The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-03-26

/ "HoW longs she ben dend?"
Most ten years We was livin' down
to Norris Corners then"
/ The man picked up his knife and alb
sently tried the edge of 1t on the ball
of his thumb.
" s'pose," said Ann, 'that folks arc
sorry when their wives die?"
Mr.. Baker gave short laugh.
| "Wnll, that depends"
'Oh, does 1t? / thought folks bod to
love their wives n DO sorry when they
died"
/; Mr.. Baker laughed again. He made
no other answer for several minutes.
AT last he said:
II was sorry enough when my wife
died"
a greet pile Of quartered npples wos
Iheeped up In the wooden bowl before
either spolse again.
Then Ann exclaimed with piteeus
intensity:
''Oh, I'm awful tired of bein' Aunt
iMandnny's fooll"
Mr.. Baker stamped his foot involun-
tarily.
''How jew know they call you that?''
.he cried, in great voice.
II heard June Littleflcld tell Mis-
Monk she hoped nobody'd ask, Man
tdany's fool to tho socinblc. And Mr..
Eletcher's boy told mo that's what
folks called me-"
Darn Jane Littlcncldl Darn that
little devil of boy!"
These dreadful words burst out furi-
ously
Perhaps Ann did not look SO shocked
as she ought.
In Il moment shc smiled her inma-
turc, simple smile that had u touching
appeal in it
""Iain't no use dcnyin' it," she said;
~ amt ies' like other folks, m that's
IL fact. ! can't think Study moro N IL
minute. Things all run together, some
how. M the back CT my head g odd S
it can be-"
"Poohl What OF 1t? There can't any
of Us think stiddy; n IL we could what
would it amount to, ] should like to
know? 1t wouldn' amount to u row OF
pins"
Ann dropped hcr work and clnspcd
her hands Mr.. Baker saw that her
hands were hard. and stained almost
black on fingers and thumbs by much
cutting Of apples.
'Yc sec" She said in tremulous
voice, sometimes l think If mother
had lived she'd or treated me so It l
could think stiddier. s'pose mother ID
CT loved nc. They say mothers do
But Aunt Mandany told me mother
died the year l got my fall from tho
cherry tree. I was eight then. ] don't
remember nothin bout it, nor bout
anything nv u. L.. Baker, do you re-
member Your nlother?".
MIR. Baker said YES" abruptly.
Something made it impossible for him
to say more.
''Id know how t Is" went on the
thin minor voice; but it always did
seem to Inc Is though II could rcmcln-
Der my mother ! could think stiddier,
| somehow. Do you think could?'
Mr.. Baker started to his feet.
IN be burned # l en- stan it," he
shouted "No, nor l won't stan it,
nuthcr!"
IIo walked noisily across the room.
He came back and stood in front OF
Ann, who had patiently resumed work.
"Come," he said, Il think lot of yc.
Les git married..
Ann looked up. She Strengthened
herself.
Then should live with you?" she
ns]1cd.
''Of course"
Sho laughed.
There was so much Of confident happi,
ness in that laugh that the mans heart
| glowed youthfully.
II shall be real glad to marry you,
| Mr.. Baker" she said.
Then, with pride, "'N' can cook, N
T =. L.
work"
She roso to her feet and flung up her
head.
Mr.. Baker put his arm about her.
LES go right along now" he said,
moro quickly thnn he had yet spoken.
''We|l call to the minister's n engage
him. You en- stop there. Well be
married to-day"
"Cnn't We wait till I en- put on my
bunnit n shawl?" Ann asked.
She left the room. In q few moments
she returned for going. She had O
shoot Of note paper, bottle OF ink and
% pen in her hands.
~ en- write" she said confidently,
"'n' call it fairer to leave word for
Aunt Mandany."
"All right" was the response; Ego
ahead"
Mr.. Baker said nfterwnrd that he
mover got much more nervous in his
Life than while Ann was writing that
note. What if Mandany should up
pear? He wasn't going to back out,
but he didn't want to see that woman.
The ink was thick, the pen was like
@ pin, apd Ann was o good while MAX
ing each letter, but the task was at last
accomplished.
She held out the sheet to hnr com.