The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-10-01

Mrs. Barton. "oh, Mr.. spicer, d 1t bad
newsY
my Reuben Is dead, and your girl
murdered him. cried the old man shrilly.
At this moment both saw Beulah stand
ing in the doorway. She was trembling
from head to foot.
"What does he mean, mother2 What
does he meanT' she cried.
II guess he is out Of his mind, child"
said Mrs. Barton. "He's got bad news.
Sit down, Mr.. Spicer, and let me get
you a good cold drink We've got to
bear Affections when they come"
I'm not crazy, Mrs Barton" said old
Spicer. II know what I'm saying, and
your girl knows what mean. You did
1t at your birthday party. Idon't lnIow
what you did, but he went to It happy
and hopeful, meaning to ask you TO heV
him, guess. My Reuben wasn't boy
to do that without encouragement, and
when he came back didn't know him.
No, l didn't know him; he was 30 altered,
broke down, wretched, desperate. You
drove him away. You thought yourself
above him, Isuppose. You're noti You're
notl My Reu was any girls equal"
And then that absurd speech Of hers
about people who had never been shop
keepers rushed into Beulah's mind, and,
to her mothers shocked astonishment,
she sprang forward and threw her arms
around old Spicer's neck.
"Say anything to mel l deserve 1T"
she sobbed. But l never meant 10
4 ksWsA Twvna Il
long night. didn't know he felt 90.
/ was angry because he did not come
early. thought he didn't care, and
loved him. loved him as well as you
did Oh, Reuben. Reuben, ReubenI"
The old man sat down upon one Of the
red chairs with which the porch was
furnished, and Beulah knelt down be-
side him, and they wept together like
two children for their lost dear one.
That year, for the first time, Mrs. Bar
ton did not give her girl q birthday
party. Beulah was very i'll on that an
niversary, and though she did not die,
she settled down into an invalid-one
of those interesting persons who exist in
every village, to whom people take jelly
and flowers and religious books, and Of
whose case the doctors find it impossible
to give diagnosis,
1t was q great trial for Mrs. Barton,
who was spirited person, and who final
ly became not 50 sorry for her daugh-
ter as angry with her.
"Of course Reuben Spicer was q very
nice young man." she said to herself,
land dunno as should have objected;
but widders marry again in q couple Of
years sometimes, and feel as II Beulah
needn't carry on so 30 long"
And when August came and Mary
land peaches were ripe and stood in big
basketfuls at Mr.. Spicer's door, MrR
Barton, thinner and sharper Of feature
than of yore, but still as neatly cuffed and
collared and coifured as ever, stood be-
side the couch on which Beulah lay
propped up by pillows, and said slowly
and decisively:
"The last birthday party you had,
Beulah Barton, was in sixty-one Two
years I've skipped 1t. This year I'm
goin' to give you one."
"MotherP cried Beulah.
~ be-" said Mrs. Barton, who, when-
ever she wished to be impressive. re-
turned to Yankee dialect.
"Motherl' repeated Beulah, "when
you know I'm dying Of broken heart"
II didn't know no sech thing, Beulah
Barton" said her mother; anyhow you
air actin rebellious, and blessin's never
follow that sort Of thing. The Lords
will has got to be done. August the fifth
sees you havin' a birthday party, and
you're goin' to set up to it ef hev to
carry you down stairs pig-a-baCk.
"Yes. ma'am, said Beulah. closing her
eyes
"Very well, you Kin look over them
samples and see what shill get for you
q dress" said Mrs. Barton, laying q great
envelope on the afghan that covered
Beulah as she reposed on the couch,
"and choose q proper nice patron, do"
Mother, you're talking dreadfully
Yankee" said the girl. II wish you
wouldn't"
But Mrs. Barton had left her alone,
and after awhile she opened the envelope
and found within bunch Of silk sam
Piles and little fashion magazine, and
shortly grew interested, and finally, when
her tea was ready, pronounced with a
at..l, ty. fu,yo- 81 kals.k,..,n o.lo, .,A