The Opelousas courier., 1893-07-08

A~ SONS ~
known that Mrs. Goodrich herself was
the authority.
She was down at the store Saturday
afternoon as usual to make her weekly
purchases. Arson Blake, who never
failed when groceries were purchased
to conduct the customer to the other
side of the store to look ct the dry
goods, and vice versa, e~ndeavored 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 Witharo Corners or in William
Centre, either, since cher Hannah was
going to the city next week to do their
fall shopping; that she, Hannah, had
an aunt there who had the whole sum
mer been urging her to come, and that
now she was going for a few days"
Mrs. Goodrich shook her large skirts
and swept out-fguratively speaking,
OF course, a her garments always es-
capped the floor by some inches.
Meeting was hardly over the next
day before Hannah was interviewed &c
TO her intended trip, and the ladies
who were not present in the morning
interviewed her in the evening on the
subject. They were SO numerous then
and kept her SO long that Jerry Down
ing, waiting patiently 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
Hannah's intended trip, and suggested
that o girl who couldn't buy her winter
dress at the Corners, but must go to
New York for it, was too fine to be q
farmers wife. Jerry went to bed in
despair, while Hannah was crying her
self to sleep, wondering how she could
have offended him. n
The next afternoon, when she came
In from her school, Hannah was more
than surprised to find Mrs. Downing
in the sitting room with her mother.
AS the visitor had not been in their
house for a year, Hannah was sure that
she bore some message from Jerry,
and greeted her accordingly, wonder
ing meanwhile, why her mother looked
so grim, and knit as furiously as if the
whole family were barefooted and suf-
fering.
1t was no message from Jerry, how
ever, that brought Mrs. Downing there
to-day. The lad was blowing in a
distant field, and did not know Of his
mothers call.
After her little remark last night
about Hannah's city shopping tour,
she had thought best to keep this visit
q secret from him.
"1 was just telling your ma," she
began, when Hannah, flushed and ex-
pectant, was seated, 'sthat I'd been
down to Blake's to get my winter
dress, and that there want a thing
there I'd put on my back"
"Oh, not a thing!" Hannah assented
quickly. 'I'm going to New York for
our winter things"
$50 [ heard, and / was telling your
ma that, as long IS you are going to
town and going a-shoppin buying one
more dress wouldn't be no more trou-
BILE to you"
Buying a whole wardrobe for Jer-
rvs mother would have been a de-
light!
ooh, no troub1e-a pleasure !"
Hannah cried, despite her mothers
frown.
''There's that brown merino I got
three years ago last fall" Mrs. Down
ing went on. "The wear I've had out
of it just beats all. I've worn it steady
wherever I went. / was telling your
ms that ! didn't know as I could be
suited better than to have another just
like it. So, if you won't mind getting
me ten yards of dark brown merino-
say, about eighty cents a yard-or you
might GO as high as eighty-fve-I'd be
much obliged, and viii do the same by
you"
"Don't mention it, cried Hannah,
taking out her notebook and adding
the small item to the long family list.
'sThe moneyH be all right" added
Mrs. Downing.
'tOf course it will, " Hannah laughed
"Going to stay long?"
From Thursday to Monday only.
] can't leave my school longer"
eIH be over, then, Monday night
after it."
'tWaal, I must say" Mrs. Goodrich
burst out, a the door closed after Mrs.
Downing, 'sshe's got brass! The idea
of her asking you to lug q dress up
from the city for herl I didn't give
her any encouragementwhen she spoke
TO me about ii, I can tell YOU"
"Oh, mother, ! wouldn't refuse for
the world" Hannah returned. asHoW
could I?'
Tea was over. Mrs Goodrich was
washing the dishes. Hannah was dry
ing them, when the kitchen door was
unceremoniously opened. A tall, gaunt
woman, with d commanding air, as If
she were at the head OF q disorderly
regiment. marched in. It was Mrs.
Moore,