Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-01-20
WHY HANNAH DIDN'T GO


The report started in Blake's store. To
disbelieve a report that started in Bla,e's
store was an unheard of heresy at the
Corners. So, astonishing as this was, the
Corners received It without a shadow Of
doubt. II hardly needed to be known that
Mrs. Goodrich herself was the authority.
She was down at the store Saturday az
ternoon DIS usual TO make her weekly pur.
chases. Arson Blake. who never failed
when groceries were purchased TO conduct
the customer TO the other side OF the store
TO look an the dry goods, and vice versa,
endeavored to lead Mrs. Goodrich over to
look at some new winter goods. Then It
came out. With a bit Of pardonable pride
she let him know that she had no need to
look at fall goods IN Whitman Corners or 10
Witham Center either, since cher Hannah
was going 10 the city next week TO do their
fall shoppin; that she, Hannah, had an
aunt there who had the whole summer
been urgin her to come, and that now she
was goin for few days"
Mrs Goodrich shook her large skirts
and swept out-figuratively speaking, Of
course, " her garments always escaped the
floor By some inches.
Meeting was hardly over the next day
before Hannah was interviewed as to her
intended trip, and the ladies who were not
present IN the morning interviewed her ia
the evening on the subject They were so
numerous then and kept her 50 long, that
Jerry Downing, waiting impatiently for
her outside, concluded she had gone out
the back door on purpose to cut him, and
walked home with another girl. His
mother, who had not been on speaking
terms with Mrs. Goodrich since that good
lady made some remarks on the strength
Of The butter Mrs Downing brought to
the minister's donation last winter, let
Jerry know when he got home OF Han.
nah's intended trip, and suggested that a
girl who couldn't buy her winter dress at
the Corners, but must 60 10 New York for
IL, was too fne TO be 4 farmers wife.
Jerry went to bed in despair while Han.
nah was crying herself to sleep, wonder.
ing how She could have offended him.
The next afternoon, when she came in
from her school, Hannah was more than
surprised 70 find Mrs. Downing in the sit-
ting room with her mother. As the visitor
had not been ia their house for year,
Hannah was sure that she bore some mes
sage from derry and greeted her accord.
ingly, wondering meanwhile why her mo-
Their looked SO grim, and knit as furiously
as If the wkole family were barefooted and
suffering.
It was no message from Jerry, however,
that brought Mrs. Downing there today
The lad was blowing In distant field and
did not know Of his mothers call After
her little remark last night about Han
nah's city shopping tour, She had thought
best to keep this visit q secret from him.
II was just telling your ma, she began
when Hannah, flushed and expectant, was
sented, ''that I'd been down to Blake's "a
get my winter dress, and that there want
q thing there I'd put on my back
ooh, not a thingin Hannah assented
quickly "Im going TO New York FOR oui
winter things
80 heard, and was telling your ma
that as long as you are going to town aut
I going ashopping, buying one more dres.
wouldn't be no more trouble 70 you.n
Buying whole wardrobe for Jerry.
mother would have been a delight
"Oh, no trouble-a pleasurer' HANNAH
\ cried, despite her mothers frown.
There's that brown merino got thre,
I years ago last fall,n Mrs. Downing went
on. "rhe wear I've had ont Of Il just beat.
\ all I've worn it steady wherever / went
\ was telling your ma that didn't know
as ! could be suited better thanto have all
other just likeit. So, II you won't mint
getting me ten yards Of dark brown merin,
-say, about eighty cents a yard-or Vol
might 20 as high as eighty-fve-pd b
much obliged, and viii do the same b
| YOU
Don't mention itl' cried Hannah, tax
ing out her notebook and adding the small
item 70 the long family list.
The money'll be an right added Mrs
Downing.
"Of course It will, Hannah laughed
Going to stay longs"
From Thursday TO Monday only.
can't leave my school longer"
I'm be over, then, Monday nigh
after itn
WAL, must say, 2 Mrs Goodrich burs
out, as The door closed after Mrs Down
ing, she's got BRASS The idea Of her ask
in You TO lug dress up from the city 70
herl ] didn't give her any encouragement
when she spoke 20 me about it, can tel
you.n
"Oh, mother, ] wouldn't refuse for th
world,n Hannah returned. Glow coul
u"
Tea was over Mrs. Goodrich was wasl
ing the dishes, Hannah was drying then
when the kitchen door was uneeremon
ously opened. A tall, gaunt woman, wit
a commanding air, as il she were at III
head Of disorderly regiment, marched il
II was Mrs. Moore.
81 was down to Miss Downing's,n sh
began, without a small prelude OF a gree
ing, fur dish o. tea an a few minute
set, an she was tellin me that Hannah WI
goin TO the city this week"
"Yes on Thursday" Hannah answere,
"Will you sit DOWN."
~ hain't no time fur a set. Mary she
gone over 60 her grandmother's, and thel
amt nobody to hum to git Moore's suppe
Mis- Downing was saying you was goin
to git her brown mereener."
"Yes"
/ Il s'pose Is won't be no trouble. as you
y buyin, to buy me a black mereener. to
u at the same timefn
Ie None whatever Hannah's smile w
r, getting hollow.
r. GLOW long be you goin to stayfn
y fTils Monday"
70 "rll be round Monday evenin with b
le money. You can git me seventy &c
! stun, about seven yards"
y She departed with as little ceremony
y she had entered.
le Il told you SOL told You SOL said Nj
al Goodrich. as she lighted a candle and we