Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-01-07
GRAY GOLD.


busils engaged in locking the outer door
Of house IN the somewhat retired village
of Biltury. The house, small and neat,
like its mistress, looked primly forth
seross tiny dooryard, gay with such
hardy and brilliant blooms as had re-
fused TO yield 10 incipient frosts. On the
steps sat big gray cat, the Sits In his
cold green eyes dilated. even beyond
their early morning wont. with evident
wonder and dismay. Clearly that door
had not been locked from the outside |
within the utmost stretch Of his memory.
What could 1t mean?
That 1t meant something serious was
evident, for, when his mistress turned
from her rather protracted wrestle with
the door, her sweet, pnckered old face
expressed mixture of anticipation and
regret, slightly tinged with timid awe,
but, withai, dominated BY an evident de-
termination TO carry her point, whatever
it might be, which must have struck any
bystander capable of being amused or
touched. hi Tom was capable If neither:
he could only disapprove. Some people
anu some cats are very much alike.
The old lady felt her pets mental at
titude, as evidenced by his bodily one.
She slipped the shiny. worn key beneath
the mat tevefy family in Bilbury was in
the habit Of secreting its door key under
its door mat, and every other family
knew III took up a black leather satchel
a A
alphabetically, To the man of the house:
Tommy" she said, stroking his rough,
gray head in IA deprecating way, ''rm
sorry ter leave ye-Im proper sorry ter
leave ye--but Isaac an me alwus said
we'd go. an'--an' will!'
The hand that had sought to pacify
Tom was suddenly withdrawn to seek
pocket handkerchief; yet, even while it
owner dried her eyes. her little pointe,
chin took on doubly resolved pucker.
There's meat an milk i'm the shed 81
We, Tommy, plenty ont. an Ill be bach
again Thursday evenin, il nothin' hap
pens. II ye want anything more, there
that old rat in the cellar; We ha'nt caugh
him yet Good-by, Tommy"
But Tommy would not ray good-by
He shook his tail, and turned off in
huff; while the old lady, thus given th
cold shoulder, turned away, too, an
went slowly out Mt the white gate an
down the street. Ii was early. If any ,
the neighbors were stirring they wer
all in the kitchen end of their houses
No one noticed or spoke to her till sh
reached the dingy little flag station. frol
which, three times day. stray passeI
gers could be conveyed To the junction
five miles away. there To make such con
neetion they might with trains ON ii
main line. The station master, ma
with just enough regular employment
prevent his doing much of anything
opened his dull eyes almost as widely
the cat had done.
Coin Der the city. Mi, Fosdick-a
alone:
Eyes, sG." replied the old lady wit
reserve, Il he"
The man continued Ia eye her. steadi
and donbtfulls. while he handed out
ticket and she pIid for ii. The withere
hand. IN its black mitf. never tremblei
but. as it touched his, in making the e.
change he felt IL strangely cold.
"Rutiier an riexpretel start. amt il
he queriel, ehcerfnlly. shifting the brigl
silver pieces she had given him from OF
dirty palm To the other.
mo. sir" she answered as quietly
before, i've been expectin 10 20 Il
some tine.
She turned away and he dropped Il
money into drawer; but his face ST
wore its doubtful look, and presently,
he stood beside her ON the platform
while tile short freight train with its !,
afa UigKkslp he, ,ss
one last remark:
.Iemme see. Mis- Fosdiek, We ha'
never Travelled ON the cars afore, ha'
yey'
His tone said, Hadn't you better thin
twice before you do 1T this tlmeg' Is
the answer eame as quietly as before:
No, Mr. Stephens never have Go'
mornin', sir" Aud she stepped toward q
train. which was coming t. staudstill
compliance with the request conveyed
very dilapidated flag.
He could but help her up the hig
awkward steps and hand her satchel aft
her: hut the look of doubt intensified
one Of disapprovai rs the red cahous.. d
appeared among the pines at the ris
bend. and be shook his head as much
Tom had shaken his tail.
.'Jakes folks don't know It, III bat
cent. What in times set the old wom
out ter sneak oil that way
Meantime the old woman. sitting
the hard. shiny cushions of the ierky 81
was old no longer. Sine was young Lu
Ives, the prettiest girl IN Bilbury. a
she was setting forth along the bright'
pathway that ever opened before a Vi
ing wnmans feet. No, she was not La
Ives either; she was tucy Fosiick no
for was uot handsome Isaac Fo<diek
ting there beside her: And had not II
son Babhitt pronounced them inan a
wife Two hours ago. There Was her NJ
black satclel under the seat. and til.
was certain little hair trunk nomewh,
on top with the driver. Ike and lac i
slowed il away carefully, aud they vi
rolling along the river road to Biekf,
as fast as Bill Haukin's best team col
take them; The woods and fields lool
greener and NOR sunshins than shee
remembered To have seen them beft
and glad. new life, with all the til
der heads Of possible trouble or care
low its wide horizon line, lay stretch
out before them.