Middletown transcript., 1906-09-15

X tlei Ssd k5iaA 1k3k
31H still IL i almost
sg8king Her IibRle back 81
neella wonder s6S ! talk reek'
less sometimes.
4IIss Iilda nodded ln "a 1heti.
eallY. bat her ans Wef was fal
from the subject, and as usual,
most practical.
There's shower coming up.
Mrs. Lane. Hadn't We better
shut the windows before The blow
comesa
The shower came with d rush,
blaekenfng the blazing sky and
sweeping through the CONTACTED
little streets like a cyclone.
Shutters banged and windows
slammed on all sides, dust and
scraps Of paper were swept BY
in whirling clouds. Mrs Lane
and Nellie were struggling with
the parlor windows and ainching
before sharp fash, when a man
dashed brsathlessly past. He
hesitated as he saw the two at
the windows, cast q swift glance
at the heavy clouds and already
swift raindrops, smiled q little,
aud saisedShis hat.
Win you give me shelter? he
shouted over a crash of thunder,
aad Mrs. Lane, staring at him,
abruptly nodded her head He
was without an unbrella and
already half drenched, and in a
second more he stood in the
stuffy little parloS apoIogizing
for his intrusion. Knother crash
of thunder sut him short, and
Mrs. Lane mutely motioned him
to a chair, which he promptly
took, breathing heayiR from his
run.
It is very good Of you to take
a stranger in, he said in the next
lall. / was down here on bust
ness aad good way from home.
In fact, don't live in Town at all,
SO | was in bad way.
You live in Gle country? de-
manded Nellie, seating herself
sedately near him and regarding
him with inquiring eyes. It was
not often 6Aat Nellie saw strang-
ers other than customers, who
must merely be let in and out
again, and this therefore was an
occasion not to be lost. He
smiled at her good -humoredly.
Yes, / live in the country, just
a little way out. All alone, too,
except for q heusekeeperand her
husband. You ought to be in
the country this weather. This
is the hottest town on earth to-
day.
Il was a eareless speech, as he
recollected when he looked
the poor little parlor, and
he was sorry. Mrs. Lane flushed
q little in quick pride, but Nellie
was there before her.
Oh, / couldn't, she said wisely
shaking her head in sedate way
which seemed to cause. him some
amusement. I'd love to live in
bhe country, bat we cant afford
70 leave here. keep hosse for
mamma, and she sews. There's
Just US two.
Nellie is my little housekeeeeY
nterposed Mrs. Lane hastily,
ner brewn eyes very bright and
1er uPlifted head defying pity.
She had been subjecting the
to a searching scrutiny.
Ind the two pink spots which
lad stained her cheeks on his
sudden entrance had died ont.
Nellie slipped quickly out OF the
'oom, and her mother wondered |
Thy.
She must be a very capable |
zoung person, the stranger OBJ
served helplessly, evidently dis
concerted to hear that this thin
mite of child kept house, while |
he thin mite of a mother sewed |
her fingers off. He was used to /
more comfortable ways of.lfving. /
Then The bright spots came back /
o Mrs Lanes cheeks, for in the |
doorway appeared Nellie poor
Nellie bent on dispensing hes
oitality, and bearing q wondksas- /
y polished tambler and the re.
mains OF the attennated Lemon.
lde. Mrs. Lane smothered an
1ystericaf desire 70 laugh, al |
.hough for a second it seemed /
more q cause for weeping.
Wouldn't you like some2 Nellie
ISeried solicitously, and lie took |