The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-21


HNHAT first week Sidney Trovs
went to board at the home OF
III sthe two old maids" stone
house on Jericho road. with
front door rusting ON idle hinges and
blinds ever drawn. Ii was hundred
feet or more from the highway, and in
summer there were flowers along the
path from its little gate and vines
climbing TO the upper windows. In
winter its garden was buried deep I'M
der the snow. One family-the
Vaughns-eame once in awhile TO see
'the two old maids" Few others ever
saw them save from afar. dress
maker came once year and made
gowns for them that were carefully
hung in closets, but never worn. To
many of their neighbors they were as
dead as il they had been long In their
graves. Tales OF their economy, of
their odd habits. of their past, went
over hill and dale to far places. They
had never boarded the teacher and
came TO speak OF it.
"He's a grand young man." said hes
good company. and you'll enjoy it"
They looked soberly at each other.
According to tradition. one was fifty
four. the other fifty-five years of age.
An exclamation broke from the lips OF
one 1t sounded like the letter "ys
whispered quickly.
"Y!' the other answered.
1T might make a MATCH" said Mn
Blount, the trustee, smiling.
"Y! Samuel Blount.'' said the young
er one, coming near and shifting him
playfully on the elbow "You stop."
Miss Letitia began laughing silently.
They never laughed aloud.
If he didn't murder u.s." said Miss
SAMANTHA doubtfully.
Nonsense said the trustee. 'Tll
answer for him.
Cant tell what men'll do" she per.
sisted weakly. when was in Albany
with Alma Haskins a man came long
an tried to pass the time o. day with
us. We jes' looked fother way an
didn't preten' to hear him. It's awful
to think what might "a happened"
She wiped invisible tears with an
embroidered handkerchief. The dear
lady had spent good part of Ter life
thinking of that narrow escape.
Miss Letitia. who had been laughing
at this maiden fear of her sister.
eff he would mind his business We
we might take him for one week."
said Miss SAMANTHA. She glanced in
Quiringly at her sister.
Letitia and SAMANTHA Tower, "the
two old maids" had but one near rela-
tive. Ezra Tower. brother. of the
same neighborhood.
There were two kinds Of people In
PARKWAY, those that Ezra Tower spoke
to and those he didn't. The latter were
of the majority. AS fOrswearer of
communication he was unrivaled. His
Imagination was very slaughter
house. In which all who crossed him
We're slain. II they were passing he
looked the other W and never even
saw them again. Since the probate Of
his fathers will both sisters were Of
the number never spoken to. He was
q thin, tall. sullen. dry and dusty man.
Dressed for church of a Sunday, he
looked as If he had been stored year
in some neglected cellar. His broad
cloth had dingy aspect, his hair and
beard and eyebrows the hue OF cob
web. He had voice slow and rusty, a
look arid and unfruItful. Indeed, II
seemed as If the fires of hate and envy
had burned him out.
The two old maids, feeling the dis
grace of 1t and fearing more, ceased to
visit their neighbors or even to pass
their own gate Poor Miss SAMANTHA
fell into the deadly mire of hypochon-
dria. She often thought herself very
81, ;oiv,
advertised in the county paper. She
had ever faint look and thin, sick
ly voice. She had the man fear-a
deep distrust Of men-never ceasing to
be on her guard. In girlhood she had
been to Albany. Its splendor and the
reckless conduct of one Alma Haskins,
companion of her travels, had been
ever since a day-long perennial topic
of her conversation. Miss Letitia was
more amiable. She had a playful,
CHEEKY heart in her, mincing and pre-
else manner and a sweet voice. What
with the cleaning, busting and pre-
serving they were ever busy. A fly,
driven hither and thither, fell Of ex-
haustion If not disabled with broom.
They were two weeks getting ready for
that afternoon supper was ready, and
they were nearly worn out.
Here he isr' one whispered sud-
denly from window. Then, with
last poke at her hair. Miss Letitia adj
mitted the teacher. They spoke their
greeting in a half whisper and stood
near, waiting timidly for his coat and
cap.
mo. thank you." said he, taking
them TO a nail. 81 can do my own
hanging. as the man said when he COM
mitted suicide"
Miss SAMANTHA looked suspicious and
walked to the other side of the stove.
Impressed by the silence Of the room,
much exaggerated by the ticking Of the
clock. Sidney Troye sat moment
looking around him. Daylight had be-
gun to grow dim. The table, with its
cover of white linen, was a thing to
give one JOY A ruby tower Of jelly,
/ snowy summit OF frosted cake, red
Il -.