The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-12
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the best room with no bed in it! An
now I'm punishedr"
Her son George came home that
afternoon from Farley's Mills, where
he was foreman in great factory.
Mother" said he. GIVE got some
thing to tell you. I'm engaged to
marry Susy Stopfold. Why, mother,
what's the matter? What are you
crying about? thought you were SO
pleasedp
cts just like all the rest O the
LUCK" sobbed poor old Mrs. Kisbee.
fFather's been an tore down all my
vines, and amt going to have any
new kitchen after all these years, and
now my only son has got engaged to
one of the Stopfords, that wasn't
never friends with our folks"
''But, mother" laughingly pleaded
George, "these are not the days of
Montagu and Capulet feuds."
81 don't know what you're talkin'
about" said Mrs. Kisbee, who was
not student of the immortal
Shakespeare; "but | always despised
them Stopfords! And Susan, she's
story writer. I'm told as she goes
about with her fingers all inky, and
don't help none at all with the house
work"
"But, mother, she hires a girl to
assist her aunt, with the money she
earns. She's the best and sweetest
girl in the world! When may I bring
her to see you9"
81 don't want to see her at alll"
said the old woman, ENORMOUSLY.
And then she broke down again,
crying.
George went away, much perturbed
in spirit. He had never seen his
mother so heart broken before.
81 don't know what she'll say"
thought he, "when she hears that
fathers made up his mind to sell the
old place. 1t is too bad of him, but
father never treated mother half-de-
Gently"
Susan Stopford was at the window
when young Kisbee came back. She
ran out to meet him, her bright hair
blowing in the wind, her red lips
apart.
"Well George?" she cried.
III don't know what to say to- you,
Susy," he began. "Mother isn't her.
self today. But She"
"She doesn't like me, George
knew that before. There was some
old trouble between her mother and
Grandfather Stopford. She Tilted
him, or he threw her over, never
quite understood which. But | fully
intend to make her like me"
II am afraid she won't give you the
chance, Susy."
The girl sat down ON the doorstep,
and rested her chin on her hand.
George leaned against the door, and
caressed one of her truant tresses as
if it were living thing.
"Tell me all about it, George" she
said.
George told her. 1t was such a
new, strange delight to have her to
confide everything to.
II only wish was rich" said he.
81 would buy the place myself, and
I'd build that kitchen the poor old
soul SO longs for, and porch in front
to train vines on"
Susy looked thoughtful.
"Who buys it," she asked.
doctor Trevor"
"What does he pay?"
Fifteen hundred dollars. 1t isn't
a very big price, but the land is not
good, and the house is old. Poor
mother 1t will break her heart, l
fear, to leave it."
Susy suddenly lifted her bright
eyes to her lovers face.
George" she said, 81 can't give
you up-even to your mother"
"Susy, my darling"
"But this / will do-I'll make her
like me vet, see if | don't"
The girl jumped up, and ran sob
bling into the house. She could not
resume her writing again, though the
manuscript of a half-fnished story
lay on the table in her cozy sanctum.
She got out her bank book, and
studied it for awhile; then she brought
in a shallow box, and adjusted it in
the sunniest nook of the kitchen
easement.
La, me, Susan what are you do
ing?" asked Aunt Pamela, who was