The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-11-30
EUNICE EVANS VOICE.
BY NELLIE f. 4. SCOTT.

Mrs. Ainslee confessed with sorrow
to one bad habit-that of standing for
three solid half-hours of every day at
a front window nervously watching
for the postman.
But | don't know that my con-
science ought to reproach me SO severe
liz for it. either" she said to herself.
~ have no pressing duties; my time
isn't worth much: and it's such an in
nocent excitement-there he IS now.
and she peered out anxiously through
the lace curtain to see if the shaggy
pony and mud-spattered gig should
stop at her gate.
No; Mrs. Evans. next door, was the
favored one this time; but she was
not at home. evidently, for the post
mans whistle pealed forth again and
again.
Mrs. Ainslee went to the bay window
and watched the postman's efforts to
find a place for the letter. First he
tried to slip il in between the window
sashes. but this failing he tried to slip
it under the door of the entry. little
four-foot cutby built on to the house
as an afterthought, to take the place
of hallway. This idea, too. was for
some reason abandoned, and the man
followed the clam-shell oordered walk
around to the back of the house,
whence she heard the watchdog growl-
ing at him; and Mrs. Ainslee, instead
of following his movements further,
went back with an amused smile TO her
place beside the parlor window.
Il wonder if that ferocious dog al
lowed him to leave the letter" she
unused. well. guess he left it, some
where; and as it's from Eunice prob
ably. I'll trust the mother to find it. -
The Evanses were poor-one of the
few poor families in the somewhat
aristocratic neighborhood of Milton
park. a suburb of an eastern city.
Their house. with its half-acre or so of
ground, represented their entire for
tune, and the profits of the small or
chard and poultry yard their income,
aside from the things-and they were
many--that Eunice's hands found to
do. Just now the girl was away in a
neighboring town acting as companion
10 an invalid rich mans daughter
who had taken a ia ncy to Eunice when
they were together at the high school.
Mother and daughter were objects
OF much interest to Mrs Ainslee, and
she could see that the days dragged
painfully to the older woman, now
that Eunice was away. Many times
had the observant neighbor seen Mrs
L.
or come idly to the door with the broom
or dish towel in her hand, and gaze for
minutes at the line Of haze-covered
mountains that separated her from her
girl. Then in the evening at dusk she
would bring out pail after pail Of
water and patiently sprinkle Eunice's
flowers by means of an old-fashioned
watering can. Not a weed dared to
show its head among the pinks and
pansies, or elbow leaf to remain on
the geraniums-
Have you heard from Eunice
lately, Mrs. Evans?" inquired Mrs.
Ainslee from her side of the division
fence few days after the latter cpl
sode.
''Oh yes: l heard to day: she's very
good about writing to me-"
is she coming home soon? How
does her patient get along?"
NO. she won't be home for some
time unless for Sunday, or-perhaps
you've heard. suppose. about the
musicale Mis- Gildersleeve's goin' to
give?'
Yes: it's going TO be grand affair,
they say" said Miss Ainslee
so they do. And l guess Mis-
Gildersleevell ask Eunice TO go.
P'raps you remember at Easter time.
when my girl sung the solos in the
church, how pleased Mis- Gildersleeve
was with her voice. and she said then
she'd never be satisfied till her cousin.
that's great perfessor of music in
that big conservatory. had heard the
child sing. She hasn't said anything
to me about it-yet; but Mis- Storm.
who's a friend of Mis- Gildersleeve,
was here the other day to buy some
ing there as if twas a settled thing
that she was goin' to sing"
Mrs. Ainslee said she thought il
would be very good thing for Eunice
TO have the benefit of a professionals
opinion.
Yes: l wrote to her about il: and
she's delighted, of course, poor child.
She says in this last letter that she's
bought dress for the oceasion-a soft.
lcream-colored goods-and is maxim it
up herself with the help of Miss Jar
dimes sempstress. They're wonderful
kind 10 her. Miss Jardine's music
teacher comes right along, and when
she amt well enough TO take her
lesson she makes Euniee go in her
place. | hope nothing'Il happen to
keep her away: it'd be terrible disap-
Ipointment to her, she's set her heart
on il So
When next the two neighbors met.
the important event of which ali Mil
ton Park was talking, was only two
days away. Mrs. Evans had been too
busy harvesting her grapes and pears