The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-02-17

wives, tha: the invitation had come to
Serena like a window opened into anoth-
er life, and that she had faithfully tried,
and was still trying to close it.
There came with his thoughts no Bit
terness or indecisiOn. Serena must go to
New York. The farm and he could put
up without her for a week or more, he
thought. if.she had borne with him for
twenty-five years So when he spoke
again it was, though after considerable
pause, with the same widespread, kindly
smile.
hope you'll go, s'rena it'll do you
good, an you amt no cause to throw
away sech chance"
Serena was astonished. She had ex-
pected her husband 10 do Just what
said he would have expected her 70 Dc,
had not love quickened his naturally
leisure brain. She had said, Get thee
behind me, Satan ~ and here was Josh
Ia serenely inviting that dignitary for
ward again. The window was wide open
again, and could not be closed.
But Mrs. Fry's mind and conscience
did not quickly settle themselves. Not
once or twice was the invitation almost
fully rejected by them during the next
few days, as their owner worked over the
frying-pan or sewing machine, or talked
with her many visitors. For when il
became noised abroad in Green's Corners
that Serena Fry was thinking of going
to New York Ito spend the winter, gos-
sip sometimes had it, and, sometimes, 10
live, her sitting-room becalne the scene
Of great social activity, and Miss Lam
son. the dressmaker, who had been sew
ing at Smithville came home Of her ONu
accord TO ft out the traveller for her jour
ney.
So circumstances held the window
open-not Serena-and she let them and
Joshua and the neighbors decide that she
would 90, rather than decide it herself
II was Joshua who wrote the letter to his
nephew that she would come, and who,
with his own old hands, did the greater
part of her packing. For Serena, usually
the readiest and most skillful for work,
now seemed dazed and scarcely half hap
py at the prospect which had been open
ed before her.
In the pale gray and green light of the
early morning they drove to the railroad
crossing. Trains stopped at Green's Cor
ners only when an antiquated man, who
lived in a closet, came out and frantically
waved a flag at them. He came out now,
and leaned on the flag handle, while Sc
rena tried to look back at the old farm
house.
Don't you be worried, Serena" said
Joshua, eheerfully. "I'll prosper all right
unless get sick along of eatin' ali them
pies and fixin's. You must hev thought
I'd hev sight Of company. Well, good
by take good care ofyourself for the
fagman was waving for all he was worth
and Serena privately hoped that-the dia-
bolical-looking monster would refuse TO
stop; it stopped. In a moment more
Joshua and the fagman and the farm
house were as the einders which were
jerked past the ear window by an unseen
hand.
So long was it since the wide world Of
travel had shown a glimpse Of itself TO
Mrs. Fry that the morning passed swift
ly, on account of the rzpidly-changing
scenes through which the train sped
along, and Serena was more like herself
than she had been since the invitation
came. But noon brought dismal rain,
which drizzed down the windows and
put the country in drab mourning, and
discouraged nearly every one, especially
Serena. Not thinking that she bad chang
ed her place, she felj certain that it was
raining thus dismally at the Corners and
that Joshua would have to look after the
cows in the chilly Fetness. and return to
an equally chilly kitchen and stove
Presently the interchangeable news agent,
who had been all the morning firing al
ternate caramel packages and books at
the passengers, threw a pamphlet into
Serena's seat, and she idly picket it up
and began to read the advertisements on
the cover. As she did so, she let the book
fall and and gave little cry of despair.
It was only an advertisement Of some
patent rat destroyer which had met her
eve, but it threw her poor heart into
deep distress. Only the night before,
when she had been arranging Joshua's
provisions in the pantry, Mrs Siemmens,
the grocer's wife, had come to the door
with q Jar in her hand, the strings Of her
sunbonnet hanging dejectedIy in front Of
her shoulders.
Here's that rat pizen l promised
you," she raid. thought likely Mr.. Fry
might End it useful while you are away.
The emptier a house is, the more the
mice likes it. When my Susan died, she
want really buried before tney was gal
hvantin' around her room. III sit it righ.
here, Mis- Fry, for can't stop it's com
in on dark. You'll find it II make EN-
90 right off an die, every time.
Serena had noticed, dimly at the time,
that Mrs. Slemmons had set her jar Just
in front Of one of applebutter, which hal
been filed for Joshua and placed on the
pantry shelf Vow, with the swift re-
membrance of this scene which the ad-
vertisement brought, came dreadful
thought.
She had not put the jar Of rat poison
away
Ii must be standing there by the apple
butter, and Joshua-it made her sick to
think of it-might take the wrong jar for
his dinner. He might have done it al
ready probably had, and must be quite