Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-10-02
THE HoHE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY

4 N 1tcE OF u. SAID haIe. Q1S1luI I
handful Of hair-piDs upon the table. anl
letting Big brown braid 20 tumblins
down her back
$50 am ]. (" said Beth.
80 ab II said Naunie. who wa.
suffering with dreadful cold
'sUhaf s II. giriss-' said I. turning
ny book face down on my lap
-1fs the suppers,n said Beth
~lrs the everlasting gossip said
Kate.
.Il's 50 differed from hobe." said
Saneie. 10 whom boarding-house life
Uas new experience.
lit 5 all three. aid much more. - was
Hhat i wanted % say. but bcin~ the
oldest of tho four. Il seemed mT duty
10 make the best Of things; so I said.
quite cheerfully- Il didn't see anything
uDusual abOut the supper fo-nighf-' -
That's the trouble. " gr0zned Beth.
at was alf0gC1her too usual. am so
tired of bread and butter and suDIe
sauce and dry cake that / feel ike
crashing nv teeth af the sight OF them.
] should Ike n piece Of toast OF 4 bowl
of bread and Enilk occasionally, with
c1t being made fO feel that I had dis
arranged the whole internal economy
Of the house"
The suppers are bad enough. - said
Kate. .'bnt they are nothing 70 the gos-
SIP In tired Of hearing il whispered
round that Mr. johnson and his wife
bad \ Cuarrti n their room last uirht.'
e that Miss Robinson has wc-a thnee
Few dzesscs this month. or IT, Mr..
I..r l.
night. and il s0lE1def as though be fan
uQ-stairs.' BaAr' and Kate looked as
sc7En5nl rs round face with dimple
ia it would allow
Il cucld stad eFerTfhig else said
ranase. III Il xas cslly hobe-Iike. OH
i ] could 0diy sit dowd in = c!ead
kiicAed. with BY feet in the store owed.
and see braided mat in fred of the
stove with dice Cat cd Il, should be
ne5eglv h.bby.n
We all langhed af this idea Of bliss.
but after the laHgh there was a sudden
silence. for each one Of rs necalied such
4 kitchen. and Ehc Presence that had
made i home-lixe-
We uere not sisters. or ercn kin 4,
each other. but meeting As strangers in
city boarding -house. = strong trend
ship had grown M between rs. start
lnE. l think N the fact that VIC were
each orphaned and had our living 10
Sarn. and strengthened BY many con
genial sasies. We were doing our daiIv
daiies in rather : brave. cheerful way.
usually with few c0mplaiufs. but To-
night VIC were under clOnd. Outside.
\ November ran was lashinx the win-
doEs. and inside. the stove smoked.
* was payday 81 the Eanufacforr
where k2se was book keeper. and t'nat
vas always 4 hard day for her Beth
mad worried two Of her dulless pauiIs
through the-r music lesson and I had
hsd time IN srhe0l that afternoon with
Eresch OF boy. and was at my wits /
end what 81 do with him on the NOR
iuT; and Mamie was more than half
sick-s0 we sat there quite sfiH for
awhile Finally Beth sad. Il suppose /
We might make these rpoms look It
.le p'easantcr- We each have 4 few
pictures and knick-knAcks.
DO yaa suppose / would hang rnr +.
iau pictures against this awful paper
ssid kafc- ..Besides. What would he
the uses just as We got everrth;nv
n.celF liked some man wcu'S want The
r0ou- and Ee should be invited 10 90
up higher I've boarded in tbs
house two years. and in that time I've
advanced from the first foor back 10
the third foor front. and two moves
more vii take me ont on The reuf -
We bsght go snbwhene e'se.- said
Mamie
'-0h. you poor little innocent.'
laugaei Beth s-You'd schanre the
place ane keep the pan They're al
zbout AXE"
At this Mamie lifted such Voc
segone face that / felt something must
be done
.'Glris' said L in my mos impressive
manner.
Brs here there was an fnts-rrupfion.
or Mamie let the rocking-ohzir and
'l1shed t0Eard the bed.
--0a- Nannie." cred Kate don't
nuss the bed; it's hard enough any,
ray" Bot she spoke too late. for IN
Ter TIE combined influence of home
sickness and izfsscuzA Mamie had
lung herself on the bed in foriorn
tide heap and was lifting up her voice
n hoarse cry
Inis WAS simply dreadful.
Beth and pnrTed over and cuddled :
ier. and Kate sliDped downstairs and |
oaxed the cross kitchen-girl into max
az bowl Of sage tea and By the time
he was back with Il the invalid was
0meWhaf comfortcd
When quiet was restored I spoke !
gz-n- ..tiirls, lets 90 20 housekeeo- |
NJ" Mamie stopped the boxl half
Tny to her lips. Beth sat upright on the ,
rEnk. and hate dropped the stick Of ,
rood in her hand back into the box.
Where's the furniture coming .
unmF' said she.
s.Who'I pay the billss'' said Mamie. !
Who'll do the work. said Beth. {
tho was born south OF Mason and
lixon's line
s-We'H all DO il, said !. answering
b l.sst question first. land as for the {
zrnishing. that needn't r0st SO very
luch. and about the bilis-Kate. how /
inch do we al pay week." /:
-Four times i've IS twenty. and two
oIlars for washing. makes twenty |
70. s-id Kate, with bookkeeping :
why" said Beth. beginning 20 be =
zzer. --Iofs Of families live On less than !
nj. and pay for everything out Of il - ]
lothes and doctors bills and every !
sing
Wei. xe talkef tn midnight. and {
x more we talked the mo feasible
ie scheme seemed and il was decided 4
m Nc should commence tenement :
IIriiag the very next morning; and :
.-er belh and / had zone - our owK }