New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-23

fined so plainly that one could not help being
sorry for her
Her shawl was STRIPED blue and white the blue
having gone into the white and the white into
the blue on that occasion, long ago. when It's
owner tried the experiment of washing the gar
ment.
She ALWAYS said she guessed she made mis-
take in putin sody into the water; but she
shouldn't make the same mistake again; there
was that much about 1t
She wore a black straw hat with what was
called a dish brim." This brim made an excel
lent shade now over the upper half Of her face
Only the narrow chin and small mouth were in
the sunlight This lieat revealed reientlessly
the two long wrinkles, on each side or the
mouth and the sagging Of the cheeks which be-
gins 10 come soon after middle age. Where Is
the patent medicine man who Will take away
that last dreadful sign Of the years from the
aging woman? In doing that he Will annihla'e
time and will also become fabulously rich.
Not that Almna Drowdy would have employed
any such means. She would have said that the
Lord had seemed to make women on purpose 10
grow old n she didn't reckon she was so foolish
as to try to stop the Lords work Shed had
her time Of being young and not being exacuy
a fright either and what were you to expect?-
that you'd have more'n one chance IN thls
world? And now Miss Drowdy had come to a
dish hat and faded shawl, and to suoiime
unconcern as to how he dress hung.
The road stretched out white and dusty be-
fore her, it looked as If 1T would never end. But
Miss Drowdy knew that just beyond the farther
clump Of white brches there was turn ana
beyond the turn there was house 1t was 10
this place that she was going
She glanced up at the sun. Then she walked
faster still.
II hadn't ought to have come out" she
thought: an my bread arising Well. if have
to eat sour bread it's my own lookout. l Amt
got no men folks thank the Lord. to find fault
Before she reached the corner she put her
hand down suddenly to her skirt and then
stopped still lower till she touched the bottom OF
her deep pocket. She pulled out letter and
looked at ii.
It'd been a great joke If I'd got the wrong
one" she said. Il have so many. with a iaueh
that softened the lines in her face wonderiuiiS
and gave some hint of what the face mad oeeh
fifteen or twenty years ago.
Five minutes later she had opened the outer
back door Of a little house which had so long an
Il" that 1t was a great deal more l. than mouse
But by this time the visitor had carefully
dropped all appearance of hurry she entered
leisurey.
That you. Alminy?"
The question was put by woman VINO sat in
low rocker by the north window
This woman was sewing buttons the vamps
of shoes with rapidly that MADE the very air
twinkle about her. Her needle and thread hesi-
tated for the briefest space as she spoAe' '"e"
they went on again.
ives " said the caller cts mel should think.
Ijvv. you'd about perish with them buttons
How many has the baby swallered this morn
ing?'
The hand OF the woman addressed flashed OUT
10 the length OF a long. new needleful she helo
the hand suspended she answered:
II do hope and believe 1t amt got to any OF um
so far to-day. But they amt seemed 10 hur'
him a mite
mo" said Alminy they agree with him first
rate d'know but shoe buttons are better
milk for children Of his age"
You always make fun Of everything. Alminy.
said the other. reproachfuly.
.Do I? Well I'm thankful can make run.
was the response The land knows there's nt
need of trying TO be solemn in this world
After this there was silence for several min
utes. during which the newcomer watched mel
sister intently For the two women were sisters
though there was not even family look IN
common between them
last asked Olivia.
Alminy hesitated slightly before she replied
hut her companion did not notice the hesitation
II had a letter yesterday" she said finally
land didn't sleep wink last night
Mercy sakew exclaimed Livy. II didn't know
as Won was correspondent with anybody"
mo more I amt"
Liyy waited: but she kept on working as she
waited. She knew that her sister would tell hei
news when she was ready to tell 1t, and that shf
would not tell 1t before. She had learned ions
ago that ut was no use to waste breath question
ing Alminy."
AT last she glanced at her companion she
saw that her sisters gaze was fixed IN an uh
seeing way upon the window. She saw also ina
the hard rough hands were clasped ushuy VI
Tho bingham apron which Alminy had neglected
IN take of before she started from the mouse
Tn ber anxiety Livy could not sew fast enough
Her thimble presently caught In her threao' SIN
rave the thread a twitch and broke IL. she De
gan to be afraid that the nan wouio come 10
the case of shoes before they were finished sn'
wished that Alminy would speak, or else 81"
wished she had stayed at home.
Finally Lvy's patience gave out she urea U
thread her needle and could not
..I'Il bet a dollar I've broken the eye to th'
needlew she exclaimed. THAT last paper WASH
worth a cent"
IT wouldn't let Freddy git to the needless sai'
AIminy rousing. "they might not be as soou ~
him as buttons I spose some things are reai'
better for a baby's inside than others
The speaker laughed nervously.
Llyy's eyes flashed with annoyance. she "ah'e'
TO ask her sister to stop being 80 PROVOKING ou
she shut her lips tightly ard did not speak.
In a moment Alminy rose from her cha'r a"'
began walking about the room. she look o" "e
hat and threw it on the table. Ihere we'
wrinkles of excitement upon her foreheao "h'o'
was still delicate and almost handsome VIII" ~
soft hair. which would ring up lying 'oose'.
about It, She would have sconed at 'he 'uea
but .he WAS stilI an interesting woman: that is