Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-12-14

do. I don't suppose he'll take a no.
ton to her"
"Who will?" There was conscious
look on the girls face.
"Dick Underwood.
"Who's a-car'n' whether he does r
not?" exclaimed Mandy, with an
exaggerated affectation of scorn and in
difference that but poorly concealed
the deep hurt her mothers words had
given. "He's welcome to, f he wants
to-! Nobody II hender i'm, guess. I"
"Hev you got them chlck'ns fed?"
eyes" She shook the last grains
of wheat from her apron. Her face
was flushed, and tears were very close
to her eyes now.
As she turned toward the house,
there was clatter of unevenly gallop-
ing horses on the winter ground, and
up to the gate dashed Maria Quacken-
bush and Dick Underwood, laughing
noisily, and with great deal of color
in their faces, as if they had been rid
ing recklessly.
"Whoa!' cried Maria. with spirit.
"Whoa, tell you! Hello, Mandy |!
How do you do, Mis- Bentley! Guess
my hair IS down my back, amt it?
My I must be a sight But when you
git this horse warmed up, you can't go
slow on himl"
"Won't you git down n come inP"
asked Mrs. Bentley, with cold and M
mistakable disapproval. "How do you
do, Mr.. Underwood? Ny! how you
have changed! 'Mandy!"
Mandy came to the gate, blushing
and looking rather shy and awkward.
The young man jumped off his horse
and shook hands with her through the
gate.
"I've only changed in looks" he
said, with shining eyes. "No, we
can't come in tonight. We promised
Mrs. Quackenbush we'd be back early
to supper.
"We're go'n' ter hev some music n
sing'n'," said Maria loftily. 'I've got
new org'n fer Christmas, Mandy"
"Yes, 1 heard, said Mandy, family.
SCOT twentv-four stops N two knee
swells-a loud n soft. IT'S got q
high back, n places fer lamps n
vases. Can't you come over ternight ?"
''No, guess not" said the girl.
The color had left her face, and she
was looking pale.
"No," said Mrs. Bently, with hard
look in her eyes, "she'll hev ter do all
the work ternight. I'm a-go'n ter
town."
"Why, maw!' exclaimed Mandy,
in amazement. "'R' you, honest?
What you go'n' fur?"
"I'm a-go'n' ter git some things fer
dinner termorrow. I'm all out"
She began drumming with her coarse
red fingers on the gate. There was a
look of sudden resolution-almost
stubbornness-on her face and cold
glitter, like steel, in her eyes-especi-
ally when she looked at Maria.
81 wish you c'u'd come" said that
young lady, airily, to Mandy, flick
ing her horses ears with her whip;
GIVE got lots ter tell YOU
ing" n just piles ter show you.
I've got a new dress that'll make your
mouth water |"
"Hunh |" shifted Mrs. Bentley, toss
ing her head contemptuously.
"'Ts brown n gold camel's hair
offul fne-'n' it cost dollar n "a
quarter yard"
"Hez you paw sold his hawgs yet?"
asked Mrs. Bentley, with sudden and
startling significance. But evidently
nothing could shake Maria's self-sat-
isfaction to-day. She returned with
placidity Mrs. Bentley's intense gaze.
IT do know" she replied lightly.
"'N' I've got pair O. gloves ter
match, Mandy. Guess you better
come, after eli. Well, we'll hev ter
be go'n', Mr.. Underwood"-she gave
him decidedly and boldly coquettlsh
glance, whereat poor Mandy turned
paler and Mrs. Bentley g face assumed
fairly purplish tinge-"'r well be
late. Good-byel Hope you'll hev o
good time ter-morrow."
.Good night" said the young man,
with lingering look through the gate
at the pale, pretty face and wide, hurt
eyes. 81 wish you very happy
Christmas !"
Goodnight, said Mandy, with q
poor smile that was hardly smile at
oil.
"Now, you go right n the house
n do up all the work. Mandy" said
Mrs. Bentley, taking up slop pail
and walking with quick, resolute
strides. Every step seemed to say,
'I've made up my mind! I've made
up my mind!" "You tell Peter ter
hitch Dock n Charley ter the spring
wag'n, while I'm dress'n. m you
hurry up, too, SOS I can git off before
you paw gifts back! Iwon't git home
tonight; I'll put up at Mis- Huntly's.
Hurry up!"
Too occupied with her own refec-
tions to give more than passing
thought to her mothers sudden reso-
lutions, and eager to get her pale face
away from those solicitous eyes,
Mandy gladly obeyed.
Twenty minutes later Mrs. B. ut ey