The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-01-26

Ben. | knew made tile oven too hot
That's scorch
Ben looked closely at the plaster and
then at her, rubbing the wisp of gray
hair on his bald crown. Then he broke
I into laugh:
! "All the better; that gives them look
! Of age, that scorch does"
We'll, | did not think of that
thoughtfully.
''Well, did. 1 never seen finer works
of art than that entire row of Virgin
Marys. Take my Judgment for it; I'm
older than you, Winifred.
II think they are well done''--with a
complacent nod. Dear, dear! 8 O'Clock
and Leonard net herel The mullins will
be quite over the pan-and he's q ter
E1ble fellow for mullins"
Ben busted the plaster from his scuffed
coat, buttoned it, combed out his thin
gray whislsers, and sat down, erect as a
flagstaff, on the side of the fire. 1t was
little three cornered room, Winuy's
kitchen, with rows of tins, and strings
Of brown onions and scarlet peppers
along the white wall On one side was
the door to Uncle Ben's room--on the
other, the door to hers. The supper
table was set, the muffin rings waiting,
the sausages ready to fry. She hurried
in to straighten her collar and tie again
the ribbon in her soft brown hair, and
when she had hurried out again she
could think Of nothing else to do, or wish
for that night or for the rest of her life.
II nd II 10
would be his ho1ne
Uncle Ben, who was very skillful at
carving, had made dog head wooden
knocker for the door. with "Heath' COM
ing out of the mouth. 1t was his little
joke to greet them when they came back
from church on their wedding day.
There was q scufling of feet scraping
the mud off at the door presently, and
Joe and his wife Bessy came in Just to
see the busts set out. No, they wouldn't
stay; they wouldn't spoil LENS surprise.
But was there ever a girl as handy as
WinnyY And although they had been
in the secret all along since the day that
the Italian boy Seppy began to show
Winny how to mix the clay, and had
both sat GREATNESS over the oven while
pagan gods and Christian saints baked
tremendously together, they went over
them all again, admiring even F'lora's
snub nose and an unfortunate leer in the
eyes of st. Paul.
s'Thers some very life like touches Their,
Winny," said Joe, critically. you've
give them the look OF people I've knowed
It's good work"
Its genius, is what I'd call it," ejacu-
lated Uncle Ben.
''Tm sure don't care for myself, said
Winny. Il don't know now as Leonard
would like to marry genius. But this
is what think OF Joe"-putting her fat
hand on his shoulders. 'sIt'l be very
pleasant for me, when he's hammering
in the shop yonder, to have my paddle
IN the cellar here, and help keep the
wolf from the door with it. OF course,
if I've got the genius, so much the bet.
tern--her dimpling face growing pink.
'sBut even as it is, the plasters pay three
times as much as slop work"
.'Ah, now you talk to the pointf' cried
Mrs. Joe. .sWhen you've been married
as long as have, you'll learn to count
the pennies. Genius is good in its way,
but it's poor stuff to make the pot boil,
or to put turnips in itl''
"It's you for hard sense. Bess!' Joe
nodded significantly to the others. There
was moments respectful silence. for by
dint of the daily firing Of such hard,
bnllety maxims among them, Mrs. Joe
had begun to be a power in the family,
and was regarded as holding the tight
rein of common sense over the Heath
affairs in general, though there was
really as much lfrmness in the fair,
pudgy little woman as in bowlful of
sweet jelly.
"Here's LEM" cried Joe, as quick I'M
certain step ratified on the board walk
without. Lets be off, Bass. We won't
spoil Winny'5 plansn-hurrying her to
the door, while she and Winny pecked
kisses at each other, and chatted about
Besss baby's collie to the last breath,
after the manner Of women. "Hillo,
Len!'-giving him pound on the back
as he passed them in the narrow path.
"Beeu Numbering about that nusty old
house till now, thinking of the glory of
the Heaths, Ell? Be early at the shop in
the morning, mind"
''Joe?" after they had gone on rod or
two.
Eyes"
"Good-by," holding oat his hand.
"Good-by. Why, what ais you?
Your hands as dry and hot as punk.
Not touch Of your chills back, hey?"
dragging him to the light. anxiously.
Nothing ails me" peeYishly. Good
by, Elizabeth. You've bsen good and
kind to me since you were Joe's wife. I'll
not forget it. Your bread shall return
to you from the waters. The Heaths
were never ungrateful."
I'm sure OF that, Lanny. But don't
want my bread back.
He stood still, pressing both their
hands. II wish-I feel terribly alone, :"
he said. "No matter. The old knights
went out alone, and came back yictors. T"
You'd better go in and eat Winny's
mullins" said Joe, shortly.
Goodnight, Joe. Some day you will
better understand me-"
"Poor Winnyl What with the ague
and laziness, Lens tempers is CROWN
more than flesh and blood can stand"
said Mrs. Joe, as they walked on.
You're generally just TO him, Bess-
T He's raaf c1t.s,ttrc T.af,stur1 iss ha "a MI