Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-02-23

anu lueH AceAuSS, WV Ava S~J ~'S
proud"
Il don't doubt it, but not in any silly
way. or she wouldn't be her mothers
daughter. You can't remember her,
i Sue? She died when you were little
thing. She was my dearest friend
when we were girls together. We were
married on the same day, Valentines
Day. thirty-fve years ago this month.
Mary-this Mary. was married very
young. She's been widow now her
self year or two. It's we'll she had
the old place to come to. if she's got
nothing else. You'd better wait. SUI
sic. !" as her daughter opened the door.
Jack II be here right away and carry
you down."
mo. no! It's not snowy to stick.
it's frozen, you know"
| And in a moment she was in the
road. She had gone only a few steps.
however. when the young doctor drove
back again. sooner than was his wont,
and the watching mother saw him
rein in his hose, and witt oat waiting
her assent, spring out and help her in.
''She couldn't help it this time. She
thought he wouldn't be coming back
FOR half an hour yet. don't see what
does make her act so offish. She was
good friends enough with him last
year when she was sick; seemed to
like him first rate. And when father
broke his arm she used to be sociable
like; but lately she just keeps out of
the way all she can. l verify b'lieve
she'd have gone to that Hallowe' en-
party at the Wylder's last fall, if some
of EN- hadn't made some silly speech
about DR.. Worthly's being there, and
about the charms they'd try. and sot
her against it. l wanted to tell her
she mustn't mind their senseless
speeches; that the doctor want to
blame for what parcel of foolish girls
took into their heads to say. nor
couldn't help it. mebbe. if they was all
after him. But land, the child
must find out some things for herself;
if she does suffer some between
whiles."
But Jack. returning from his milk
route with pung full of empty cans.
throwing the reins to his father. and
coming in cold and hungry, drew his
mothers attention for the time to his
own noisily-voiced wants.
That evening, though the Goals
glowed softly in the si:ting-room
CRATE, and the canary chirped wake
fully in his cage. as though longing for
company. though the shaded lamp filled
the room. in its daintiest, Coolest order,
with restful light, the little mistress of
the house brought, after tea her sew
nigel and her basket of mending.
near where she had placed her hus-
bands straight backed rocker and his
slippers. on the kitchen hearth-rug.
His papers and his spectacles were
there. too. A bubbling kettle. which
held part of the morrow's breakfast,
and demanded watching, was her os-
tensible excuse. But she knew that
Dr. Worthy was coming in for book
Sue had; and IF her fathers in the
room, she will never open her lips"
she reasoned. And Mother willie
had. moreover. other plans of her own
to further, more disinterested and I'M
selfish than any even that concerned
her children. She went to the cellar
with Father Wyllie and held the light
while he filled the tin basin she held
with Nodheads and Astrakans and
Northern Spies. She peered with him
into the vegetable bins. noting how
we'll the potatoes were holding out.
and the beets and turnips were spend
ing. She agreed with him that next
month they must sort over and take a
LOAD or two to town. They peeped at
the barrels of russets and baldwins. and
tho box of late winter pears. and looked
an>iously and approvingly into the
beef and pork barrels and at the row
of hams hanging over them.
A cellar is not usually place to de-
:a:n one by its invitingness. Yet
New England cellar. after harvesting.
If it belong to a thrifty New England
farmer, will bear close inspection and
give some substantial and reasonable
assurance of future creature comforts.
in days when the mercury is in the
zeroes, and the fertile fields are frost
bound. 1t and its contents lie at the
foundations both of good housekeeping
and good cheer. And tho wife on their
return settled herself very quietly with
her darnins g. while farmer Wyllie stirred
the fire, took off his boots and put on
his slippers. She listened and approved
as he told of live tons and half of
hay. sold out Of his big barn." the
money for which should go into the
bank tomorrow. and of the brindle
cow he had been keeping for beef.
which Judkins would pay him SO good
a price for. he thought he should sell
her. Aud she brought the almanac for
him to verify his dates as he recorded
sundry transactions And her oppor-