The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-11-11

1t was a fine August Afternoon. The
fog that had hung in the air through
out the morning had cleared away, and
now from a blue and perfect sky the
sun shone forth, sending arrows OF
light through the mist-Wet foliage of
the great elms that guarded the Tor
bolton Home for INDECENT Females, and
flashing into a myriad rainbows the
spray of the tiny fountain that played
merrily on the green lawn beneath.
"Hi! Hi! Hi, there!"
That was Betty Macdonald, a white
cap on her red locks, and snowy apron
tied neatly about her trim waist, dash
ing down the wide grayeled path and
frantically waving freckled hand to-
ward the approaching electric car.
Behind her trailed small procession
of women, some elderly, some vener-
able. while still in the rear lowered
Miss Timpllins, the matron of the
home. shooing forward the company as
one might shoe a flock of hens, and
murmuring, agitatedly:
"We'll lose that car! | know we
SHALL" Then she called shrilly, Call
again, Betty! Call louder!' And thus
adjured, Betty uttered another ear
splitting shrek:
eli! Hi! Hi-i-i-i!"
"Take your time, Take your time,
ladiesl" shouted the conductor from
the platform.
whats the place and who are
they?" queried tall young man on
the back seat.
ITS our Old Ladies Home, aud
they're the old ladies'" was the reply,
and as the motorman twisted the brake
the conductor sprang off and greeted
them:
"Howdy-do! Howdy-do, ladies'! Upsy
daisy, grandma" With one effort of
his stalwart arms he lifted little Mrs.
Wells bodily to the running-board, in
trice had bundled the other women
into the car, and climbing back and
ringing the bell, remarked genially:
"a splendid lot of old ladies, and
know every one of them by name and
fame. There's been the top of the
town among them before now, and
flca't you forget it! But" scanning the
party more closely, where's Mrs
,Trdd?"
He stepped along to the matrons
side, demanding, where's Mrs. Dodd?
Don't like to see her left out!"
ooh, she wasn't left out responded
Miss Timpllins "She just wouldn't
come! And being engrossed in the
distribution Of nickels to her charges,
that each might enjoy the pleasure Of
paying her own fare, she said no more
until after the conductor had returned
from his round. Then she went on:
''These new electrics are so much
higher than the old horse-cars that
she lanes her knees frightfully every
time she rides on them. Didn't get
down to meals for three days after her
last trip! And when l invited her
this noon-we're all going down to
Ageram Point to the four-o'clock
bake-she said, MOI She knew when
she was licked! And she'd stay home
and keep house with Betty Macdonald
and the cook!
But" opening her capacious hold
all and displaying shining tin can,
''we're doing our best for her. I'm
talking this to bring some chowder in,
end Mrs Wells-she's Mrs Dodd's room
mate, you know-has brown paper and
string in her pocket for clam cakes
Mrs Dodd loves clam cakes!"
The conductor shock his head
Goods far's it goes, he admitted
But l expect the old lady would like
whole clam dinner and all the fix
h'sl"
He made his way pack to the plat
brm, and glaring at pair of prancilg
bays and glittering victoria just pass
hg. he grumbled, 'Pesky shame! Folks
Exercising fat, lazy horses before emp
ty carriages, and nice old ladies sit
Ing at home just pining to get some
fherei"
whats the matter?" asked the tall
)oung man, with interest.
They're going to Ageram Point TO
lhe four O'Clock bake" answered the
conductor, but Mrs. Dodd wouldn t
eome. and tell you, / miss her! Miss
fimpkins thinks she knows why Mrs.
Oodd wouldn't come, but / know. You
zee. the old lady's pretty sizable, and
last time she rode with me / had a
tough job getting her aboard. But |
did it, and she was all comfortably
settled when a critteT sitting right
where you're sitting now wlnked and
grinned at me and said, Say! l don I
have to go to no circus TO see baby
elephantl l knew Mrs Dodd heard