The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-01-20

my dear, may help you to an
other small portion Of fowlf"
Thank you, no, Josiah, have a
full sufhcienoy"
The first speaker turned again to
their guest, Rev. Mr.. Robert Duncan,
who had come to take charge for two
months Of the little church in the
western village Of s., and who was
being entertained by the Rawlins for
the first time.
Did you hear that Miranda Spear,
our deacOn's wife, fell today on the ice
and broke her limb?"
mo-" asked the preacher, Il did
not" Then he asked, with q, certain
vagueness of sympathy pardonable
from the fact he had not met the un-
fortunate lady. WAS it an arm or q
leg2"
A tethered giggle here broke loose
from Sulalia, the only other onesat
the table, and a niece Of the hostess
who, In default Of other relatives, had
undertaken to raise" her. To Sup
press" her would have been a truer
statement of the case.
Mr.. Duncan, with responsive twin
kle in his eye, for the first time really
noticed the girl What a ridiculous
looking little creature she was, any
way, with her freckled face, Irish nose,
and two black plaits Of hair braided so
tightly they stood out from behind
her ears and curled up at the ends.
After the stilted meal was over and
Eulaha, notwithstanding her fourteen
years, sent at once to bed, Mrs. Raw
Inns volunteered some information re-
garding her troublesome charge. Her
poor romantic sister, It appeared, had
disgraced the family by eloping with
an Irish comedian, with whom, Mrs.
Rawlins was unwillingly bound to ad-
NIT, she was not actually unhappy,
even though such a marriage did
shorten her life. The husband, too,
died, and for three years their one
child had been living with them. Here
Mrs. Rawlins folded her hands piously
and expressed the hope the good Lord
would not hold her responsible, at
least not altogether, for the miserable
failure she had thus far made of
things; that at least he would give
her credit for having in her poor way
tried to do her humble best.
Mr.. Duncan, who was a very un-
conventional parson, was just about
to give utterance to most conven-
tional remark, when crash was heard
from the floor above.
TITS some Of that crazy stage seen
cry Euly's been rigging up in the loft.
I'd better go up and see If she amt
buried under 1t. She don't always go
to bed when she's sent"
With an air Of resignation, turning
to one Of indignation when well out of
sight, Mrs. Rawlins sailed OF discIaim-
ing any help from the men, who Of
fered to accompany her.
Mr., Rawlins half took his niece's
part. she's smart, that girl, in spite
Of her nonsense" he said to Mr.. Dun
can. "And she'd have the gumption,
every time. to pour sand down rat
hole" Now that his wife was out of
hearing as well, Josiah Rawlins felt
he could speak naturally again.
The next time Robert Duncan saw
was one afternoon when, re-
turning from visit to Deacon Spear,
he caught glimpse Of 1.-the little
figure dancing down the road Had 1t
not been for the right-angled pigtails
and stiff gingham apron he would
have thought her a verltable wood
nymph. such was her grace. The girl
stopped in pleased surprise, but
her books around from her
she found two or three had
slipped the strap,
Il suppose III have to find them"
she said. ruefully.
Then sudden impulse seized her.
Come" she said, 'T'll show you
how to dancel" She took the preach
ara hand. He was very nlmble-stiU