The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-02-25
TWO YANKEE WOMEN.

words between the thumps of the sad
Iron with which she was ironing a linen
ulster. JEFF LarlSin amt no sort OF
steddy company fur my darter,r and
the iron came down with an extra
crash, and the widow lifted it to within
an inch of her cheek. and deciding that
II was too cool for further use, carried
it to the stove and took up another.
Meanwhile Hannah steadily bent her
{ head over the sewing machine at which
she sat. and said nothing.
You are paying attention to me,
Hannah Jane Doblef" queried the
mother.
''Ycs, mother, hear, I" said Hannah.
Mrs. Doble felt that this was all that
was necessary. Her word was law, and
Hannah never answered back. ~ = <.
The sewing machine huinmed. The
iron crashed at intervals for half an
hour afterward, then the widow lifted
her full basket to the top of the chest
of drawers, folded the ironing blanket,
put away the stand and holder, filed
the kettle and put it on. made the
dough she had set to rise up into bis
cults and put them into the oven and
sat down beside her work basket. On
it lay muslin waist, a little bunch of
forget-me-nots scattered over a white
ground.
IF didn't forget, " said Mrs. DobIe
II can't cut two sleeves out of what is
left of the patron, nohow. and SEEM
it's blindman's holiday you might as
well take the time to run to the store
and get a yard more. dunno whether
to tell you to tell Priscilly Coots that
she gave me short measure or not. Eff
was goin' myself I'd do it sure. but
bein' you air young dunno Us ! orter
tell You to sass an elderly person. but
you might kinder look so. and it
wouldn't be no harm If you said that
usually twelve good yards made you a
muslin dress
Hannah Jane had risen from the ma
chine and was folding the muslin skirt
which she had just completed. She
laid it on the basket beside her mother
without u word, and took up the two
bits of money that the latter had taken
from her pOckctbook and laid ON the
table. Then she put on her hat, still
without saying word.
You heard what said, Hannah
Jancr queried the widow.
Yes ma, heard" said Hannah.
and went TO the door There she stood
quite still for. a moment, then came
back, bent over her mother and kissed
her.
kissing was an unusual proceeding
with that household, but this was an
unusual occasion perhaps, and the
widow patted the-girl's soft pink cheek
and held her slim hand moment.
You know it's only fur your good,
Hannah Jane" she said gently. II
wouldn't want you to have to bear
what some does. knowed jeff Lar
kin's pa und his uncle. He takes after
them two men likes pease in a pod
takes after each other. He amt fit fur a
good gal like you, Hannah Jane Doble."
Hannah was half way to the door
again by this time.
You heard what / said, Hannah
Janer queried Mrs. Doble.
YES, ma" said Hannah, 81 heard. "
And the door closed behind her.
The widow went to the window and
watched her daughter out of sight
Despite the typical New England cold
ness of her manner, she loved that
slim. pretty, pink and white girl of
hers devotedly, and it was no caprice
that made her roughen the course of
what, in Hannah's case, was certainly
true love. "a S1saE
The worthless boy with a pretty face
was certainly not the husband any sem
sible woman could desire for her daugh-
ter, especially in the walk of life which
demanded hard work and steady pur-
poGe of the head of the family. If they
had been fashionable people, lie the
SON of n rich man, who Inherited his
money and had no need for labor for
it, the woman won by his fine eyes
might never have found him out, but
there among the plain village folk, one
like JEFF dragged the woman he mar
ried down into sordid poverty in a few
years.
Like as not Hannah would hev to
take in sewing OF go out washing be-
fore long" the widow said. Its bet
ter to smash feelings to once than to
hev 'eln clip of by degrees" Then
she began to set the tea table.
III get out some plum sass" she
said, talking to herself, land dunno
but we might as well eat up the pound
cake. Hannah is a favorite of sweets. /"
She hustled about, making the meal
as tempting as possible, forgetting the
old days Of her girlhood when a little
til with young john Doble could take
away her appetite. thinking to make
Hannah Jane happy with plum pre-
serves and pound cake. 1t grew dark
and she lighted the lamp. but she did
not draw down the shade. 1t seemed
to her that it would be more cheerful
for Hannah, coming up tho lane, to see
the warm glow from the keeping room
window. Hannah staid longer than
she thought she would.
II suppose there's some of them long
takers in the storc," said Mrs. Doble
to herself; land Hannah amt one to
push herself or say, Couldn't you wait
on me, Mrs. Cootsf Hannah is most
too quiet. Her pa always let himself
be put on without maxim no remarks.
She takes after him. Now, 1 always
had my say. and SO got my way =
She stood ut ths window looking out
for ten minutes longer. then Sha took