Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-11-23
'Yes; it's been pretty cold" Mrs. Emer-

MIS-. 6OOU6n luIUeO ueI tscS ou Lie
others face. Mrs. Emerson's hair was
quite curly over her temples; she used to
wear her hair in long curls 10 her waist
when she was little girl. Suddenly Mrs.
Gooden remembered them and how pretty
she had thought her They had been
schoolmates when they were girls.
Seems to me you look kind Of pale,
Nancy" said she.
Mrs. Emerson looked at her, then she
put her hands up to her face.
ooh, Lois,i' she sobbed, you dunno
what I've been through lately?'
Mrs Goodell sat immovable in her chair
but her eyes suddenly became red.
Don't take on so, Nancy. Mebbe the
worst of it's over" said she.
Il dunno how the worst of it's over.
Foster amt got a thing to do this winter,
an we amt got cent of money. Fanny's
had to put in all her poor little money to-
ward the interest. Oh, Lois, it's been
Dreadful
Mrs Goodeu had out her handkerchief
Look here, Nancy, there's somethin' L
want to say s'pose you've been feelin'
hard cause l amt been in, an know I've
had hard feelin's myself-an' I'm willin' to
let it all go now, an go back and forth iist
as we used to, if you are"
3
hardly speak. Il guess I'm wiIlin'r' she
said ooh Lois you dunno how it's wor-
ried me, when we used to be so intimatel
it's been a dreadful trial to me. I've told
Foster time an time again, that the wood
land weren't worth it. An 1 wish Mr..
Goodell had it this minute; we've jist had
it to pay taxes on this ten year, an that's
all it's amounted to. Iwish the lawyers
had decided the other way round"
There amt any use talkin' about that"
said Mrs Goodell WED better let that
all go, There's somethin' I'm goin' to ask
you, Nancy, an you mustn't be offended.
How are you off for things?''
Mrs. Emerson's tears seemed to suddenly
stop flowing, her pretty face grew very
red. Lois" said she, with certain dig
nifty, we're dreadful poor. It's much as
ever we've got enough to eat an wear"
"You wait minute" said Mrs. Goodell.
| She hurried out of the kitchen, and pres
emily returned with the basket. She set it
| down on the kitchen table, and turned to-
ward Mrs Emerson.
ut kinder makes me think of the times
when we was little girls an used to have
some of each others dinner, to school," she
| said.
| Mrs. Emerson looked at her and the bas-
ket. The tears were streaming over her
| cheeks again. Suddenly she took a step
| forward, and the two women had their
| arms around each other, and were crying
on each others shoulders. After a little
| they drew apart with q Shame-faced air.
Mrs. Goodell turned toward the basket
and began taking out the articles it con-
tanned. She had them all spread out on
| the table, when the door opened and Foster
Emerson and Hiram Goodell came in.
! They had been out in the barn talking
| Hiram had parcel under his arm. When
he and his wife saw each other. both looked
| frightened, but they said nothing She
greeted Foster, and he spoke to Mrs EN-
erson, as if it were an everyday call.
| Then he cast a comprehensive glance at
| the table, He recognized their basket.
He began undoing the bundle he carried.
II thought I'd bring you over a little
| Thanksgiving" he said in an abashed but
sturdy manner He looked defiantly at
| his wife, and slowly unrolled the news
paper that he had wrapped around the
bundle. Then he held it up. There were
| three pies, one set in another. Mrs. Good
ell made a spring forward.
''For the land sake, father" she cried,
eff you amt set the apple an the mince
pies right into the squash!n
Hiram stood still and eyed the pies dubi-
ously. Il declare I never thought about
that" said he.
Its jist as much as man knows" said
his wife
She helped Mrs. Emerson set the pies to
rights. The two men stood by and watched.
Foster Emerson's nervous face, grey
bearded and delicate-coIored as girls,
was radiant His deep-set blue eyes were
full of delighted excitement; now and then
the muscles around them twitched. All
at once he heard murmur of voices in
the sitting-room, and opened the door.
Then he made an exclamation. The others
all looked. There stood Fanny Emerson
and John Goodell in the middle of the
| floor. John had gone to the Emersons' in
the same way that his father did. They
had both gone up the road past the Bemis
| house, then turned into a lane, and struck
| off across lots behind their own, emerging
from another lane just above the Lord
house, into the high-rOad.
| Fanny and John were both blushing.
When John saw his father and mother, he
| looked abashed for a minute, then he
stepped forward boldly.
"Hullo you here?" said he; Il have been
making little call on Fanny"
| He surveyed the table, and the array of
food swiftly, then he placed some chairs
near the stove for himself and family, and
they sat down. Presently the others did
! also; it seemed like an ordinary neighbOrly
visit. By-and-by it was growing dusky,
and Mrs. Emerson brought out the tea
pot. Mrs Goodell helped her spread the
table and the two families had supper to-
gether.
1t was bright moonlight when the Good
ellis went home. John walked on ahead
whiStling, and his father and mother fol-
lowed more slowly. Now they were alone
together both felt somewhat stiff, and
embarrassed. 1t was not until they were
past the Lord house that Hiram spoke.
81 amt told you what told him I'd do,
have II" he queried.
| mo. you amt"
"Well, told him I'd give him a job cut
| ting wood for me all winter, if he wanted
it, and-I've bout made up my mind Tll
buy that woodland of him He can part
| pay up his mortgage if 1 do. The wood
won't be ready to cut on it for another ten
| year, an there's the taxes, but l dunno
| but I'd better"
| Hiram's old face in the moonlight had
at once rueful and heroic expression.
| SAA AASObS SpA u b0tlSls odAS LIS
wife, with a sigh.
1t was quite late when they reached
home, but late as it was, Jane Lord came
over again. She had cup and she wanted
to borrow some yeast. She did not sit
down, but she stood hesitating at the door,
after the cup was filled.
Il want to KNOW" said she, "if [ see
| you all coin' down the road to the Emer-
sons this afternoon"
Mrs. Goodell drew herself up She
| looked quite frigid and stately. Yes"
she replied; what of it?''
"Oh, nothing" Jane Lord looked in
| jured and crestfallen. 81 jist wondered
if 1 did see YOU
| John put on his coat again, and walked
| home with Jane and carried the yeast. She
! did not allude to the Emersons again.
| When he returned, he paused at his own
| gate, and stood for minute looking down
! the road. 1t was like broad track of
| silver in the moonlight. 1t seemed to
| him as if all the Thanksgiving of his life
/ would lie down the road TO the Emerson's.
| Mary e. Wilkins, in the HOme-lfGlter.
! Is Marriage a Failure.
Ask the Jewish housewife, the jew
iSl, mother. ,rbatl,o, foI1