The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-13
President Tnhbs had the Measure Of

I
eating his dinner alone For supper he
was few minutes late. There was an
! other place prepared at the table. lie
interrupted inquiries about it by pre-
senting himself OPPORTUNITY with the
occupant, a lady.
"Let me introduce my wife to you,
ma'am. l telegraphed her this morning
! after you left me. | told her to come
right along here and divert her mind.
| can stand the expense. She didn't
want to come in to supper but told her
you would excuse her appearaD ,e,
| ma'am. She hasn't had any time TO tx
up; been travelling ever since three.
The funeral came off at ten. Sister An
ME passed away easy and quiet as a
baby going to Sleep
| Mention has not been made of his
voice. 1t was trumpetal in its volume
of sound, and his words, heavy, unmod-
ulated projections, fell like missiles OF
wood on the ears.
at was an elegant funeral, my wife
says, and the parsons address she con.
siders a triumph of oratOry." This last
| sentence seemed also a matter of pride
with him. Il told my wife that she
would like you. Mary, didn't tell you
you that you would like He touched
her on the shoulder to corroborate his
And now, ma am, what shall we do this
morning?
"What! Going to leave? Going away
Oh, you bad better not go! You had bet
ter stay day or two longer. Why, J
am not going for two or three days yet
Well, if you can't stay But am real
sorry. l never did meet lady whose
society I enjoyed more than yours, Is
that your hack, now?"
eyes"
"Well, I am sorry. l thought we
were going to have real good time to-
gether. You can't change your mind;
Well, I am sorry. Let me call my wife
to tell you goodbye. Oh, it's no dis
turbance; she is just in her room. Mary
Maryv
There was no answer either to the call
Or the knock upon the door, near which
we unfortunately were standing. Be.
fore preventive could be thought of,
it was flung open by his strong, quick
hand.
'Come in Come right in, ma am
Here's Mary! She will be delighted to
see you, and right sorry to hear that you
are going away"
The woman, not attempting to rise,
sat as she was, nursing her baby. The
black dress of last night lay thrown
across trunk. She wore a faded red
calico wrapper; her hair, which had not
yet been cOmbed, hung in two long,
thick, tangled plaits. Her face was
still as beautiful as the night before,
only the daylight showed what the dim
light had not, the hectic spot in each
transparent cheek and tn feverish
brilliancy in her eyes.
''Yes, ma'am, the baby is considered to
favor me; he is what is called in these
parts 'growthy.' I tell Mary he looks
as if he were going to be self-mado,
toO.''
undoubtedly"
Growthy! with a six months progress
of nose and mouth toward the original
self-made type, and breakfasting as if
he too had chronic dyspepsia, his heavy
little hands grasping and pulling the
breasts to which his large mouth chung
determinately. And she had to be the
mother of this, and the wife of that Oh
destiny!
A photograph had dropped from her
hand to the floor. 1t was easy enough
to see the face-not so pretty as Marys,
but stronger. And this was her first
day in the grave; her first day of rest
on earth, perhaps.
well, ma'am, you must excuse Mary.
She is only country girl, and has not
had advantages like you and me-"
The professor was forced to the apol-
ogy, for when the photograph was
silently laid in the hand that clasped
the baby. Mary bowed her head and
wept bitterly.
''Well, ma'am, really have enjoyed
your conversation. appreciate culture
wherever find it. am sorry you can
not see the Male and Female College.
ma'am | would take pleasure in show
ing you over it, ma'am. / would have
been pleased to explain to you my sys-
tenn OF co-education of the sexes, ma'am.
Some people are afraid to tackle o-educa-
ton, but consider, ma'am, that / have
made success of it. / would have
liked you to see my class in higher
mathematics, ma'am. Why, ma am, I
have blackboard as tall as that ex-
tends all around the room! At every
recitation it is covered with figures and
problems. We use up one entire box of
chalk every day, ma'am. L"
Here the driver of the hack whipped
up his mules.-Grace King. in Harper's
Bazaar