The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-08-03
JAWN CAME BACK.
Miss Benni,,gs's Troubles Which a Shift
less Boy Shared.

doors; but she said. very little In refer
ence to the disappearance of the second
John. After the departure Of the boy,
whom she had undertaken to raise, Miss
Jennings, according TO her ,neighbors,
had ''soured." After the Runaway Of the
boy. who had been thrust upon her."
the neishbors began to say that Miss
Bennings was "gittn' old"
To Miss Bennings herself. II seemed
that she was "gittin' mighty young and
fullish;" such a strange feeling crept
upon her as she folded the new suit and
put 1t and the copper-toed boots away
out OF sight.
The weathers BLOWN up" she said
I'm sure he might a-kept the clothes"
And then she put her wrinkled hands
upon the little wooden mantelpiece be-
side. the bed where the boy had slept.
The hands trembled as the faded old
face found resting place upon them.
Lord. why didn't the fust one come
back" she inoaned. "All this would
never a-happened."
something else vas about to happen
to Miss Bennings. Two of the half
brothers. Ben and Rick Bennings, were
stu living eight miles distant from Cross
Roads, at place called Red Lanes. No
fraternal attachment had ever been dis
played on the part of the half-brotherp
towards Miss Bennings. and when the
second John vas taken under surveil-
lance at the old home there had been
much grumblng In the Lanes. A lesser
degree of grumbling had emanated from
the same quarter when the first John
met with favor. for there had been at
that time small Ben and a Juvenile
Rick. each equally shiftiess and equally
up for adoption "'t
The Bennings families In the Red Lanes
were large The sons and daughters de-
clared vehemently that justice wasn't on
the face of the earth II SADIE Bennings's
new brat got the home place. The two
old men talked the matter over with ges-
ticulations and angry mutterings. Not
until the grumbling eliminated to q ter
rible point did It reach Cross Roads:
The Bennings over to Red Lanes was
gunno brock the will" ~
The neighbors came fiocking In ION
Miss Bennings. Fight 'em tooth nd
nail" they cried. Indignantly. m
"Breck will that has stood for thirt. "A
five year-ef that amt Red Lanes impi
dencev
Miss Bennings listened to the neigh
bors more patiently tnan she was In the
habit of listening.
"Cut 'em off with nary shillin', oaxy
Bennings''
'They's ongrateful to the core"
1.-The shiftless good-for-nothinksr'
"Bringin' all this trouble on you In
yer old ager'
lhen MISS benn'hss spoke iroupie'
she SAID. in dull way. 'How's Ben and
Kicks meddlin' hurtin' me? Ny trouble.s
a-wanderin' round to other foliss's kitch-
en- doors. a-beggin'. My troubles a.
chopin wood yer and there where he kin
81, ,ha toh1and biz oio,h.s atn,, e,,,,.
fer the Winter. and he amt got No
ITS the boy Sawn said the ns.a
the trouble with the Bennings over TO
Red Lanes has turned her head"
Jaw, nav. nav. naw."
But they were pretty sure Of 1t when
the old home place was vacated for the
little wooden house close to the road.
She built the mouse with the chicken
money when she was GAL" explained
who didn't know and occasionally to
one who did. There was nothink shift
less about Miss BenningS She says as
|
with their spreein' over to Red Lanes;
she'll give the home place a rest for a
spell, and see eff II kin git any ionesomer.
She's "A teckin' on SO that her heads
kind o. quare."
And what OF the boy?" asked the
latest teamster. Amt he turned upy'
| why, he's turnin up all the time:
Over to Weaver's helpin' with the corn
huskin' last | hearn. Jim Weaver says
as he won't starve. Miss Jennings,
she'd made up her mind to do Ter him.
send him to school. and all that, like as
he was the other'n ana jest as Ell ne was
| the other'n, he up and give her the sup.
| That and the furse about the Will ~
apt TO go hard with her;
| Yes, ! reckon said the teamster.
The boy "over at Weaver's gave. .
gasp of surprise and opened MS eyes IN
creduously when he heard about the
viii. -" ''''.
"Teck the home place away from herr'
| he asked. .....-
| ''Teck II They've done got II r
| cried Jim Weaver, eXcitcdly. Folks say
as Miss Jennings mas put up IN the
small house ciost to the corner
Left the home placer murnured the
boy.
The storm beat around the solitary old
holSe place. btrt there was no one within
to mind IT the rats were having q royal
rumpus In the walls. The rain beating
INCREASINGLY against the .wtpaows OF the
| little house "clost to the corner made
Miss Jennings Feel lonesome as sne sat
there turning the heei OF a Iong,leggea
SaIn s'ovhinf 49, e na ~ e,, tS;uI