The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-02-24
SUSIE'S INVESTMENT.

in the discolored ceiling, every flaw in
the uneven board floor. and Mrs. Kis-
bee looked around with bewildored
air as she came in to got the breakfast.
"Come, mother, make haste l'' shout
cd old Kisbee. I've got to get out
to the wood lots bright and early this
morning"
Eyes, 1 know, father" The old
woman still stared around her. II
can't think what makes the room look
so queer Oh, know Father, you've
torn those morning glory vines away
from the window"
"Of course l have" said he. "Dried
up old truck, keepin' out the light and
air. What use were they?'
"But there were lots O. flowers and
buds on 'em yet, father. And in that
sheltered spot the frost wouldn't hev
touched for week to come"
"Mornin glories don't amount to
nothin," snarled Kisbee. Besides, I'm
goin to hev load dumped there to-
day. It's a handy place for q wood.
pile"
Father T.
"Im-goin' n'-to-hev-a--l load %
- wood - dumped - here to-day
Don't speak loud enough ?"
But, father, you always said you
was goin' to build kitchen out there"
=. Il never said nothin' of the sort -
Il want a kitchen" pleaded the poor
old woman.
That's horse of another color"
sneered the old man.
And whom We were first married you
promised me-"
Il dare say promised good many
foolish things then. There's some
promises better broken than kept"
philosophically observed Luke.
And this old rooms damp and the
walls has settled, and tho ceiling has
fell-and calculatin' to hev 1t fixed
up and put my bed here when tho new
kitchen was built. IL always makes
me feel so dreadful cheap when the
sewing society meets here to have our
bed a-standin in the parlor. no matter
how handsome the patchwork is"
Luke wiped his hands on the roller
towel
We'll, you've stood It thirty years."
said he, IAN I guess you can stand it .
little while longer"
DO you mean, father, that Amt 10
have the new kitchen. after all p
That's exactly what do mean"
Mrs. Kisbss said no more, but the
slow, bitter tears Of old age triekled
down her cheeks as she lighted the fire,
brought pail OF drinking water from
the spring and began to fry the ham
and eggs in little skillet Her son
George came over that afternoon from
Farley's Mills. where he was foreman
in great shirt factory.
Mother = said he, I've got some-
thing to tell you. I'm engaged to
marry Susy Stopford. Why, mother,
what's the matter +? What are you cry
ing about 1 thought you'd be so
pleased.
Its jest like all the rest O. the luck!"
sobbed poor old Mrs. Kisbee. Fathers
been and tore down all my mornin'
glory vines, an l amt goin' to hev any
new kitchen after all these years, and
now my only SON has got engaged to
one of the Stopfords, that wasn't never
friends with our folk
But. mother laughingly pleaded
George, these are not the days of
Montague and Capulet feuds."
Il don't know what you're talkin'
about, said Mrs. Kisbee, who was not
a student of the immortal Shakespeare,
"but l always despised them Stopfords.
An Susan, she's story writer, am
told, as goes about with her fingers all
inky, and don't help none at all with
the house work
But, mother, she hires q girl with
the money she earns. She's the best
and sweetest girl in the world. When
may bring her to see you9"
Il don't want to see her at all, said
the old woman, querulously. And then
she broke down again, crying.
George went away, much perturbed
in spirit. He had never seen his mother
20 heartbroken before.
Il don't know what she'll say"
thought he, when she hears that fathers
made up his mind to sell the old place.
It's too bad of him. But father never
treated mother half decent"
Susie Stopford was at the window
when young Kisbee came back. She
ran out to meet him, her bright hair
blowing in the winds, her red ips
apart.
We'll, George?" she cried.
II don't know what to say to you,
SUSIE" he began; mother isn't herself
to-day. But She"
'She doesn't like me, George-I knew
that before. There was some old
trouble between her mother and Grand
father Stopford. She Tilted him or he
threw her over. never quite under
stood which. But I fully intend to
make her like me"
Il am afraid she won't give you the
the chance, Susy."
Tell me all about it, George" she
said. George told her. II only wish
T was rich" said he. II would buy the