The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-07-28

knes of the parlor carpet; Rosie had a
crimson merino dress, trimmed with
black velvet bars; Elma's fall Jacket
was edged with substantial black fur,
I and-grand climax of extravaganza
Mrs. Chesney had new shawl in place
of the old garment which had been her
mothers before her.
He looked at the housekeeping books
with renewed vigilance. He consulted
the stubs of his checkbook with notice
that nothing could escape.
"l-dOn't-know-hOw - they - man
age il" said he, scratching his nose with
lead pencil that he always carried. Il
hate mysteries, and mean to be at the
bottom of this before am an hour older.
Abigail" said he, "how is this? I've
given you no money; you've long left of
asking for money. How have you man
aged to smarter yourself and the chill
dren up so3 won't be cheated by my
own wife"
Ellna sat down the pitcher which she
was wiping and came and stood before
her father with glittering eyes and cheeks
stained with crimson. like flag of battle.
Papa" she said, you must not speak
to mamma so. Mamma would not cheat
you nor nobody else. It's money we've
earned ourselves"
Mr.. Chesney stared at the girl with in
credulous eyes.
And if you don't believe it come and
see how" said Elma, finging down her
towel. MARY Penn showed us. She
told us everything and gave US the first
swarm of bees. There are IA swarlns
down there under the south wall. Spen-
Ger sold the honey for as. And we plant
ed all the nice flowers that grow down
in the meadow that You said was too
stony and barren for the sheep to pasture
upon, and Will dug and hoed around
them after all the chores were done, and
we sent boxes and bouquets of lilies and
verbenas to the city every day by Mr..
PENIS wagon. And we gathered wild
Strawberries before the sun was mp and
got cherries out Of the old lane. And the
money is ours-every cent Of it,"
Honey, ehy' said Mr. Chesney, star
ing at the row of hives, for Elma had
dragged him ont into the November
moonlight to the scene Of action. "Well,
I've seen these many time, but always
s'posed they belonged to Squire PENIS
folks. And flowers and wild berriesI
Didn't think there was so much money
in EN-. Guess III try the business my
self next year. Queer chat the women
folks should have got the start Of me-"
After that be regarded his family with
more respect. The mere fact that they
could earn money had elevated them i'm
mensely in his sight.
But when spring came he lost his able
coadjutor. Miss Elma incidentally an
nounced to him one day that she was GO
ing to be married to Walter Penn the
next week.
And mamma is coming TO live with
US, added Ellna. "She can't stand the
damp house and this hard work any
longer"
But Mrs. Chesney did not go to the
Penn farm. Mr.. Chesney hired stout
serving maid and laid drain pipes under
the kitchen stoop. If his wife really
understood her business so well, it was
worth while to keep her well and active,
he considered.
81 couldn't leave papa, you know"
said Mrs. Chesney to Elma. He means
well, and now that Rebecca Beckel is
coming here and the kitchen Is dry we
shall get along nicely. ! wouldn't go
back to the city for anything now"
Nor | either" said Elma. And, oh,
mamma, shall always love those bee
hives under the hollyhochs. for it was
there that Walter asked me to be his
wife"
Mrs. Chesney tearfully kissed her
daughter. She, too, had been happy once
and had her dreams. IL WAS TO be hoped
that Walter Penn was made of different
metal from George Chesney.-Woman's
MauaZina