Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-15

or abed, M'randy was real trial.
I'm dretful lost without her,
said Miss Rumy, wiping a moisture
from the wrinkled corner OF her eye.
'And then Nahum bringin' his
folks right on to you when he got all
run out and had slack wife and,
then gettin' the farm away from you,
Lily Ann says when we was talkin'
yesterday, says she, we've all fit and
struggled, but there amt none of us
that's been such slave to other folks
as Rumy Battles; and 1t does seem
real good that she's got to q breathin'
place at last, with nobody to do for
but herself, and enough to live on
with what little preservin' and but
tonhole maxim she likes to do And
says Lily Ann, says she, i shouldn't
wonder a mite II she was better of
now than she would "a been
II she'd got married; for
Luther Merridew was one of
them that flares out Il know it
don't hurt your feelin's to have me
say it, Rumy, now that we're all Of
us along in years, and have got q
realizin' sense of what men folks are.
OF course Luther want to blame for
havin' a sunstroke, so'st he had to
give up studyin' to be a minister,
nor for havin' school keepin' disagree
with him, nor for gettin' burnt out
when he tried to keep store; but
that kind of men that can't seem to
bring anything to pass am dretful
wearin' to their women folks. II
he'd had real smart wife like you,
Rumy, things might have been
diff'runt-beats all how queer things
turns out! Well, II Emerette Small
edge hahn t wished her cake was dough
before this time, I'll miss my guess
You never heard anything of 'em
after they moved out West, did you,
Rumy?"
mo-" said Miss Rumy, Except a
year or two after they went heard
they were kind of movin' round"
"Well, now, Rumy, you'd ought to
feel how well of you be at last. And
II / was you I'd go right of and take
my vacation. I'd lock up and not
come home till l was a mind to,
Seems queer that you should feel as
IL you couldn't, now that your hands
amt full for the first time in your
life."
II wish / was real reckless like
some," said Miss Rumy. "Seems as
IL must be here to look after things;
and there's dreadful things happenin'
on railroads, all the time, and there's
nothin' like your own victuals and
your own bed, come night. But l
amt one to finch when duty calls.
The doctor says I'd ought to 60, and
I'm goin'. / amt been through so
many tryin' things to give out now"
Beats all how you feel about it, /"
said Mrs. Peet. ''Now if / had your
chance! And I'm one that's real
care-takin', too"
1--WE amt all got the same gifts,
Priscilla" said Miss Rumy, with a
little touch of dignity.
Mrs. Peet fastened to make neigh
borly offers of care of the second
crop Of peas, the hens, the canary
bird, and to give practical advice
about the buttery window.
II haven't written to Josiah's folks.
I thought I'd like to take 'em by sur
prise, and, besides, you can't never
tell what may happen. / calc'late to
start next Monday. Seems as If
twas good time, because you can
get all ready Saturday and have the
Sabbath to kind of compose your
mind"
But Monday came and poor Miss
Rumy had not composed her mind.
She was in such a state of perturba-
ton that she packed and unpacked
her great, old fashioned carpetbag a
dozen times-not even her grim de-
termination and sense of duty could
fortify Miss Rumy to the extent of
taking trunk, and three times after
everything was settled she went over
to Priscilla Peet's to give her more
minute instructions about the care
of the hens, and the vigilance neces-
sary to guard them from marauding
skunks.
And, after ALL she was ready, with
her castle well defended, an hour be-
fore stage time. 1t seemed to Miss
Rumy that in all her anxious, toll
some life she had never known so
long an hour as that.
The stage left her at the Carmel
Station. 1t was hundred miles to
Hebron, and there were two changes
upon the way. For while the perils
of the journey absorbed all Miss
Rumy's thoughts; but by the time
she reached Cherryfield Junction,
where the first change Of cars was to
be made, her anxious mind had re-
turned to the dangers that had threat
ened her deserted dwelling, and she
longed YEARLY for cup Of her own
tea.
There was another woman waiting
in the station at Cherryfield Junction.
She was very much of a lady," Miss
Rumy said to herself, regarding with
little doubt her own attire, which
had been chosen for durability and
made after fashion that would last.
In the sewing circle at home she
had been earnestly advised not to
make acquaintance on her journey;
but she was nevertheless very glad
when the lady spoke to her, beginning
with q comment upon the weather
and the unpleasantness of travelling
alone, and she was sorry to hear that
they were not to travel in the same
Il \