The Portland daily press., 1895-05-10
MANDANY'S FOOL.

strident, good hundred voice put the
above question concerning tomatoes.
But somebody had heard.
A woman had been sitting in the kitchen
with pan of seek no-further apples in her
lap. She was pairing and quartering these
and then stabbing the quarters through
and stringing them on yards of white
Irvine, preparatory to festooning them on
the clothes horse which stood in the yard
This horse was already decorated profusely
from the drying fruit as the man walked
up the path. He swung off his hat and
waved the insects away
II say, have ye got hungry agin for ter
marters?" he repeated.
Then he ratified the screen, but it was
hooked on the inside.
He turned and surveyed the three win
dows that were visible in the bit of q house
"They wouldn't both be gone m left
them apples OUT he said to himself. "I'm
bout sure AIMS to home, n she's the one
want to see.
A woman in the bedroom which opened
from the kitchen was hurriedly smoothing
her hair and peering into the glass. She
was speaking aloud, with the air of one
who Consistently talks to herself.
"Jest as sure's I don't comb my hair
the first thing somebody comes"
She gave last pat and went to the door.
There was faint si1irk on her lips and
flush on her face.
Her tall figure was swsyed by q slight,
eager tremor as she saw who was standing
there. She exclaimed:
Goodness me! 'Tain't you, Mr.. Baker
is it? Won't ye walk right in? But don't
want no termarters; they always go against
me. Aunt Mandany amt to home.'
"Oh, amt she?'' was the brisk response.
"Then I guess will come in"
The speaker pushed open the now I'M
fastened door and entered. He set his
basket of tomatoes with a thump on the
rug and wiped his broad rcd face
Fact is, he said, with grin, II knew
she was gone. I seen her goin crosst the
pastur'. That's why L come now. I amt
got no longin to see Aunt Mandany, no,
sir-eo, not u grain of longin to see her.
But thought 'twould be agreeable to me
to clap my eyes on to you
The woman simpered, made an inarticu-
late sound and hurriedly resumed her seat
and her apple cutting.
"Won't you se' down, Mr.. Baker," she
asked.
Her fingers trembled as she took the
darning needle and jabbed it through an
apple quarter. The needle went into her
flesh also. She gave little cry and thrust
her finger into her mouth. Her large, pale
eyes turned wistfully toward her compan-
ion. The faded, already elderly mouth
quivered. "I'm jest as scarf IS en- be if
sec Blood she whispered.
Mr.. Bakers heavy under lip twitched;
his face softened. But he spoke roughly.
"You needn't mind that bit er blood, !"
he said. "That won't hurt nothin. I don't
care if do Sc down. amt drove any
this mornin. I en- jest as well as not take
hold N help ye. I s'pose Mandany left a
thunderin lot for ye to do while she's
gomez"
1.-TWO bushels" was the answer.
"The old cat That's too much. But
'twon't be for both of us, will it, Ann?'
The woman said "No."
She looked for an instant intently at the
man who had drawn his chair directly OPP
posite her. He was already pairing an ap-
pie.
IT d. know what to make Of it," she
said, still in whisper.
"To make of what?" briskly.
"Why, when folks are SO good to mes
you be.'
"Oh, sho', now! Everybody amt like
your Aunt Mandany."
Ssh! Don't speak SO loudl Mebby she'll
be comm back"
'No, she won't. IN no matter if she is. %
The loud, confident tone rang cheerily
in the room
During the silence that followed Mr.
Baker watched AIMS deft fingers
Everybody says you're real capable, :"
he remarked
A joyous red covered AIMS face.
81 jest about do all the work here" she
said.
She looked at the man again.
There was something curiously sweet in
the simple face. The patient line at each
side Of the close, pale mouth had strange
effect upon Mr.. Baker.
He had been known to say violently in
conversation at the store that he never
seen Ann Tracy 'thout wantin to thrash
her Aunt Mandany."
. EWhat in time be you dryin seek no
furthers for?'' he now exclaimed, With
some fierceness. They re the --LATEST kind
of apples I know Of :"
"That's what aunt says, was the reply.
"She says they're most as fat as be, N
that's fiat 'nough."
These words were pronounced as if the
speaker were merely stating a well known
fact.
"Then what does she do UNI for?" per
sisted Nh. Baker.
''She says they're good 'nough to swop
for groceries in the spring"
Mr.. Baker made q deep cash in an apple
and held his tongue.
Ann continued her work, but she took a
good deal of seek no further with the skin,
in way that would have shocked Aunt
Mandany.
Suddenly she raised her eyes to the
sturdy face opposite her and said:
II guess your wife had real good time,
didn't she Mr.. Baker, when she was
ivin?"
Mr.. Baker dropped his knife. He glanced
up and met the wistful gaze upon him.
Something that he had thought long
dead stirred in his consciousness.
81 hope SC" he said gently. II do de,
clare L tried to make her have good
timen