Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-04-26

The April downpour was at its fiercest
when the knock came to the kitchen
door 1t was timid knock-so timid
that Nan stood with knife suspended
over the pan Of apples she was pairing
thinking her Imagination might have
played her trick. 1t came again-low
| entreating.
The girl crossed to the door and
opened it,
Good landv she cried Come in.
/ You poor little soul, whoever you are,
come in" And out Of the binding rain
she caught the little black shrinking
figure and whirled it into the warmth
and spicy scent of the big kitchen.
/ She stood and looked at her unexpect-
( ed visitor, her gaze a curious blending
of amazement and compassion. Such a
J frail. old figure Of a woman. The plain
black cashmere gown, the thin shawl,
/ the close little bonnet. all were dripping
rain, from the stiff jet spirals orna-
D
poor skirt And the face that looked
up at Nan. dumb and beseechlng, was
childishly pathetic IN its wistfulness.
The woman held worn bag clutched
in one hand
L." fal,ered the stranger deprecat-
ingll - got caught in the RAIN
Nan threw back her head and
laughed a g.rIish laugh, crisp and in
feclious, aud the shriveled countenance
OF the intruder relaxed into a smile
Pardon me-" cried Nan. controlling
herself; only 1t was SO evident you
had not been under shelter the last
hour that | couldn't help laughing.
Here, sit down in this rocker near the
stove" She deftly unpinned the soak
ing shawl and removed the pulpy bon
net. Dear, dear" she exclaimed,
you've no rubbers on! And your feet
are dripping You're JUST a bundle of
wetness. Whatever will | do with
your
She spoke with the air OF solicitude
she might have used toward child.
Nan was only seventeen, but she had
many burdens on her shoulders, and
she bore them with courage. A year
ago. when she had graduated from the
high school, the hope that she might
60 10 college was strong within her.
But her aunt and cousin had condemn
ed her desire and derided her ambi.
ton. There was no money to spare
for such foolishness There was work
TO be done at home
The latter fact the girl was given
no opportunity to doubt. The maid OF
all work had been dismissed the week
of her graduation, and Nan had been
installed In her place And silently,
but with fierce inward rebellion, she
accepted her duties. But her father
had been a man OF letters and n pro
fessor In a university, and she had in
herlted his love OF learning So 1t was
with a heavy heart she saw the days |
slipping by and with them the time she |
would fain have given TO the acquire |
ment of further knowledge Today |.
many hidden tasks still remained TO /
be accomplished, and here was this for f.
lorn creature on her hands
I'm sure I'm sorry to be making |
you trouble, my dear" piped up the !
plaintive old voice IF when after /
I'm rested a bit you'll be telling me my |
direction I'll be moving on"
But suddenly she went ghastly white /
She caught her hand sharply to her |
side, and her lips turned blue
Here" cried Nan, take this" She /
had gone for stimulant and was
back, holding it pressed to the twitch- I
ing mouth. The old woman swallowed /
the liquid and tried to rise.
sit still.' commanded Nan. You're
Ill. You mustn't STIR
Nan stood before her, tall and slen-
der ia her blue cotton gown, with a
big white apron belted in at her waist
The pure pallor of her skin was ac-
cented by the blackness of her brows
and lashes. Her gray eyes were wide
9Th perplexity.
Walt q minute" she ordered and
went flashing up the back stairs. She
reappeared with load of garments
over her arm You're such a mite Of
thing the clothes that I've outgrown
will III you," she said Your bag7
Here It ls-safe behind you Therew
She worked rapidly as she talked.
"Now you're dry and comfortable any
how, If you do look funny"
The old woman smiled up at her
gratefully. She did look funny In the
schoolgirl gown OF red, but the color
had come into her cheeks, and her
chilled feet were growing warm in the
dry stockings and slippers.
Now I'll make you some tea and
toast" declared Nan, hanging the wet
clothes to dry. And then | must get
back to Good gracious, my cake is
burning
She was on her knees In a minute
and bad snatched the oven door wide
open. A smoking. blackened mound
confronted her And, as III luck would
have It, at that very moment Helena
Burnet, her cousin and mistress Of the
house owing to the invalldlsm Of Mrs.
Burnet, came sailing into the kitchen.
whats this?" she cried sharply. She
was In street attire, but had been well
protected from the storm. Your cake
ruined! And that-who is that personT'
Her cheeks scarlet from embarrass-
ment and the heat OF the oven, Nan
was hastily removing the cake
She's an old lady who got caught In
the shower" the girl explained nerv-
ously. did Aunt Ellen come, Hell
enaf"
mo. she didn't" snapped Helena
IIelena stared from her cousin to the
strange guest and back again.
do you mean to say you've gone out
Of your head, wasting good food on a
tramp" she shrcked