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

They're all gomez" faltered the
woman. I'D ought to have found
out before | come clear on here"
Now that her veil was raised, Miss
Rumy could see that her face was
wrinkled and worn, and it's bloom,
which had impressed Miss Rumy as
very beautiful, was too evidently arti-
fetal to deceive even her guileless
eyes. Her black silk was worn al
most threadbare, and all her little
careful fripperies of lace and jewell
ry were cheap.
Ambrose Richey's folks, they
amt all gomez Ambrose is my
cousin, and expect they think hard
of it that amt been to see 'em be-
| FORE"
There was keen anxiety in the
strangers voice, although she tried
to speak easily.
well Ambrose, he kind of took to
drink" said Miss Rumy, trying to
express herself delicately, in the
matter of her new friends relatives.
"And Mary Olive has had a terrible
hard time to keep her seven children
of from the town; and this summer
her mothers there a-dyin' with
cancer. They amt what you could
call in real good trim for company"
The woman's face changed color so
that the pink and white powder
looked like q mask upon it.
II guess they'll be glad to see me
-or somebody will, she said, rally
ing with a forced laugh. II used to
visit in Corinna considerable when I
was girl, and I kept school in the
North Carmel district"
you don't say!" exclaimed Miss
Rumy, in futter of excitement.
'pve been a-thinkin' all along that
you kind of favored somebody-you
amt she that was Emerette Small
ledger"
why yes, ami But you've got
the advantage of me. You see I've
been about considerable, and seen a
good many people," returned the
other, reassuming the fine lady air
which had been gradually slipping
from her.
"I'm Rumy Battles" said Miss
Rumy, flushing all over her gentle
old face.
'Well, it seems queer that didn't
remember you-you look so natural
now" exclaimed her friend. "Luth.
er, he always spoke of YOU" She
raised her lace-trimmed handkerchief
to her eyes. HE passed away seven
years ago. Luther wasn't so high
spirited as l am; but he always
made q real good appearance. I've
been livin' with my son; but he mar
ried beneath him, and his wife amt
one that l can get along with. 1
amt been well since last winter;
this cough hangs on to me'-a rasp-
ing cough interrupted her at inter-
vals-'and l felt as il Maud was
wearin' on me, so I'd better go Avis
tin for spell. There was-was
considerable many mouths to feed,
too" she looked piteously into Miss
Rumy's face; land Luther didn't
leave me real well off,"
II wish't twas SO I want goin'
on a vacation" said Miss Rumy. II
should be real pleased to have you
come and make me good long visit"
l was 'lottin' on maxim you q
visit" said her friend. Seems real
unfortunate that I've come so far;
and don't know as I've got money
enough-with me"
It's what I'd ought to do to take
you right home with mel" cried Miss
Rumy, joyfully; and there arose be-
fore her eyes serene and lovely vision
of her own cup of tea and her own
bed. Nov, don't you feel mite
bad about my losin my vacation, be-
cause 1 don't. Come to think Of it, /
couldn't go on, anyhow, because I've
forgot the pleurisy pills that made
for Josiah; nobody can make 'em but
me; and Josiah's wife wrote that he
was needin' 'em. can send 'em
right along. There's more'n an hour
now before the train goes back
consulting the time table on the wall
land we'll take walk over to the
cemetery there"-pointing across the
railroad track and stubbly field to
where some white stones cleaned
through the trees. Lyman Peters
folks that used to live at Carmel
moved over here, and l shouldn't
wonder IL some of 'em was buried
there. Anyway, it's always real
pleasant to walk in the graveyard"
They spent an hour delightfully."-,
finding the graves Of Lyman Peters
and his first wife, and specializing
upon the probable fortunes of his
second wife, and in "reminiscences of
other mutual acquaintance Of their
youth. AS they settled themselves
in the train Miss Rumy said that
she "had had beautiful vacation"
She repeated that sentiment to
Priscilla Peet when that good woman's
establishment had sufficiently SUBJ
sided to allow her to listen. Miss
Rumy had established her visitor in
her cool and dainty spare chamber,
where she was speedily resuming all
the airs and graces which had struck
Miss Rumy on their first meeting.
"You do beat all, Rumy Battles |"
was Mr.. Peet's breathless exclama-
ton. She's got old-fashioned con-
sumption, and you've got her to do
for as long as she lives! You'll toll
and slave for her jest as you did for
all the rest ~
"Well, / dom know" said Miss
Rumy, vaguely. But as she hustled
ahout her cheerful house her face