, 1886-09-05
CINNAMON ROSES. {

him IN some places. Ont cOuiu see tho
gray wood through it. The establish
ment had a generally declining look; the
shingles were scaling from the roof. the
fences were leaning. All the bit of new
ness and smartness about it was the
front door. That was painted n bright
blue.
Cinnamon rose-bushes grew in the
square front yard. They were full OF
their little sweet ragged roses now. With
their silent, lowly persistency they a
overrun the whole yard. There was no
stepping-room between them. They
formed a green bank against the house
walls; their branches reached droopingly
across the front walk, and pushed
through the fence. Children on the
sidewalk could pick the roses.
Four men coming up the street with a
business air looked hesitatingly at this
rose-crowded front yard when they
neared it.
Thar amt no use goin' in thar into
that mess Of prickly roses" said ne-a
large man with q happy smile and swag-
ger.
ave are obliged by law to have the
sale on the premises" remarked another,
blandly and authoritatively. He was a
light-whiskered young fellow, who wore
better clothes than the others. and held
a large roll of papers SYSTEMATICALLY.
"Oh dear." they heard distinctly. in a
shill, weak, womanish voice, with an
unnatural strain on it-"oh dear! oh dear
me! lear met" Then followed loud hys-
terical sobs; then the voice kept on: "Oh.
father, what made you leave me?-what
made you die an leave me? want fit
10 be left alone. Oh, father oh, motherl
oh. Luciny. l amt got anybody-l
amt, not anybody. Oh dear. oh dear
me! dear me!'
II heard she took on awfully bout it,
said the a%uctioneer.
"Well, you might as well go on" said
the lawyer; duty br- to be performed,
no matter how unpleasant"
The a%uctioneer commenced his read
ing of the statement of the conditions OF
tho sale, then the bidding began. That
was soon over. since there were only two
bidders. The old man, who held the
mortgage, which had Deer foreclosed,
bid with nervous promptness the exact
amount of his claim. Then a man at
the cherry tree made n bid of a few dol
lars more, and he was pronounced the
purchaser.
Going. going-gonel" said the auction
neer, ito William Havers."
William Havers fingered about his new
estate until the others had departed,
which they did as soon as the necessary
arrangements had been completed. They
x,optal 20 la out 80 kaav,nx ~ fhAea oaI
cries and complaints.
Havers strolled out to the road with
them. When he saw them fairly started,
he went swiftly back to the house, to
the side door.
He knocked cautiously. Directly the
cries broke out louder and shriller.
They've come TO order me out Oh
desrl oh dear! dearl dear! They've come
to order me out-they hev, they hevl"
Steps approached the door swiftly; it
opened, and a woman appeared. She
looked pale and troubled, but she was
not the one in such bitter distress, for
of the house.
How do you do. Mr.. Havers?" said
the woman, with grave formality.
Can l see. her q minute?- he asked,
hoarsely.
"ElsieY l don't know. She's takin'
on dreadfully. She amt fit to see any
body. I'm afraid she wouldn't"
IF she'd only see me a minute. I've
got something / wan to say particu-
lar"
well, I'll see.r
She disappeared, and directly the
voice, which had been a little more sub
dued, waxed louder.
"No, l won't see him; / won't; l
can't. l won't see anybody. 1 never
want to see anybody again as long as |
live. oh deari dearl"
at amt any use," said the IN
coming back. "She amt fit to see any
body; she's most crazy. She don't know
what she's sayin', anyhow"
Then you tell her-you go right in an
tell her now-she kin stay here. 1t don't
make any odds about my buyin' the
place; l won't live here. She kin keep
right on stayin' here jest the same"
A door opened suddenly, INC another
woman appeared. She was n pitiful
sight. She had a little slim bony figure
which seemed to tremble in every joint.
Every line in her small face wavered and
quivered; her blue eyes were watery and
bloodshot; her skin all blotched and
stained with tears She was so disigured
by grief that it was impossible to judge
Of her natural appearance. She would
have been hideous had not her smallness
and frsilty in her distress made her pite-
Gus.
Now, however, something besides sor.
row seemed to move her. She was all
alive with a strange impotent wrath,
which was directed against William
Havers.
She clinched her red. bony hands; her
poor eyes flashed with indignation,
though the force OF it was lost through
their fearful weakness.
IL guess ! won't keep on stayin' here.
she snapped, in her thin. hoarse voice
Il guess | Won't. You needn't offer me q
home. I've got one pervided. | ain
quite destitute yet. You needn't think
you're goin' to come roun' now on
smooth matters over. l know why you'v,
done it. You can't blind me. You'v,
been watchin' all the time for a chanc,
to pay us back"
Il don't know what she means" said
Havers, helplessly, to the other women
"Lor, she don't know herself. She''
got kind OF a notion that you'reto hlam,
for buyin' the place. She'll know better
o-morrow."
Its a good deal better for me to bu,
it than Steadman.r said Havers, with 4
troubled look. Il shell let her keep righI
on here. To tell the truth. l bought th'
place more fur