New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-30
THE TWO SALOMES.
A PROPOSAL

>o,+anre and the sneaker waited to BE- questioned
still further before divulring what she knew
about the ailments of Salome Gerry.
"We,' was the somewhat impatient response.
.sint Won COIN to tell 81 s'pOse faint secret
Not that doctors know much of anything: though
'tie relief to have nm take the responsibility of
your shoulders when YOU have sickness in the
family. remember when Elnathan was took
with the fever n ague the first tim" his MOTHER
abe was stoprn' with us that fall-wonld stick
70 it that she'd doctor him herself ~ I re-
member I~"'fF' q
The two other women present here EXCHANGED
glances of despairinc confederation and one OF
them exclaimed desperately:
We all know 7 Elnathans mother was an
awful good nuss There want nobody like her.
Folks used to come from all over for her If any
body was taken sick"
Then the third woman fastened to ask again:
What d. the doctor from Boston say about
SIcme Gerry. anyway She's ben Kind OF pindin'
slong I sh'd think her folks d De almost dis
ccnraged."
IL guess they be- ~ should think they'd feel
worse now they know what tits that ais her"
with still more importance.
Il s'pose you'll tell when YOU git ready now
said the thin-faced Mrs Lamlsin, launching her
high shoulders yet higher in her irritation
ready now as she ever should hc. and she didn't
know as she keeping ANYTHING hack. The two
other women were aware Of keen apprehension
lest Mrs. Sprague should again refer to Elna-
than's mother and her capabilities as nurse
Elnathan was Mrs. Sprague's husband, conse-
sueitly Elnathans mother stood in the relation
Of nother-in-law to Elnathana wife. And to be
mother-in-aw to she that was Emmeline Rusk,
was to stand in position requiring great gifts OF
tact and amiability.
Mis- West said the doctor from Boston, now
began Mrs. Spragde, told the Gerryses that Salome
had incipent tmgh-sis."
Mercy cried Mrs. Lamkin, sharply, whats
thgh-Sis' Is it ketchin?"
"Incipient thiglsis. said," corrected Mira
Sprague. And she added more carelcssly, I'm
sire I don't know whether it's ketchin' or not.
But guess faint, the rest of the Ccrryscs would
have had il long ago"
The third woman, whose name was Scudder, and
who had thick GRAY hair arranged in long folds on
each side of her face, and whose large. protrudlng
eyes were of the same gray as her hair. now said
aently that she sposed it must he some new dis
ease Folks were getting up new diseases real
often nowadays For her part. she thought tho
old ones were more than anybody could manage.
Here she chuckled quietly. She drew the folds
of her brown Stella shawl higher over her ample
shoulders, and inquired if the doctor told the
Gerryses what to do bout S3ome.
Again Mrs Sprague quoted Mrs West as her
authority Mrs. West had said that S'lome's
mother was all broke down about it.
If twas my girl" went on Mrs. Sprague with
decision, Il should call it consumption or s"ul"-
thing that would ne consumption in time. Bat II
anvbodvd ruther have thighsis, why, let ON
have it,
Arc they going to do nothing about it?' asked
Mrs Scudder, in her soft way.
Mis- West said the doctor said medicine want
Of no count In such cases. continued Mrs. Sprague.
He said the winters here were too severe for her.
Nc advised 'em to take her 10 Flcridy."
"Gracious." said Mrs. Lankin. 10 Floridy I:
They can't do it, can they? Her fathe- amt very
'torehanded. l don't believe he's got cent III
the bank
I'D know, I'm sure Mis- West said she under
stood they were goin' to try TO send o1ono Gnu
her mother SINE way or other
Il want to know responded Mrs Lamkin,
sitting up very straight in her surprise don
zee how they're goin' TO do it. They'll have %
mogcdse their place, went they"
If they do moggidgc for one can't see how
they'll ever lift the moggidgc. Mr. Gerry never
was 50 scrabblin' as he might be-
"Mebby the churchill help em some,' sus-
oest1,d Mrs. Scudder, now taking out the long pin
with which she had just fastened her shawl.
.Well. then, You jest bet the church won't,
rctort>d Mrs Sprague. Tho churchs got enough
10 do with foreign missions, n raSin the minister
salary n the bells cracked, to- you know II
sounds awful when they ring it, I'm ashamed
every Sabbath to have the I'aptisfs, n the ioiks
that don't 90 to mectin anywhere hear our bell.
We don't think enough Of the Lords W. rk
Mrs. Scudder did not wish TO continue the subject
NJ Tho cr.ck..N bell 20 she ignored the words re-
fcrr:ng to it. SIZE asked:
III Slu.. Gerry goes to Fl'lidy whatll be
core OF h"r heau?'
Mrs. Lamsm '..rc gave little sirhl iau2"' anu
inquired:
Which beau you mean
81 didn't knows she had more'n one reg lar beau
and that's Dick Chaplin, amt IT pa, ,
"Now I should have said twas Walter Rcdu'
remarked Mrs. Lamkin.
Then the three woman looked at each o'her an"
began to laugh. ,. e.o.
H. WAS Mrs Scuddcr who ceased laughing hrs'.
Sbs found her u ckct in the folds OF her SKIRT.
and drew'ber handkerchief from 1t. She carefully
wiped the corners of her mouth. Then she pa''c"
m. large bow in which the ribbons OF her bonnet
were tied. For she and MIS-. Sprasue were "aki"S
act CALI on Mrs. Lamkin. And III set can
n-onle ALWAYS wear their Sunday bonnet>.
Mrs Scudder also had on her best gloves. ihcA
were Of black kid, worn white OIL the tops Oh ."o
fingers and thumbs. They were also sona'~',,'
hagov across the back. But the wcaicr OF th'h'
was conscious of being much dressed Ana Inc
consciousnrss surely il among the first enec's 10
be desired from wearing clotics.
Mrs. Spragus wore black cape with sa""r.
ends in tile front and deep point behlnA. ~
was lined with black flannel, and sine" gimp hao
come into fashion again for trimming, the mario"
folds which had once adorned it had been remove
TO give place to the gimp. The garment was now
considered as specially appropriate for spring and