Smyrna times., 1891-07-22
The Way it W orks.
BY HELEN F. GRAVES.

came TO the KlCchen door to shake the
crumbs off the table-clOth.
"HOw pretty it looks down the val
ley !" she thought. Pm glad Grand
father Greer built this house Just here,
instead of under the rocks. One gets
a good view. l do believe the naples
along the edge of the swamp are be-
ginning to redden already. And
there" with a flush on her cheeks
which almost rivalled the red of the
maple corpse, "is Arad Temple-at
least, | think it's he-coming by Old
Mill l shouldn't bit wonder if he
were coming here"
She stood a moment, watching the
black speck against the daffodil shine
moment more, her lips apart, her
brown eyes strained
Patty !" called her mother. "Why
on airth don't you shet that door. The
cold wind comes in like hull pack o.
wolves"
"I-I-was only looking" said
Patty, as she closed the door with 8
sigh.
The black speck had disappeared il
did not reappear again.
II thought so, said cousin Cassandra
lean, high-shouldered woman, with 6
tuft of scanty, aax-colored hair, hair
pinned on the top of her head, and 6
checked cape drawn across r narrow
shoulders.
She spoke so close to the girls cal
that Patty gave a jump.
Thought what ?" said she.
"That he'd gone into Lewis Hib
bard s stOre," nodded Cassandra. "Tht
young fellers, they're all dreadful par
tial to Lewis store since they put il
the billiard tables. Dear me l dC
wonder what this world is coming to =
The red in Patty's cheeks was genu
inc peOny color now.
II don't see what harm it is" she
retOrted, "if he has stopped in for {
minute"
II do" said Miss Cassandra. "Any
thing but "a dissipated young mani"
He isn't dissipated," cried Patty.
We'll, p'r'aps he amt, ," said Cassan
dra. II am sure 1 hope so. But ther,
amt nothin' would induce me to marry
a man as there was the least doubts of p
What comfort it is that you hav,
never been tempted in that way ~ sale
Patty, vindictively. as she folded tn,
tableclOth in a series of jerks and pu
it in the closet.
Then Patty went up to her owl
room and had a good cry.
II do think" she said to herself
that Cousin Classy is the most spitefu
creature | ever knew. But, all th
same, Arid might have come tonight
He knew | was expecting him."
When her eyes were dried at last
and her new frill satisfactorily ad
justed, Patty came downstairs.
But the wisttul glance she cast int
the room was unrewarded. No on
was there but her mother, piecin
patchwork, on one side of the Gimme
corner, and Cousin Cassandra was sti
hammering away on Lewis Hibbar
and the new billiard tables.
'Its what l call a snare for souls !
she groaned. "Them balls a-clickin
about and the doors always opene
wide, for every lOafer in Shegauk t
stray into 1 allays did despise Lee
Hibbard-a lazy, shiftless creetur', lik
all the Hibbards afOre him They d
say he druv his first wife into tn
grave, and his second lived only tw
year, out of pure grit. Parson Poole
says, if the women of Shegauk wOul
only take a stand-Oh, Patty, is th;
you? Well, I've put the dried appl,
in soak for the sass tomorrow, and IL
meat is ready to chop for mince pies
Patty had seated herself at the tab
and had listlessly taken up book.
II don't want to chop meat tonight
said she. Tomorrow morning wi
do just as WE'LL"
Disappointed !" whispered Mi
Cassandra, behind her hand, to MI
Greer, who was slightly deaf. $50
o. calculated on Arad Temple bel
here tonight. Wal, mebbe its just
well. Arad, he too partial to lie
Hibbard's place."
Patty could have murdered COus
Cassandra. She jumped up and we
to the door to let the cat in"
"Why, AradW W she exclaimed,
pussy darted in, and tall figure a
peared in the background.
Cousin Cassandra opened the inn
door and craned her neck forward.
. "Well, I never p said she. ''It's yO
Z arter all, amt itP We sort o. reokone
me and Patty, that you'd found yo
way into that new store of Lew Hi
. bard's.
''I did stop in there" said Ara
coolly."
n Miss Classy shook her head.
h 81 knew it, said she, Jest as wei
ifI'd seen ye with my own eyes,"
Mrs. Greer lighted the fire in {
best room, with true maternal soli
tude.
"what's that for ?" asked Miss Cas-
'Ye don't s'pose, do ye, that they
hev anything to say that we can't he
iest's wells notP l would not let Pat
keep company with any man that &c
to Lew Hibbard's place ef ! was "
Sarah it's a regular we'll of iniquity
"I guess Arad Temples a pref
h steady young man." said Mrs. Gre
n timidly, as she adjusted the best dup
lamp on the table, and set the big fa
lily Bible and the, new photogra
. album straight.
Cousin Caasandra stalked grimly