New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-04
THE TWO SALOMES.
VI
MIR. MAINE "FLAXING ROUND
COPYRIGHT: 1892: BY The Tribune AssOciation.

volume ABOUT tiue way lolho ii'c" III A'
And then the volume would not tell hall
Powers of human expression never could tea
half. Shiftless
She wrote home to her husband that the
Burgess family, who lived at the foot of Beech
Hill, were thrifty in comparison with the people
down there.
This was strong expression. up home
person had only to say, e az shlftless as
Burgess" to express all that could be expressed
concerning that bugbear Of New-England
mind.
And Mrs Gerry would also have liked TO write
another volume about the difficulty IN hndinG
the residence of Job Maine, for that was the
name of the man who had cousin in Massachu-
sets who rad known some one who knew that
the Gerrys were going to Florida and "had got
to manage"
Salome had remained in the railroad station
at Augustine while her mother Jared forth in
quest of knowledge of Job Maine. BY this time
Salome was in such state Of nervousness and
physical fatigue that she was a trial" But
Mrs Gerry would not acknowledge that fact
even in her own mind
The elder woman longed to 60 to hotel put
her daughter in a comfortable room, and when
she was rested go on. But she thought of that
mortgage to Uncle John and of that solitary man
who was in the lonesome farmhouse toiling and
saving for them
So she made Salome lie down a settee in
the station The girl put her head on her bag
and her mother covered her with her own old
blue waterproof
As Mrs. Gerry was going out at the open door
. woman: who had been watching the two and
whose eyes were red and swollen. cane forward
and asked in whisper
"Consumptive. amt she?'
Mrs. Gerry stepped quickly out before she re-
piled:
Il don't think she is. really: but we were
afraid she might be-"
The woman followed her. She nodded
"Yes; that's just the way. Pcrhap. she'll be
heped-but my boy
Here the speaker choked. Mrs. Gerry, with a
sufocating pain which mingled with indig-
nation at this cruel want Of consideration said
TREMENDOUSLY
"Oh. I'm so sorry" and she gently touched
her companion she spoke.
The woman now put her shsbbily gloved hands
over her face.
He died Yesterday I'm taking him home
I'm all alone"
In the shock which came to her as she heard
these words, Mrs. Gerry felt as if she could not
stand
But size did stand, straight and strong.
IF could only do somcthing!" she exclaimed.
81 felt as if must speak to somebody" said
the other
"Yes, yes returned Mrs. Gerry, 81 know
But don't. don't tell my daughter, will you? %
mo. indeed; Of course not Then trying to
speak chcerfull, g. guess she'll get better most
know she will
She turned forlornly away. Mrs. Gerry hurried
down tho street.
She had already made inquiries of the ticket
AGENT AZ IN the 1yhereahou of Mr. Joh M,;no
But the man had shaken lis head impaticnty
Never heard of him."
Mrs. Gerry explained that she believed Mr.
Maine raised truck" She did not quite know
what truck was. and felt that il was absurd in
any one to raise it, but that was all she knew
Of Mr.. Maine. that and the fact that he lived
not far from Augustine.
Now, thinking the matter over as she walked
along the street she decided that the postofce
would be the place to go-of course. job Names
address was here this would be the nearest town
And as she walked she recalled that the woman
who knew the cousin Of Mr.. Maine had said
she would be sure and have that cousin write
although there was no doubt but that he could
be found easily enough.
1t seemed to be perfectly understood by the
person acquainted with Jobs cousin that Jol
frequently came to Augustine, presumably with
his truck
There was one encouraging fact in the talk
which Mrs. Gerry had heard about Mr.. Maine
and that was that he had come TO Florida a great
many years ago on account of lis health. and he
had entirely recovered from the affection Of the
lungs which had threatened TO carry him off, Havin.
recovered he did not come home. It was rumored
that he had openly declared that he had had
enough Of New-England, that he never wanted
TO see another fake of snow in his life. And he
tad od sill
had settled down, broken only by the rumOr OF
truck raising
For the hundredth time since her journey be
gan Mrs Gerry recalled minutcly everything she
had learned about Mr.. Maine. and she was Obliged
70 own that her knowledge was extremely mcagrc
She hurried on hardly noticing her surroundings
She saw the Barrier Gate. and paused for an
instant in her walk her pulses stirring with the
attractive suggestivcness which the first sight OF
those gates always causes. Beyond were the
towers of the old fort. And everything was modi
fed by the wonderful sweetness OF the sky and
air.
How Salome will like this" softly whispered
the woman 10 herself. and she will get well-slt
must get well
Then she recalled the face Of that woman who
had just said she was all alone"
Mrs Gerry compressed her lips and turned intt
st. George-st., asking her way TO the posfofiice
then hurryirg on, noticing nothing more, ONLY
dimy conscious in her preoccupation OF a strange
loneliness OF atmosphere surrounding her.
II seemed to her that she was thinking OF
rothing but that figure which was lying on tho
settee in the railway station; that she was carinl
for nothing but to get Salome where che could
rest.
1t could hardly be expected that girl wht
looked as Miss Nunally looked and who dressed
as she dressed would be able TO lend helping
hand in a search for Job Maine.
She had hidden Salome somewhat airy GOOD
bye; she had said she should be sure and look he
up: then she had entered her aunt's carriage
which was in waiting for her. and Sabine ha'
dcspondenty watched the horses trot sedateiN