Griggs courier., 1888-01-20

thing l kin put ter my mouth afore
die. it'll be some tea brewed in thet
pot"
serena's voice had grown husky. and
the little nervous tremor quivered
again about Mary Bells lips.
But it'll have ter CO." resumed
Serena, clearing her throat FER ni..' =.
er on us hez anv m" rich. 20 II 'han
the otl,o~ kinder hope Mis- Ames
won't get hor Of it; she's mighty pore
house-keeper. an thern. hays o'hern'd
break it up in no time; IT, sy'd wan tor
,.--''- :. 'onz it hez Chine mon on it,
an mighty pale-complectel ~ look.
too-an' no wonder, fer tn. Doc
tor seq the Chinee people sid any
es forty in q cubby-hole.
smitch o air."
TOO much air is . hea
nsne. l bout reckon. respon
Bell. with toss Of her head;
the tenderer memories arese
dow OF their estrangement
Serena shut the closet doo1
snap like closing jaws, and M
went to the front door again,
this time she did not touch
card.
1t had rained at intervals d,
day. and some few drops wer
ing slantwise in the air; thd
been gray and dark. but it
warmer tint now, as If cheer =
prophecy of setting sunlight.
the low hills rose, dim, misty all
ing in hue SO little from the sky
as to look like great earth-born
merging upward; here and there
the bare branches of the poplars VIZ
strong white lights where the glance
of the departing day fell on them.
Some shining little pools aickered in
depressions of the worn pavement.
And now. as the yellow tone faded
from the sky, lights began to show
lurid haze-encircled radiance from
the houses; and mingling with the drop
and tinkle of the slight rain were heard
voices of the twilight-mothers calling
their little ones, children responding
with shrill halloes, and the stronger
tones of men jesting with each other as
they hurried home from work
There was u lump in Mary i,,,:::.' :
throat as she turned back into the
house. lighter with its single candle
than the world outside, for night had
breathed upon the distant dwellings
now and filmed them in an untathom-
able blue-gray mist.
Serena was arranging the evening
meal on the kitchen table. II jedged
we might ez we'll hev soon supper,
an be done with it," she said as they
sat down.
Afterward they washed the dishes.
fastened the windows, each with nail
fit into hole over the lower sash,
and went up the steep, narrow stairs to
bed. The blinds were carefully drawn.
an1 night toilets made; each washed
her face in buttermilk, and fastened
net over her crop of wasted ringlcts.
Then they lay sttf1y down side by
side, with the window slightly open by
way of compromise.
1t was day when Serena awoke from
a nap which had only fallen upon her
weary brain toward morning; she saw
that Mary Bell was sleeping quietly,
so she moved softly to the window and
sat awhile looking out, and wondering
dimly if any other place would ever
Wear SO swcetly familiar an aspect.
The clear morning air revealed things
in broad masses of light and shade;
over the bit of grass the fence cast its
semblanee in long. distinct lines, and
the naked branches We're. every twig
of them, half black. half white.
Very soon after breakfast the neigh
bors began to arrive. for an auction
was not an event to be lightly consid-
cred II so small a place. They were
mostly women who had come to get
piece of furniture that might "go
cheap" or some of the china dishes
which the Hughes girls were known to
have; later on, when tho house itself
was to be sold. the men of the town
would attend.
Mary Bell and Serena. in their best
gowns of thin crinklcd black silk, re-
ceived the people with the subdued air
of mourners in a house of death. Each
Of them held starched white hand
kerchief in her folded hands. They
had not spoken to each other since
getting ip. but they stood close IT,