat spreading his ten huge finger.
before the blaze of the beech logs tina
eitimate ted his own inward conviction
khat it would have been just as well ii
Miss Rachel Snapp had known the dis
agreeable fact before She consented C
become the second Mrs. NIiiman.
There amt no tcllln' tie trials I've
ti1d with him" went on Mrs. Afilman
shaking her cap borders dolefully.
Il wouldn't undertake it then" said
. Simeon. dry!y. "Do YOU suppose he
will last through The night
-oh. he cant. no way in the world.
We sent for Bcthah Jones to come 10.
orrow ana clean anl whitewash tho
Toom, and as for that old rack o furni-
toor, the three chairs and the pine
desk. and the b;;reau, | mean TO have
rem split UP for kildlin' wood before
tho deacon cones back. He'll be just
foolish enough to want to keep ON.
and wont have 10 such Noah's ark
trash about my house"
,.s4 F.,F a. i
Simeon, who was engaged to pretty
title applc.cheekcd village girl. and
viewed the far-on possibility Of going
to housekeeping" as Moses misht have
viewed the Promised Land.
They're awr1l ricEety old things"
said his stcpnothcr.
"Eut they're furnitoor. all the same"
pleaded Simeon, "anl somehow it
seems to me rs if I'd like 20 lHco lit
tic something to remember Old Percy
AIilIaan by, even If lie amt no nearer
rela Ion than my second cousin. He
used TO be real good to me whom l was
81 littlr tow-hcaded 10y. Come. step
mother. I'll give yc collar f.: tie lot
OF en-"
Iy. ''its worth that to git the plaguy
things cartrd Off the premises. You
may Lave 'cm. Simeon
II don't suppose they're worth
rruch," said Simeon. but it seems Il
pity t, split 'cm up. And now I'll go in
and see the old man"
Old Percy Milman, lying on the bed
from which lie was destined never TO
arise again, had listened TO the whole
conversation, plainly audible through
the boarl partition, merely papercd
over, That separated his apartment
from the family sitting room, for, dying
man though he was. he yet retained
every faculty.
-'Shc'J glad - get rid o ne" he
thousLt, r:ournfully. while parG
wert through thr heart whose pulSiugs
were well nigh at an cnd. well,
mint 50 vory strargr neither, ms ]
knows on, but Rachel Milman always
was :. sour. cOld-hcarted wGmaa. 81
neon shall have tho furnirurr-Ill give
it TO him myself afora the end comes"
And when Simeon camo in or tiptoe
The old man looked brisbly Up.
'Yol needn't step so gngcriy. boy;
mint asleep. Snuff the candle. and set
down aside OF ne; want 10 say n
word or two to yc. And tell Rachel 20
come in, too"
"Oh, Gear" sail Mrs. Deacon MI
man, when the old mans request YVES
made known to her IN bct he wants
n bowl o ho"b tea made or a lot o
fresh Cruel boiled. I've been on my
feet all day, but sick folks never have
any consideration"
"Eachcl.' said the old man abruptly.
ave been thinkin about that ere old
furniture o mine" Mrs. Milman cast
consciously guilty look across the
patchwork quilt toward her steDson.
ITS old-fashloned. but It's good. and
I've made up NY mind to give 1t to ST.
meOn"
I'm sure I thanE you kindly. Cousin
Percy said Simeon. awi:warl,y. while
Mrs. Milman looked confused.
There's some Old things in the bu.
reau drawers, ana the cushions for the
cheers-thcy'rc all Slmeon's, too"
added Percy Miman. Mind, Rachel,
ALL
TIN sure, he's welcome" said Mrs.
Milman, tossing Eer head. IL don't
want none o the old tgumpery"
But you shall have the dollar just
thc same" said Simeon, in Il whisper
TO his stcpmother.
For Sim was always good to me-"
added Percy Miilman. draamliy. AN /
amt one TO forget, II be Old. No. |
nin't one TO forget"
And the old man fcil asleep, never to
wake again in the world, whose wilder.
cess lie had trod so long and so sadly.
Simeon cared away the antique fur.
nitnre the day afte: the funeral. and
Mrs. Milman ran after him with the
oil moreen cushions which had been
sorSoticn-
Here, Simeon she cr.al, in her
sharp. hiGh-p.tched voice, Il ion't want
uons o the moldy t:ash lcft.'
IAN right" said Simeon, with conf.
al look at the cushions. They don't
seem very spruce but dare say Rosa
win be able 10 ma.i, some,hln out of
EN-"
Eosa Allen loo.;cd dublogsly Mt the
three old cushions then her fresh
dimpled face brlshtereI. as with sud
den inspiration.
do anything with thenl:" she ex-