Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-22

INC, | don't; an | don't want to neither"
Mrs. Eliot laughed comfortably. Mis- En-
dey, you don't ketch me foolin' with under
takers till | have TO-" She sat down and re-
moved her black cotton gloves. I'm gettin'
TO that age when | don't care much where
undertakers go to SO long S they let me aiona.
Flxin' fer Christmas dinner, Emarine, dear?"
Yes, ma'am," said Ematine in her very
! gentlest tone. Her mother had never said
dear" to her. and the sound of it on this old
lady's lips was sweet. Wont you come an
take dinner with us?'
The old lady laughed merrily. oh. dearie
me, dearie me! You don't guess my sons
folks could spare me now, do you? | spend
ev'ry Christmas there. They most carry
me on two chips. My sons wife, Sidonie,
she can't do enough fer me. My, Mrs.
Endey, you don't know what a com
fort a daughter-in-law is when you get old
an feeblc!'
Emarine's face turned red. She went to
the table and stood with her back to the
older women; but her mothers sharp eyes
observed that her ears grew scarlet.
grimly.
You've got a son-in-law, though, who's
worth a whole townful Of most son-in-laws,
He was such a good son, too; Jest wor-
SHIPPED his mother; couldn't bear her out
O. his sight. He hundred her high an
low. That's Jest the way Sldonie does with
me. I'm gettin' cranky's ] get older, an
sometimes I'm reel cross an sassy to her;
Dut sne Jest laHS at M, an tnen COMES all
kisses me. an I'm all right ag'in. It's a
blessin' right from God to have a daughter
in-law like that"
The knife in Emarine's hand slipped, and
she uttered a little cry.
Hurt your" demanded her mother,
sternly.
Emarine was silent. and did not turn.
"Cut you, Ermanie? Why don't you an
swer me? Aigh?"
"a little said Emarine. She went into
the pantry, and presently returned with a
narrow strip of muslin, which she wound
around her finger.
well, 1 never see! You never will learn
any gumption! Why don't you look what
you're about? Now, go around Christmas
with your finger all tied up!'
"Oh, thatll be all right by tomorrow
said Mrs. Eliot, cheerfully. Won't it.
Endey; it makes a body get wrinkles too
fast. o. course Orvilla's mothers comm
to take dinner with you, Emarine."
Dear mel" exclaimed Emarine, in a sud
den futter. 81 don't see why them cram
EN- up. I'd best make the foatin' island
while l wait"
81 stopped at orvilla's mothers as I come
along, Emarine.'
"How?' Emarine turned in a startled way
q say 1 stopped at orville's mothers as
l come along"
Sne WSll. dShcu Ills
"No, she amt; shakin' like she had the
Saint Vitus dance. She's failed harrable
lately. She'd ben cryin'; her eyes was all
swelled up
Endey said. "What she ben cryin' about?'
"Why, when 1 asked her she jest LATED
kind O. pitiful, an said: oh, only my tom
foolishness, O. course Said she always got
cheered hsr up. 1 told her what a good
time l always had at my sons. an how
Sidonie jest couldn't do enough fer me. An
l told her to think what a nice time shed
have here t Emarine's tomorrow"
Mrs. Endey smiled. What she say to
that?"
she didn't say much. l could see she
vas thankful, though, she had a sons to SO
to-. She said she pitied all poor wretches
that had to set out their Christmas alone.
left. She's all broke down. But | cheered
her up some. Sech a wishful look took
holt O. her when l pictchered her dinner
over her at Bmarine's, can't seem to
my way to S'donie's, an she'll be comm
after me IL / amt on time"
When Mrs. Eliot had gone limping down
the path. Mrs. Endey said: You got your
front room red up, Emarine?"
mo: l amt had time to red up any
thing
well, I'll do it. Where's your duster
at?"
Behind the org'n. You can get out the
wax cross again. Mis- Dillon was here with
all her children, an | had to hide up ev'ry-
thing. I never see children like her'n. She
let's EN- handle things SOL"
Mrs. Endey went into the front room
and began to dust the organ. She was
something of a diplomat, and she wished
to be alone for a few minutes. You have
to manage Emarine by contraries,' she re-
was a family trait. I'm offul sorry 1 ever
egged her on to turnin' Orville's mother out
o. doors, but who'd "a thought it 'u'd break
her down so? She amt told a soul either.
l reckoned she'd talk somethin' oiful about
us, but she amt told a soul. She's KEEP. a
stiff upper lip an told folks she el'ays ex-
pected to live alone when Orville got mar
r!ed. Emarine's all worked up. ! believe
the Lord hisself must aa sent gran'ma Eliot
here to talk like an angel unawares. l bet
she'd go an ask Mis- Farmer over here to
dinner II she want afraid I'd laff at her fer
knucklin' down. I'll have to uggravate her"
She finished busting, and returned to the
kitchen. II wonder what gran'ma Eliot
'u'd say If she knew you'd turned orvllle's
mother out. Emarine?"
Thsre was no reply. Emarine was at the
table making tarts. Her back was to her
mother.
II didn't mean what / said about bein'
sorry | egged you ON. Emarine. I'm glad
you turned her out. She'd ort to be turned
Emarine dropped a quivering ruby Of jelly
tf'S $50, sefo - lesN' $3.50 s@st - @aA -
fully on a plate.
"Gran'ma Eliot can go talkin' about her
daughter-'n-law Sldonie all she wants, Ema-
rlne. You keep a stiff upper lip"
II can tend to my own AFFAIRS said
fercely.
well, don't flare up so. Here comes Or
vile: Land, but he does look peakid!'
After supper, when her mother had gone
for the night, Emarine put on her hat
and shawl.
Her husband was sitting by the fireplace,
thoughtfully at the bed Of Goals.
I'm goin' out" she said briefly. you
keep the fire up"
why, Emarine, it's dark. Don't choo
| sh'u'd 90 along?"
No; you kesp the fire up"
He looked at her anxiously, but he knew
from the way she set her heels down that
remonstranee would be useless.
Don't stay long" he said, in a tone OF
habitual tenderness. He loved her pas
in spite Of the lasting hurt she
mad given him when she parted him from his
1t was a hurt that had sunk deeper
han even he realized. 1t lay heavy on his
ieart day and night. 1t took the blue out
II the sky. and the green out Of the grass,
md the gold out Of the sunlight; II took
he exaltatlon and the rapture out Of his
moments Of love. .
He never approached her, he never really ,
her; certainly he never pitied him ,