Smyrna times., 1895-07-17


the kitchen settee and burst into hys-
terical weeping.
Don't cry, Elvira Jane ~ said her
Uncle Joseph, kindly. ''If the fellows
capable of acting in this way, he amt
worth shedding a tear for
"There'll be something to shed be-
sides when Joe comes to hear it ~ said
Mr.. Harden savagely. "He amt one
to see his sister put upon in this way,
Joe isn't"
Just then there was knock at the
outer kitchen door, which being opened
admitted two or three of the nearest
neighbOrs, who had come to obtain in
formation and administer consolation
to the family in their trouble.
For by this time, thanks to Patty.
half the village knew that DeacOn's
Blake's pretty niece, who had made his
home so bright in the few months that
she had lived with them, and who.
everybody had decided was to marry
his son Tom, had run off and got mar
ried to the dandy dry goods clerk
lately imported from the city.
well, Pm awfully cut up about it,
I'm sure" said Mrs. Peters, the wheel
wright's wife, as she folded her hands
on her ample chest, and solemnly shook
her head. 81 wish | could say some
thing to comfort you, Mrs. Blake, but
I've always noticed that them as you're
kindest to has the least gratitude.
"As for me, I've been expecting it all
along" said Miss Tucker, who was
president of the Female Mission and
Charity Association. II noticed the
way Lizzie Gray and that Mr.. Parker
looked at each other in church Sunday
night; and Tom Blake noticed it. too.
for he appeared awful glum, and got
up and went out before anybody else
almost before the blessing was spoke.
l remember l said to myself, "if Eliza
beth Gray and Orville Parker don't
make a runaway match before long.
then Pm no saint"
IF some folks would attend more To
the sermon in church, and less to the
looks and dOings of other folks" said
Mrs. Harden, addressing nobody in
particular, but looking straight before
her with stony gaze, they'd be con-
siderable more saints than they are
likely TO become other ways"
Mrs. Tucker glanced appealingly at
Mrs. Peters, and put on a marytr-like
expression.
Il can excuse you, ma a'am, f." she said,
with great pOliteness, and a compass
slOnate glance toward Elvira Jane.
considering how badly you feel about
this matter. 1t isn't many of us can
bear disappointments with patience
and Christian meekness and fortitude."
Mrs. Harden's cOuntenance certainly
expressed neither meekness nor pa
tience, but her reply averted by a sud
den exclamation from Patty, who was
staring out of the window at sundrv
curious and inquisitive faces of passers-
by, peering above the front garden
palings.
'Lor, mum, they're coming Mister
TOm-Mister Joe, too"
Joe Harden was hurrying up the
road for one direction and Tom Blake
driving another.
The two young men met at the gate.
and after exchanging few words Tom
left his wagon in the yard and they
entered the kitchen together.
Toms face was white, while Joe's
was red as his mothers.
well, joe" said Deacon Blake,
hastily stepping forward.
Joe answered in a hard, sharp wav:
Parker left the hotel this morning
at O'Clock. He hired buggy, He
didn't say where he was going, but
Larry, the milkman, met him near the
Meadow Bridge driving with lady,
who he is sure was Lizzie"
ttRnt in thaf aoeo
night?"
Joe sternly shook his head.
Mrs. Blake burst into a passion of
weeping.
Tom, meanwhile, had taken some.
thing from small boz on the top shelf
of the closet, and was closely examin.
ing it at the window.
"Oh, Tom ~ cried EIvira Jane.
= What do you mean to do with that
dreadful thing?"
Tom made no reply.
HIS lips were firmly set, and he put |
the pistol into his breast pocket and |
turned toward the door.
TON, ny son !" cried his mother.
seizing his arm. "Oh, Joe, stop him |
Therell be murder somewhere He'll !
kill that Parker!"
'If he DON'T" said Joe, deliberately.
as he carefully selected a stout horse |
whip from a number hanging in the
closet-"if he don't succeed in killing
him, then I'll finish him off myself. |
Come along, TomW
Elvira Jane screamed, and Mrs. Har.
den and Mrs. Peters made a sudden.
rush and placed their
ample forms against the kitchen door.
Mrs. Blake threw herself into a rock
lng-chair with loud wailing, and Patty,
with tightly-clenched hands, mouth
up and eyes double their
natural size, danced about the room on
tiptoe.
"Stand aside, mother! There's
something trying to get in here" said
Joe, as the door was pushed from with
)ut,>
Aud wrenching it open despite the
resistance of the two stout ladies. he
.hrew it wide, while the ewes of all the
excited turned thitherward.
Everyone uttered an exclamation.
There stood Lizzie, bright and rosv.
ler hat hanging on her back Ly its
strings, her curly hair all disordered
~ the wind, and in her hands a little
basket, the contents of which were
covered over with fresh green leaves.
At sight of the unexpected group her
ace assumed an expression of the
Utmost astonishment.
"Oh, Lizzie, Lizzie /" cried her aunt
tarting up, where have you been P''
Where have been ?" repeated Liz.
ne, in bewildered tone. WHY. to
he meadow-bridge wood, to get straw
,erries."
And she lifted the leaves and dis
played the red fruit beneath,
A dead silence ensued. Eyervbody
ooked at each other, but no one spoke
Until Miss Tucker inquired, half in
Who went with youP"
Mrs. Lamb and the girls, and Frank
lamb and Mr.. Parker" answered Liz.
le unhesitatingly.
Oh, Mr.. Parker" !" said Miss Tucker.
With significant smile and toss of her
Iead.
Yes. 1t was he who told US, as we
anne home last night, about the straw.
erries being ripe at the meadow II
ridge, and said that as he would bring
IS some. And Mrs. Lamb proposed
hat, as her wagon was to 20 early to
be station, we should all go in to the :
trawoerry grounds, and it would take I