West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-07-11

on, the growing tvinge confirmed her
fear.
Hitty looked about hclplessly. There
was neat white house near by; and as
she stood obviously regarding it, a woman
IN acaiico dress and apron came out OF il.
II seen YOU from the windowlp she
called out, cheerfully. "Hurt your foot.
nam I yous Jest wait till git TO you. I"
She gave her an arm 10 lean on, and
they got into the house, rather slowly.
Hitty told her, as they WENT as much Of
the story as seemed necessaryr.
well, said the woman, -6espit!ably.
''all you've got to do Is Jest ia wait here
tall somebody comes along back and takes
you in--that won't be till afternoon.
'tain't likely. We hain't any team. or
I'd take you myself. No, hain't going
TO Upton. Don't care cent about their
doings, whatever they be. oh, l can
keep you Jest rs well as not--you needn't
say a wordln
You're awful goodp said Hitty,
gratefully.
But she was in the lowest possible
spirits She was thinking OF Phii--Phil,
working away, all alone, in the orchard
or the potato-feld, firm in the belief that
she was in Upton, enjoying herself.
She half forgot her ankle, though il
forced itself upon her sharply now and
then; she worried about Phil.
Nobody could have been kinder than
her impromptu hostess. She pulled the
big rocker close TO the fire and put Hitty
into it, and hustled about in the kitchen
over the dinner, coming in frequently to
speak friendly word to her guest.
A lank man in working blouse came
IN at dinner-time, and added his powers
of entertainment TO those of his wife.
Hitty said yes and no, End laughed
when occasion required; but vision of
Phil, eating his cold beef and potatoes,
lonesomely, from the cupboard shelf, kept
rising before her, dampening her enjoy
ment and spelling her appetite.
"Well, now, " said her hostess, ,cncourag.
ingly, as she put away the last dinner
dish, and brought her chair and her
knitting TO the fire, 81 guess IL won't be
great while till somebody comes along.
You want 10 have your foot tended to
jest as soon as you git home. know
what sprained ankle is; guess you won't
be able TO help your ma much for ono
while. Married1 Well, | declared I
shouldn't ha' thought ia little slip like
you'll"
She talked on pleasantly, turning now
and then to look out of the window for
home-bound vehicle.
Hitty watched, too, anxiously.
"Therepn she cried at last, interruptinp
her entertainer in an account of the re-
markable symptoms and sudden death of
her husbands sister-in-law by his first
wife.
She got up and limped hastily to the
window, npd gave little gasp of aston
ishment and delight.
'Why, it's Phil!" she said.
The driver, catching sight Of her,
stopped his horse and stared at her.
"Shc's sprained her ankle" said her
hostess, speaking loudly, over her shoulder; |;
land she'd take it as a great favor il
you'd jest give her lift home. No, no"
she interrupted Hitty's thanks, good
naturedly-"I hain't done nothing to
speak of, child2 When you get out this
way, / hope you'll drop in and-----n
She paused abruptly, regarding with
astonishment the young driver, who had
come up the walk with long strides,
seized the girl in his arms as she started
to limp down the steps, and carried her
out to his buggy.
Hitty cluDg to Phil's arm with tender
closeness, as they drove awoy, and poured
her unhappy little history into his eager
ears.
81 was hurrying Just rs fast ne
could, she said, vehemcntly "It was
mean, bad thing 20 go AZ all, when you
couidn't-poor old boy never will do
such horrid thing again
"Therc amt going 10 have you take
all the blame Phil interrupted. "eYon
haiu't asked how ] happened out here9
Wei, / got to thinking that mebbe I'd
ben crosser'n needed 10 be about Il. So
! just hitched up and pointed for Upton; /;
any when / couldn't find you anywhere,
nor the Patchins either, in all the rum
pus, come back home feeling pretty
blue, tell you. No, sir; it didn't pay,
that little disagreement didn't. We won't
have no more, Hitty-that's all.
Old Mrs. Pierce standing at her win
dow saw them drive In at their gate,
laughing and chatting in unrestrained
gaiety.
81 suppose must ha' been mistaken
about that little tiff o. their'n, she said
10 Miss Gardner, some time afterward.
"I guess they didn't hev none; i s'pose
my old eyes and ears must ha' ben play
in me a trick They seem TO git along
wonderful well together. They're about
the peacefullest couple ever did see.
Black eyes and red hair don't seem to
make no difference-for once"