The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-16
ELVIRA'S CHANCE.


foam rose steadily.
"There-so-stand over" she muttered. ig-
noring the querulous voice.
"Elvira," wistfully, III strain the milk
tonight. You needn't bother. 1 want you
to go right straight to bed and get good
nights sleep. Elvira-why don't you an
swer?''
Il didn't know you asked me anything.
What Go you want me to sayg'
You will go to bed. won't you, Elvira
You ought to get all the sleep you can"
Il expect will; L guess we'll both go to
bed. don't see why / need sleep any more
than you do. l don't see why / shouldn' t
strain the milk, same / always have
Again the two MIXED in silence. The twi-
light deepened. Stars were out. = gentle
wind from vast spaces drifted by. The
plaintive note of a nightbird came across
the invisible prairies. From the posts OF the
corral. crickets called to one another. The
cornfield close at hand was murmurous with
growth. Mosquitoes were abroad, and the
cows were restless.
Twice Elvira rose and emptied the con-
tents Of her milking-pail into a larger one
outside the bars. The movement brought
her into line with the narrow road which
stretched through the cornfeld from the
corral TO the house. Its dimming perspec-
tive was closed by the barn, which had
gathered to itself all the light of the after
glow Against its pale surface a dark horse
stood in dim relief. Elvra leaned forward,
while warm color mounted to her face,
and she smiled in the dusk. She understood
her mothers solicitude.
''Elvira. why don't you hurry up and fin
ish your milking?'
Eyes, mother So there.' she said and
sat down at the left side of the COW.
Like most Kansas farmers, they worked
In the fields till shutdown. then they did
the chores. There were horses, chickens,
pigs and calves to feed. After this Elvira
went to find the cows, while her mother
cooked the supper. In the long summer
days 1t was always o'clock before the
work was finished.
There" said Elvira. as she hung the box
she used for a stool upon a fence post.
Amt you most through. mother?'
Il don't believe you've MIXED those last
cows dry. You seem to be in a dreadful
hurryp'
II thought you wanted me to go to bed"
said Elvira defensIyely.
.le And sn so ! DO. Eivira- You don't get
The woman rose stretching upward her
lean back and shoulders, rounded by much
toll.
Her maternal solicitude had lately been
aroused. AT times she found herself fret
1ul and queruious-and II was so necessary
matte.
Don't hurry So Elvira" She herself
vas closing the bars with desperate haste.
Glvira had started toward the house.
We'll. mother. what do you want?" She
spoke pettishly. She felt as If her feet
were winged, and yet she must wait. First
you want me to rush right to bed, and then
you want me to lag along all night. |
DON'T believe you know what you do want. "
n
your mother In that way"
Wellt" said Elvira. 1t was evident that
ahe sympathized with herself.
They talked on. The singing corn was all
about them. save in 'front.' where the dark
horse had grown. larger but not more dis
tinct In the deepening twilight. Half way
down the path Mrs Fulson set down her
two p pals Of milk milk; ..u W,
know as well as / do that that Melville
Wright is at the house waiting for you.
You have nothing to do with the likes of
him. II you're the girl you ought to be-
and straight to bed. Say good evening to
him civil, and go right into your room. He
hasn't any business TO come here this time
why. mother. don't think that that's
being civil. 'Twould be just the same, no
time you say I've got to work
Yes. Your mother works you to deathr'
Jaw. You know l didn't say that Well
such as he has no business to come
here, anyway, Elvira. But I'll treat him
fbsi ever noIfe IN enterfaie
him.
Elvira Uttered nervcusly. There was a
note of anger in the sound. She stirred the
fne dust with her bare toes.
II amt no objections to him for a step
father. OF course, I'll go to bed and get
out OF the way" she said f1ippantly.
The older woman blushed with shame
and then turned white. To be thus de-
famed, and by the lips, of a daughter! She
picked up her milk pals and walked on in
silence. Elvsra followed, depressing the
contrition that struggled at her heart.
me e of her her mother. But lately had she
learned to demur. TO disagree. to rebel.
But lately new thoughts had crowded into
and barbed her tongue.
They emerged from the corn into the
s ppen space OF me dooryarai ana turned TO
stained. From the bench by the door a
lounging figure rose.
vira." Elvira, with stiff good evening,
passed into the house.
why, is that you, Mr. Wright, sitting
here in the dark by yourself. Come in.
They went Into the little kitchen. Mrs.
Fulson stumbled over chair. and the
physical Jar brought 10 her eyes the tears
which her anxiety and that last coarse
stab had already prepared. She fumbled
and awkward about lighting the lamp.
Elvira went straight TO her room and shut
the door with Dang. hers was not the
dignifed withdrawal that Mrs. Fulson had
desired Melville Wright gave low. soft
whistle.
81 hadn't noticed the weather a-risin'.'
he ventured, jocularly. They come mighty
sudden. them windstorms."
Mrs. Fulsons hospitable soul was fain TO
apologize-to say that Elvira wasn't feeling
think she's mad. cure him quicker" she
thought.
II hadn't noticed no storm coming DO
you think we'll have one tonight? We're
so shut in since the corn's got SO big. We
don't see them till they're right over our
heads
II guess you won't need 10 prop yer doors
shut t'night. Mrs. Fulson. L wasn't referrn'
There" said Mrs Fulson. placing a
chair, set down. Mr.. Wright" Then she
strained the milk and put II away on the
shelves. covering the pans with square
boards. and talking volubly the while.
views of the crops and the weather, while
ne furtively watched the door which Elvira
had slammed but she came not.
Her work finished, Mrs. Fulson brough I
forward chair and sat down, wrapping her
hands in her apron. She sighed YEARLY, but
.sI declare Mr.. Wright. IL 1 didn't forget
70 take your hat. Do LEI me hang IL up"
NO, / guess not. It's gettin' late"
IL occurred TO him that his presence there
was not accounted for. He had supposed
he came to see Elvira. but IL appeared he
had not. The prim little woman sitting
before him with her polite sollcltude and
pfetentious dignity dismayei him. Sud-
denly he was inspired.
II was a-wonderin', Mrs. Fulson, ef We
didn't want t'sell any o. them spring shotes
o. yourn- I've got some last years corn