The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-02-10

Is ~ g eoiu -ueiane'non hNe"
L. ~ you'd stop in on your way
). &AaexS9 home from school,, and
the little old lady hustled abouttto set
the cushioned rocker in pleasant spot
by the open window.
"A case of telepathy?" Queried the
school teacher. laughing, as she seat
ed herself in the comfortable chair,
took off her sailor hat, and leaned back
restfully. She made pretty picture
in her pink print dress and white col
lar. ..... .
mo; something more sure than that.
# None of those superstitons for me. l
dropped my scissors and the point
6 stuck in the foor and I never knew
that to fail to bring company Then
'twasn't but little while after that
my left eyebrow itched. That means
8 woman coming. If it had been the
right I'd have thought maybe twas
s the minister, and would have put on
my second-best dress. I'm real glad.
though, twas you, for you always
cheer me up, and I've been dreadful
4 worried all day" s.., ...
what has happened dear Mrs. Per
{ kins?' The teachers voice was full
of sympathy. -. "
z "Nothing's happened yet, but it's
I bound to. sneezed twice before l
got up this morning, and that means
) you'll hear of a death before night.
And I'd been dreaming Of muddy wa.
ter, and that's a sure sign of trouble.
( Let's see. there was another. Oh, yes.
! Last night i saw the new moon
through glass, So the three together
Z have made me fret all day. wondering
; what was coming. Seems to me I've
had my share without anything new,
but I suppose can bear more, for
4 every back is fitted to it's burden, they
say" Mrs. Perkins resumed her darn
ing on the ragged heel Of bright red
sock.
II have some good news to tell you
about myself" said the girl. Would
you like to hear it?"
"Yes. I'm always ready to rejoice
/. with them that rejoice, even if I can't
expect any good fortune myself" and
the little lady was all attention.
.Its simply this" Miss Bridgeford
explained, with a pretty blush, that
I'm to resign at the end Of this term
to be married and 60 back to live in
the city"
I'm real glad, Miss Bridgeford." and
there was no mistaking the heartiness
of her tone. u hope you're going to do
well. What's the mans name?H
"Mr. Bascombe."
bad, very bad!' cried Mrs. Perkins,
a look of real anxiety overclouding her
momentary smile. Didn't you ever
hear,
"'Change the name and not the letter
Change for the worse and net the
better
If you've got any other beau wish
you'd reconsider. Now, l might have
married Silas Hinman. He was
courting me the same time with Me-
lancthon, and a good sight better-look'
ing he was then, too. But wouldn't
have him because my name began
with H. was a Hartwell. Just look
at Silas. now. He's been in the poor
house for over five years. Of course
I'm not saying Melancthon and 1 are
any too prosperous, but we own this
| little place, and he has his pension, and
Annie has sent us q hundred dollars
of her salary every year since she be,
gan to teach, and SO We are pretty
comfortable"
"There isn't neater, prettier house
I all the way from the four corners
school to the village" said the girl
"Your garden, too, always looks sc
we'll kept. 1t must yield you a good
deal besides, doesn't it,"
Eyes, but it would do lot better il
Melancthon would only put things il
in the right time Of the moon. Bu
he'll never pay any attention to me
about that. Twas all his fault that
saw the moon through glass last night
4 He seems to love to plague me. Say
Miss Bridgeford, do You sweeten your
tea before you put in the milk?"
II never drink it," she replied, laugh
i ing, and wondering at the irrelevant
question.
"Well, in case you ever should be
gin, I'll tell you always to put in the
sugar first, or you'll be crossed in love
I'm worried about that name Bas
combe, you see. Now, don't look sc
unbelieving, for could tell you 10,
of cases. There was Miss Springer
who But here's Melancthon com
ing from the postofice. Seemed like
I couldn't wait any longer to know
what that bad news was, and since 10
body had come to tell it, it must be il
q letter. I made him 60 earlier'n usu
~ al 30 I could have it over with"
The old man greeted Miss Bridgefort