The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-07

TN fiction. the school mistress who fors,kss the
described as wild and woody - 'n Tada1iy
Penley was neither the nor the other nor the
Miss Penley was tall. The romancer would have
described her as slender the truh-teler would have
said she was skinny" Miss Peney's attire quite
in keeping with her appearance; both were severely
brow and tied in knot behind, which not even the
most vivid and generous imagination could have called
Alas. the memorable truth must be confessed. She
was homely. middle-aged woman. plain, modest I'M
Miss Cordelia, firing summer of her boarding
town and lived there alone with and canary bird
One rainy night in the spring. just as the knight OF Miss
upon the portculis of the CASTLE she recalled from
Spain to her cottage by feeble knock on the door
While Miss Gordella was tmld she was not COW
who it could be, when the knock came softly again
AS her specuations could not solve the mystery she
fierce gust Of windy rain sw1ed through the
ssr mot al Rfs e he knights Of Pee
dreams. The soaking wet; his clothes were
thin and old; his hat sodden mass He coughed
deprecatng he stood before her. staring at her IN
Come in out of the wet" she said, stepping back
She had nothing on earth to fear from this little
who appeared wretchedly cold and miserable. The
door quickly after him. he stood shivering the spot
less threshold of the clean, warm little room.
nass;on for the poor man. looked very grimy at him
He therefore resisted the inclination to step to
the although he could not check an involuntary
"You can 60 over there and sit down." said Miss
Penley pointing to wooden rocker near the stove
Thank you ma'am; you're very good replied the
little man. bowling not ungracefully and eagerly avail
ing himself Of the permission ..,.
I'm sorry" went on Miss Cordella, " that have no
garments in the house suitable to your sex"
1t don't matter, ma'am," answered the man. This
9 And now" asked the lady, what do you want?",
said the ,esy 4se ahoa aTtr
seem 50. was wortin back East with an engineering
gang and had accident and got sick and spent SIX
Sers aous Amt Ms
that the Arapahoc and Pacific Railroad was dom some
5udn and walked here from kansas CITY nd sn
they've gone on the mountain division two hundred
miles from here haven't had nothn to eat all day:
money thought maybe you or your husband could
give bite to eat and place to sleep for the night
thing i like that OF garden to spade-m be glad
IL have no husband" said Miss Cordelia the blood
flaming into her cheeks with sort of shame that she
should be forced to such confession.
beg I'm IA, widow ssud
I'm MUM unmarried" answered Miss cordea severely.
"You don't say!" was the comment, and there was
infused in it just the requisite degree of surprise to
escape the charge of mpetnence and yet to to
portunity had been neglected BY the other sex.
II suppose then that can't stay here!" continued
How did you happen to come here?" asked Miss
cerd della -, .. m,,,m started to walk down the
line to the next town and came on to rain and yours
was the last house-and, I'm ashamed to say went
to tn: side Of . the hoss ,Gd in
there all alone by the fire. said to myself George
.dy tat hss kind hearty and # God has distributed
things right she'll have good husband and it'll be safe
for poor outcast to appeal to them iua ,,. .,.
Of much that was offensive. Miss Cordelia had been
little Aatered rarely even noticed that she swa-
I'm sure" she said "that that is very nicely said
should be glad to take you in if had men folks
"proper You understand"
sorry troubled you. thank you for having took me
Mr.. Smets's grammar was hardly as good his
We'll you sit down here BY the FIRE and make your
self comfortable" said Miss Cordela, and III go into
the kitchen and if find something for you to
An old maids larder is not very good foragng
della managed assemble quite serviceabe meal for
she adept the noble science of cookery When
the little picked up his napkin, snowy spotless, IN
his grimy hand, the contrast struck him.
- you please. ma'a1 he sa'd' is there any place
but your coffee will get cold" demonstrated Miss
had rather drink cold coffee with clean nands,
ma'am, and pure heart, said Mr.. Smets, than hot
coffee without it I'm as hungry as dog I amt had
nothin to-day, but I'd rather wash my hands"
you'll find basin and soap and roller towel in
the kitchen" said Miss Penley. who thoroughly ap-
proved the pious sentiments of her guest.
Then she covered the coffee cup with the and
sat down await her guests return
He came back in short time, looking really quite
presentable. With little bow, stfay returned by the
lady. he sat down at the table
Miss Penley lifted her hand
"Grace before meat" she said
True ma am" said Mr. Smets "but I'm not a
professin' Christian: win you say it for me?"
Miss Peney rose and repeated her invocation. Mr..