New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-06
OUT OF STEP.
".


Mr. Scudder was standing before the siX-inch
mirror that hung in the back porch for his
especial benefit lie had taken off his ovcralS
and was peering into the glass and putting 4
comb through his hair. His hair now grew
mostly around what might be called the edges
of his head. and he combed it up towlrd the
place where it did not grow. He had done all
his "chorcs" an hour earlier than usual, as he
always did on those nights when he went 10
the village. He had not heard any news for
q whole week, and he was conscious of de-
sire TO sit on the piazza of the store and hear
what was going on. Pclly Loonlis'S horse had
had the collie, and Mr. Scuddcr did not yct
know whether it had liked or died. lie nan
not heard whether Eb. TIlson had kept his
potato vines any more clear of bugs than ne
had done last season. If Eb. had been as SLACK
as usual Mr. Scudder felt that he wouldn't give
rs cents for the whole crop of potatoes.
Mrs Scudder was passing whit she called :" n
handle brush rapidly in front of and at the sides
of the cook stove that she might remove any
clutter" incident to getting and clearing away
supper Nelly WIS still standing at the sink
washing the supper dishes in the most dcsultory
and Indifferent manner Her mother had sald
two or three times at the table that she didn:
know, she was sure, what was the matter OF
Nelly She looked as if she had been crying
her eyes out but you couldn't get nothing out oil
her." The girl had come hone that afternoon
from Mrs. Gerry's with the rule for Harrison
cake and "she had been Jest as odd as sh"
could be ever sence." As long as the school
master had given them lalfholiday. because
he wanted to visit schools that afteroon, MIS-
Scudder had supposed that Ncly would he in
good spirits. She wanted th" girl TO 90 black
berrying, but Nelly hadn't shown any interest IN
4. And oh uoul1nf S9V nOtlln
All this Mrs. Scldder had conhdcd to her hus-
band at the first opportunity. She concluded
by remarking that if Nelly hadn't had the measles
she should think she wac coming down with them'
and should give her sage tea.
But Mr.. Scudder had only laughed, and re-
marked that Nelly was a gal, N if they en-
pected to keep track of all the notions gal
could have they'd have their hands more'n full.
To this Mrs. Scudder had responded by making
the incontestable statement that she herself was
q gal once.
Now Mr.. Scudder repeated his remark from the
back porch that he s'posed she didn't want to
ride over to the village. She said she didn't
know as she dill, n she didn't know but she
did.
WELL" he said, "you en- be fndin' out while
I'm hitchin' up"
Then he walked out to the barn.
Nelly began to hurry as she put away tho
dishes. A moment later she dashed out 10 the
barn and said:
Mothers going, par n l wish you'd put IN
the other seat, because l want to go, too I'm
sick as death Of just staying right here all the
time"
"All right responded Mr. Scuddcr raising his
head from the enort required 70 put the collar
on the horse. It'll be all new to you over TO
the village won't 1t T. Here he grinned.
'Twon't, either" answered Nelly. but my
head feels so bad that l guess the ride'll do me
god"
"Mehby twill. Anyway it's a mighty pleas
ant night You bring out my coat when you
come n tell your mar not TO prnk too long. for
1t gifts dark earlier m earlier every night now. >
In few moments more the ,Scudder house
was locked. and the Scudder family were all In
the democrat" which was being deliberately
pulled along the road by the Scudder horse,
whose DAYS OF hurry seemed long since over.
Mrs Scudder sat precisely in the middle of the
back scat, AMI Nelly the front seat with
her father. There was not much conversation az
the equipage mo red at snails pace up hill and
down. anu along the short level spaces. Some
times Mr. Scudder pointed with his whip to some
piece of land which, in his estimation, want
worked right" He and his wife occasionally en-
changed "a few words. Mrs. Scudder remarked
that she didn't knows old man Forbes was
shilglln' his barn; and Mr.. Scudcer responded
that the old man had ben threatenin' to shinse
il any time the last ten years. and he for one, was
glad ned got at it.
Itwas muggy night. The sun, AZ it ncared the
west, was sinking deeper and deeper into bank
Of dark cloud. There was not a breath OF wind
The horse though it did not move out OF walk
was wet in streaks where the harness touched IT,
When the carriage came near any trees the shril
cries of the katydids were confusing.
'Tain't the kind of afternoon like, said
MIR. Scuddcr, looking back over his shoulder at
the west. Il didn't notice twas all cloudin'
I'D So II had d'know's should have started.
Foolish weather enough for that medder hay It
cut this mornin'."
Mrs Scudder also looked back over her
shoulder. But she said twas dry time anu she
didn't look for rain till after the moon had
changed.
Nelly. sitting by her father, said nothing. She
hardly heard the words spoken BY her companions
Her whole mind seemed TO be filled with what
she had seen and heard in the pine-woods that
afternoon. She had never been so Interested III
her life Her mind appeared to be bursting Win
the weight of her thoughts, and she could not
speak of them to any one. sense OF Importance
swcllcd her consciousness. But she couid keep
a secret, she could be loyal She nd not know
but that she should almost welcome tortnres ia
behalf Of Salome Gerry. How Sa~me hau iooAea
She certainly must be in love with that man VINO
had seemed so agitated, and who had walked
away hurriedy
What We thinkin' of, Nelly? What ye got on
YET mind?" The girl was aware that her father
fhooA hon Gha
replied promptly that she wasn't thinking of any
s,ins' and she hadn't got anything on her mind.
She ended by exclaiming:
Amt it hotp'
She took on her hat and began tanning herself
Violently with 1t.
lie sun had now gone into the dense cloud
and the quickly Ioing twilight of late summer