Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-07-18
THE THRESHER GUESTS.


~ vso oAAASss AAAAo " SAVoa VA
breezy October morning when Nil
Sophronia Ilse opened the neat littl
gate in front Of Albert 6tanning's no,
house. There was . broad walk lead
Ing up to porch where . few grss
purple clemstis blossoms upon . trel
Used vine showed that the deceitfu
October sun was cosxing out flower
which did not belong 70 his time.
) Miss Sophronis heard the allow cresl
Of . rocking.chair ~ she crossed u,
perch, and saw through the scrse,
door a pretty young woman sitting
with book In her lap, reading. Hel
blue calico wrapper was unbuttoned q
the throat. her feet were untidily
dressed, and her pretty, fair hair wa
gathered into frowsy knot She ros,
in some confusion when she saw Mia
Sophronia, tossed her book aside ant
pushed toward her guest another
rocker.
While the visitor removed her priu
old maids bonnet and her cape, sht
noted the untidiness Of the room
where the breakfast dishes were piled
in unsightly heap on the table, and
flies held high carnival
II came up TO help you, Cissy," she
said. II noticed 90 passed Gorham'a
that the men were pitching from the
last stack. They will be here before
noon. Have you got your dinner un.
der way?" The young woman colored
and her eyes, which were not blue, but
yellowish gray, grew dull.
"They are not coming here-or Il
least they are going TO board at Father
Standings"
Then 1t is true"
what, prayp"
The old maid rocked TRANQUILITY and
produced her knitting.
W. | heard some Of the girls at the
society saying that you would not
dare attempt to get dinner for the
threshers; that your Annicky town
ways might fool Albert, but you were
too smart to try them on with tho
threshers You know l do not pry into
your affairs from q motive Of idle Gu
riosity, Cissy, and antyou to tell me
why you are acting in this way"
well, Albert thinks can't cook. "
This was said with an elaborate affec.
tation Of carelessness, but 1t did not
deceive Miss Sophronia.
"And yet have often heard him
boast Of your good housekeeping-your
cooking especially"
10, yes--at first. But now we are
all wrong. hate that sort Of men
that go about with the steam thresh-
erl shudder to think OF Jim Finn,
for instance, coming into my house. l
know that they will spit over every
thing and eat like wild beasts. And
when I said SO Albert got mad and
said he would take them to his moth
er's, where they would get something
at to eat"
quite naturally" murmured Ilse,
Aunt Sophyl You were mothers
friend and owe lot to you, but ! am
not going to bear that Quite nat.
urally' indeed think he was horrid."
"Cissy, did you know Albert was >
farmer when you married him?"
"You know | did,"
Then suppose what have heard
Is true; that you have no practical
good sense At all; that you supposed
farming to DO all sunset, moonrise,
htarshine, dewy apple blossoms, etc."
"You know ! am not such fool but
| do not see the necessity Of our being
brought In contact with-Jim Finn"
"And these men who do not know
how to feed themselves according to
your notion, are the very men, II l am
not mistaken, who hauled and cut
every stick Of wood you burned that
winter your father died. lam ashamed
Of you, Cecilia Stanuingl"
No answer save the slow creak Of the
young wife's rocker.
"You have been used to them al
your life. 1t was that year with that
Idle, do-nothing set at your aunt's
which has filled your silly head with
false ideas. You are unkind to Albert's
mother, and the next thing you know
you'll be unkind to Albert"
I'm afraid am that uow-some.
timea"
well, q sin confessed 10 half re-.
pented Of. Go comb your hair, and
come and help me. lam going TO save
your credit BY getting dinner for those
men," She began to gather up the
dishes while Cissy ran to her room to
improve her toilet, calling out direo-
tons to Miss Sophronia from time to
time.
There's = snow pudding cooling In
the cellar"
Snow fddlesticksl You want about
4 dozen pies, meat enough for regi-
ment, a peck Of potatoes and every.
thing else In proportion. Hurry, child"
Cissy came forth presently with
smooth hair, rutfled apron and IN
rufiled demesnor; she was neatly shod
and the yellow lights in her eyes bad
given place to clear, cool graynesA
"You straighten up that disgraceful
while ] prepare the vege.
ables, then we'll tackle the poultry.
3ut how shall we let Albert know"
Cissy smiled demurely.
He would never take them up there
Without coming home first"
"0h," grunted Miss Sophronia, "then
le's not altogether VILE"
Hes lovely, Aunt sophy," said cissy,
limpling.
II want you TO have the credit Of
bis dinner, Cissy," said Miss Sophronia,
'aalins notAtoea n shs taxed ..You,rs