The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-08-07

TN fiction the school-mstrcss who forsakcs the
Groves OF Acadenus for that West so felcitously
described as; as wild and woolly is invariably
L Young, beautiful and charming, Miss Cordoba
Pcney was neither the one nor the other nor the
third
Miss Pcnley was tall The romancer would have
described her as slender the truthtellcr would have
said she skinny" Miss Penleys attire was quite
in keeping with her appearance: both were severely
PLAIN She wore her hair drawn back tightly from her
brow and tied IN knot behind, which not even the
most VIVID and generous imagination could have called
Greek; her features Greek, either
Alas! the inexorabe truth must be confessed She
was homey, middle-aGed woman, plain modest un-
pretcntious well enough educated make an excellent
school-teachcr
Miss Cordelia, firing summer of her boarding
house, rented little cottage the outskirts of the
town and lived there alone with cat and canary bird
One rainy night IN the spring just the knight OF Miss
Cordcas latest dream laundering with mailed FIST
upon the porculis Of the castle she was recalled from
Spain to her cottage by feeble knock on the door
While Miss Cordclia tmid she was not cow
ard. She quietly stepped toward the door wondering
who 1t could be, when the knock softly again
AS her specuatons could not solve the mystery, she
Calmly opened the door.
fierce gust OF windy rain swircd through the open
ing which partly blocked by timid, shrinking
figure, not at all like the bold knights OF Miss Pcneys
dreams The man soaking wet; his clothes
thin and old; his hat soddcn mass, He coughcd
deprccangy as he stood before her staring at her
meek cntrcaty
Come in out of the wet" she said stepping back
little from the entrance.
She had nothing Garth fear from this little man
who appeared wrctchedly cold and miserable The
newcomer needed no second invitation Closing the
door quickly after him. he stood Shiycring the spot
less threshold of the clean, warm little
Miss Cordelia although her heart was full of COM
passion for the poor man, looked very grmly him.
He therefore resisted the inclination to step
the stove. although he could not check involuntary
movement IN that direction.
You go there and sit down. said Miss
Peney, pointing to wooden rocker the
Thank you, ma am you're very good" replied the
little man. bowling not ungraccfuly and eagerly avail
ing himself of the permission
I'm sorry went Miss Cordca, that 1 have no
garments in the house suitable to your sex .r,;
hcatll dry out soon
And now" asked the lady what do you want"
down on my luck I amt really tramp although 1
seem So l was workin' back East with engineering
gang and had accident and got sick and spent six
months a-a- hospital They discharged me from
there cured, although amt been well since heard
that the Arapahoe and Pacific Railroad was dom some
buildn' and walked here from Kansas City, and find
I'm Just too late The road bulldin gang is filed and
they've gone to the mountain division two hundred
miles from here. | haven't had nothin to eat all day;
! couldn't get any work, and ] haven't got cent of
money | thought maybe you or your husband could
give bite 10 eat and place to sleep for the night
II you've got any chores to do-wood to split, any
thing like that garden to spadeIl be glad to do 1t
Il have no husband" said Miss Cordelia the blood
flaming into her checks with sort OF shame that she
should be forced TO such a confession
Il beg pardon, ma'am I'm sure; widow likely
asked the little man respectfully that no one could
I'm unmarried" answered Miss Cordelia severely
You don't say was the comment and there was
infused in Just the requisite degree of surprise to
escape the charge of pcrtnence and yet TO convey to
the listener a sense of amazement that rare an op-
portunty had been neglected by the other sex
suppose, then, that can't stay here!" continued
the little obviously.
How did you happen to come hereF asked MISS
why YOU see, ma am. started 10 walk down the
line TO the and it on to rain and yours
the last house-and, I'm ashamed to say. went went
around to the side of the house and peepcd IN And
you looked so nice and comfortable, ma am settin
there all alone by the fire, said to myself George
George Smets is my name, ma am-Ccorge, there's
lady that has kind heart and if God has distributed
things right she'll have good husband and it'll be safe
for poor outeast to appeal TO them
The hattcry OF the grosseSt kind, but there was
an air of sincerity about the little that robbed it
Of much that was offensive. Miss Cordclia had been
little attcrcd rarely even noticed tha She SWd
I'm sure she said, THAT that is very nicely sad, sad
around but it would hardly be- she hcsitatcd-
proper You understand?
"a OF course, ma am, beng gentleman, see. I'm
sorry troubled you thank you Tor having TOOK INC
Mr. Smets's grammar hardly as good as his
manners
self comfortable" said Miss Cordclla, and I'll 60 into
the kitchen and sec if l can find something Tor you to
An old maids arder is not very good, foraggng
place to find things for hungry man But MISS cor
della managed to assemble quite scrvleea9e meal & lot
the little man picked up his napkin, snowy SpotlesS, Ill
his grimy hand, the contrast struck him
If you please ma am" he said is there any place
] can wash my hands?
But your coffee will get cold" demonstrated Miss
Pcney
Il had rather drink cold coffee with clean hands.
ma am, and pure heart" said Mr. sncts, than hot
coffee without it I'm hungry as dog amt had
nothn' to-day, but I'd rather wash my hands
You'll find a basin and soap and roller towel IN
the kitchen" said Miss Pcney. who thoroughly ap-
proved the pious sentiments OF her guest
Then she covered the coffee cup with the saucer and
sat down 10 await her guests return
He came back a short time, looking really quite
prcsentablc. With 0c bow, stiiy returned by the
lady he sat dcwn at the table
Miss Pcnlcy lifted her hand
Grace before meat" she said
rue, ma'am" said Mr. Smcts but I'm not
pT@icssin Christian; will you say il for me?
Allss Penlcy and repeated her invocation: Mr