The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-03-25

IL for while, she can. i won't NJ ndef
her.
The daughter-in-law accepted this
concession with secret triumph, and she
so soon managed to get entire control Of
the kitchen that the deposed housewife,
missing the homely cares that for 80
many years had occupied her hands and
thoughts. would have Hcc. :. ..,
strait had it not been for the children.
81 loves gramma," said little Della
one day, as she mounted her gra ndmoth-
I er's knee. = S
"Ne do, too," chimed the baby,
clnfnbering up beside her sister.
"Nlakes me think, Hesba," said her
husband, II sudden mist dimming his
glasses, GOT the times you USE to sic
holdin' Jany an Ruth" +:
Hesba's eyes also grew misty, for there
were two little graves in the far corner
of the garden; but the prattling children
ON her lap left her no time for reminis-
ccncc.
"Do put 'em down, an let 'em muse
'cmsclvss. You coddlc 'cm too much, I"
fretted Miranda.
ooh, ] like to have 'cm round me-"
said IIesba.
But Miranda f'owncd. "Tbcy're git
tin mos rs bad rs jason" she COM
planned to herself. "They think there's
nobody like that oil woman"
Jason's new business often took him
from home for weeks at time, aud it
was while he was off on Que of these
expeditions that Miranda improved the
opportunity to carry out long Choir
ishcd project.
"Sccms to me, gran'ma," she began,
warily, having joincu her mother-in-law
in the sitting room, armed with her
knitting work, "you'rc lookin' kinder
peaked. If Is you, I'd take little
trip somcwhcrcs. Jason says you've got
n brother livin over in Connecticut.
shouu think it ii be nice for you to go
an visit him. Why don't you, now?'
"WGil, don know. never was
mucE Of han To 90 visitin'," said
Iiesba, as uusuSpiclous ~ n baby. "And
though don't doubt brother William
d bc glad to see us; he's got such q
family Of his own, | should feel as il
wc's Inposin on him."
"Might as well impose on him as on
folks that's no relation to YOU" And
Miranda $ needles clicked viciously.
licsba looked ut her in wonder.
"What do you mean, Mirandy. didn't
knows was imposin' on anybody"
'I don know what else you can call
it, said Miranda, with mcrciless dclibera-
ton. "fou know we'll enough that the
int'rcs' on the mortgage amt ben paid
FOR years, an Jason could turn you out
to.mnrrcr if he wanted to-"
"Turn us out!' repeated Iiesba. ooh
no, MInndy, lac couldn't do that, cause
fathers To have home here as long rs
he lives; he's got that down in writin'l"
eyes; but you an fathers two diff
fcrcnt persons. Your name amt DuS
down on the paper, an is on'y sayin'
what We could do if we wanted to. But
I'm cXpcctin' comp'ny from tho city next
week, tw"uld oblcegc me consid' 'rablc if
you'd JUS 90 over to your brothers an
stay II spell, caIiSc while you's away
father could sleep on the cot in the hall
bedroom
"Go an leave father! Is that what
you mean, Mirandy2'
alt was pititul to sec how white and
trcmulous she grew.
"Why, you wouldn't want to take him
with you when your brothers got such
n family alrcady9 What'd be the use2
said Miranda. She was very willing to
have the old man stay; she depend ID on
him to bring all the wood aud water.
llcsba Irncd to the window to catch
her breath. Outside, gray clouds were
lowering, and spitciul gusts were sending
nI
through the air. But IIcsba saw Only
the tall %annt figure i'll the potato pa.ch,
and throwing II shawl over her hea,; she
hurried "u'. The old man dropped hi.
noe and went To 'Icct her.
''lt You 90, llcSbn, go too, YOU can
depend on that, y he said hotiy, when she
haG told her trouble.
But after talking il over, they decided
that unless Miranda herself brought ur
the subject they would not mention i,
again Perhaps before the week wa;
out Jason would be homc. And by.
! and-by Miranda, who had taken Hesba'.
| place at the window, saw them coming
up from the potato patch hand in hand.
the on man walking very erect. his hoe
across his shoulder, and the little old
wife clinging to him like child.
81 Sposc they think they've got it all
sct,lcl,' muttcrcd the woman; "but,
wen see"
Two days later II letter came to Hcsba
| from hcr brother.
"Shc's hen n writin' to him, blurtcd
the old man. clInchnS his fist
llcSba took no notice Of the remark.
"ilc says, sh" hcSa:i, following tne
! lines slowly with her DIM eyes, "that
he'd like very much to have a visit from
me, an he hopes I'll come right away,
fore Cnid weather sets in. But he's
trnid Ill nave To put up with sleepin'
with one o the children, they're so short
| o room"
"rhen q course that puts an end to
fathers Goin'," said Miranda, coming in
noisc'cSSiy from the kitchen, the door
hav.nS been lett aiar.
"An to hcr Goiu', too, guess" au.
swcrcd the old man.
"Oh, You shouldn't say that, father"
said Miranda. "lt II be u real nice lit
tie trip for her, and do her lots o good. "
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