The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-01-20

III @84& - ~ 49, 49, - - - =
,een gray and dark. but Il was a . 1
warmer tint now. - Il eheered By :
prophecy q setting sunlight Far "a
he low hills rose. dim. misty and vary
In hue 90 little from tho sky itself
IS 10 look like q great earth-born cloud
merging upward; here and there ON
The bare branches % the poplars wore
strong white lights where tho glance
q the departing day fell on them
Some shining little pools fickered IN
deprcssions Of the worn pavement
And now. as the yellow tone faded
from the sky. lights began TO show
lurid haze-cncirclcd 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 hallocs. and the stronger
tones Of men jesting with each other -
they hurried home from work.
There was = lump in Mary Bells
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 unfathom-
able blue-gray mist
Serena was arranging the evening
meal on the kitchen table. II jedged
we might ez well hev a soon supper
an be done with it" she said as they
sat down.
Afterward they washed the dishes,
fastened the windows. each with . nail
fitted into a hole over the lower sash.
and went up the steep. narrow stairs TO
bed. The blinds were carefully drawn,
and night toilets made; each washed
her face in buttermilk. and fastened q
net over her crop Of wasted ringlets-
Then they lay stinly down side BY
side. with the window slightly open by
way Of compromise.
1t was day when Serena awoke IRON
a nap which had only fallen upon hel
weary brain toward morning; she saw
thar Mary Bell was sleeping quietly
50 she moved softly to the window AM
sat awhile looking out. and wonderful
, dimly II any other place rould eve
wear so sweetly familiar an aspect
I The clear morning air revealed thing
. in broad masses Of light and shade
over the bit Of grass the fence cast 4
semblance in long. distinct lines an
/, the naked branches were. every twi
!, Of them, half black. half white
!, Very soon after breakfast the neigl
!, bors began I 0 arrive. for an auctio
!. was not an event to be lightly consi'
" cred in so small . place. They We
! mostly women who had come to get
piece OF furniture that might 4
: cheap or some Of the china dish
n which the Hughes girls were known
have; later on. when tho house its'
r was 10 be sold. the men Of the tov
- would attend.
= Mary Bell and Serena. in their bs
gowns OF thin crinklcd black silk.
IN ceived the people with the subdued
er Of mourners in house Of death IA
=; az them held = starched white hal
~ kerchicf in her folded hands Al
had not spoken to each other on
an getting up. but they stood close
no cethcr. lest any a should imsgl
e. there was any III feeling animati
them.
Presently . little oma with p
ewes and light red hair fluttered
% ..How de do. Miss Hughes?" she q
ny shriIly. s.'Pcars like you-all are 60
o. ter hev : pretty day fer the sale
SEE ter Amcs this mo'nin': 'Ames
az SEE. I'm goin' ter pick mp an 60
.ry the auction. an I'll buy some o th
MS tells You set seeh : heap by ne
yer wuz raised ter do sech-all things I
ek- SET: bein's e. our folks he'd Niger
never e. much e. turned my han
o. do = lick till / got married An
YES! l reckon I'll hev ter bid on
lay blush teapot yander; recourse q
ont sixable 'nough fer my family. but
IN johnny he don't gi' me no rest -
she term fer a savin's-bank-he's q IL
one fer four year-an' ! tolc him
God mc'nin': You. John, ct you'll
set that mouth o. yourn. I'll look *
ter ter the Hughes fer : ole-style tea-ca
mo- err somethin' tibet ain't much count
she fetch yer it fer a bank
let Serena swallowed : gulp Of indil
est ton; Mary Bell. with the odd jerl
at her lips. said that it was not u
de- that q china teapot would 60 for p
not ing.
Then Squire Tolliver, the auction
am came in. red-faced and clustering
i O. inclined to be very humorous
las sHry'rc We. Miss Hughes-purty
she " this mo'nin'f' he asked genial,
the Serena raised her gray head "
10 movement which Get the little
me twitching like coils Of tine
pin Folks don't genulIy feel ovcr-live
any 4 SALE" she said. coldly.
4 LAW, now. Miss Screny. I didn
thet ter hurt your fcelin's nohow; ice
way o spcakin'. Blame ( 1 :
. hate ter do this hycre business
cred middiin' like an undertaken; 70
hcy lived right cheer ' 9 sencc ]
'med knee-high : : duck, an l'spi'
eth the face o the ycarth % sell you
than blame Il don't"
Ames Serena accepted his apologize