Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-02

hhSW very ultles tnat ne was
saying.
That was the last time any one had spoken
TO Mrs. Frfer about her husband. and that
was ten years ago now. Though nobody
mao .oiu ner where Hosy was, she knew he
was In the poorhouse three miles away She
knew because four years ago she had seen
In the town report the statement that Hosea
F'rier was one of the inmates; that he had
arrived Few months before And every
year since she had read his name in the list
OF the towns poor supported at the aims
house.
At first when it was known that Hosy had
come back wrecked in health, people had
watched Mrs. Frier's face as She sat in
church But they gained no satisfaction
from this watching. She kept on looking
at the minister. When the service was over
there was no one brave enough to mention
her husbands name to her. The minister
had resolved never to breach the subject
again. 1t seemed to him that to do so would
make bad matter worse. Now as she sat
In the chair at the end window and gazed
out into the road, Susannah was wishing
that she had not heard that chickadee.
Il d know what's come over me-" she said
aloud.
chance TO "ketch cold" and that the cold
was probably settling all over her.
She reached forward and took her knitting
from the stand near This work was always
Waltlng on that stand for the moment when
its owner should sit in this place after the
work was done up. But though she took the
knitting, the needles lay idly in her lap. She
was still wishing that she had not hea I'd
that enickadee. And she was also thinking
that she felt as kind of run down and al
gone as if it were the spring, instead of the
ran, and she needing some strengthening
bitters. He always did like them chicka-
deeS So She had not meant to speak these
words aloud, ana now she had spoken them
she was almost alarmed
she rose and went to the buttery. to that
corner where the medicines were kept She
had some dandelion bitters left over from
the spring, and she carefully measured out
dose and swallowed it. She stood an in
slant IN the middle OF the kitchen floor
stood with an air of indecision that was not
like her usual self. Then with a quick
movement she flung up the window near
which she had been sitting and put her
mead out.
There was in the air that curious odor
which those who live in The country have
often noticed in November-an odur rnys-
teriousiy Ike the scent of hay lying in the
sun. BGt AIRS. frier was not thinking of
this perfume. She was listening with in
tentness. her whole face fixed risidly But
she heard nothing. There was no wind and
even the pine trees in the yard stood still
making no meaning sound After n little
she drew her head in and slammed the win
dow down. Il do believe" she said I'm
maxim TOOL of myself Or else" she add
Ell after a moment-"or else | amt we'll
II IN Soin to lose my appetite for my
VlctualS. | d know what1l become OF all
them mince pies. ! might give away some
u,
Unable TO settle to the knitting which
belonged to this hour. Mrs. Frier went again
into the buttery. Not for btters this time
She took a chair. and mounting it, she be-
gan carefully counting the mince pies
which were lying on their tops all along
on the two upper shelves. To count these
pies had hitherto always been a sure means
of taking up her mind" But somehow this
morning she did not feel that the occupati ton
took up her mind rs II ought to have done
She lost her count twice on the pies that
were marked with a key. And this fact
frs htened her. she wished tnat sha M
taken the dandelion regularly all the fall
When the seasons changed it was well to
have something that work ed on the liver
Ana dandelion was nearly as good as Gallo
mel, and safer.
She was in the middle of the third count
OF the best pies when she heard the door
In the open and a step come rapidly over
the uncarpeted floor
This is Mrs Frier's l know" said a clear
young voice which Mrs Frier did not recog-
nize.
She scrambled down from the chair won
dering confusedly why she seemed to be in
such hurry today. She put her hands in
voluntarily to her hair, and smoothed II
within the shelter of the buttery door. Then
she entered the kitchen. There stood a girl
In her early teens. She had on a velvet
Jacket and a little velvet turban Her
hands were thrust into her jacket pockets
and she stood as If she had just alighted
rather than as If she had walked in.
I've been knocking no end at the front
door" remarked this girl land finally
gave 1t up and just made raid in the rear
/ know you are Mrs. Frier."
Il be-" was the answer. rs there moth
ing the matter anywhere"
Yes said the girl, there's lot the
matter. You've got the last two cases of
shoes mixed up, and they want all you've
got at the factory right away. / came down
with the man after them. He's waiting in
the wagon. Shall carry them out?'
No; I'll take um out myself Be you Mr..
Stems daughterT'
"Yes, maam."
wall. you've changed lot"
The girls bright eyes were fixed on the
woman as she responded: You haven't
changed bit 1 suppose you're always
sure you're right, aren't you?"
What"
Sure you're right. When I was a little
mite, and used to sit in meeting and stare
at you, l was thinking all the time that
you were the only person in the world who
be splendid. You see, the minister told
father that there couldn't anything be done
with you, because you We're sure you were
right"
sharply. Her face grew gradually deeply
red. and then slowly became very pale
The girl laughed like a thoughtless child
Come" she said. please hurry up the
shoes. The Stems factory is waiting for
them" The girl noticed that the tough
looking bony hands were not steady. She
idly wondered at that. She offered again
to take out the shoes; but Mrs. Frier said
with some scorn, that her visitor didn't
look as IL she knew how to do the least
thing.
The girl followed the tall figure Of the
woman down the path to the road. Did
you ever find out what became of Mr.
Frier?" asked the thoughtless voice.
Yes. l did" There was SO much savage
ness in the tone that Minnie Stems involun-
tarily paused in her walk. When they
cd he To tr1rp oil to har
and there was fire in the deep-set eyes,
"Mebby you've learned a sight off to that
place where you go to school, Minnie
Sterns," she said, but I see you amt
learned to mind your own business yet"
Having said this Mrs. Frie- flung the case
of shoes in at the back of the wagon, and
then went quickly to the house. When she
sat down she was trembling violently.
"Askin' me what had become of Mr. Frier!"
she cried, in loud voice. The sassy girlr
There was silence for a long time now in
the kitchen. Mrs. Frier was knitting rap
idly. She was not aware that she was Slip
ping and binding in perfectly reckless
manner. At last however. she examined
the stocking. Then she placed 1t gently on
the table. Yes" she said, I'm certainly
all run down, jes 8 If twas the spring of
the year. And likely s. not my humor s
wo-kin'." She folded her hands tightly
but she did not lean back in her chair
She gazed out of the window, first at the
maple tree and then at the pine. She OPEN
ed her lips to say, THE sassy GIRL" but
her voice was dull. She was not thinking
chickadee she had heard, and that "he al
-a6 hon hir1C 10 Soid fhoxr hol