The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-08-08
MANDANY'S FOOL.

| YEP
Some one had knocked at the screen
door, and as there was no responsea mans
strident, good humored voice put the
above question concerning tomatoes
But somebody had heard.
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
twine, preparatory to festooning them on
the clothes horse which stood in the yard
This horse was already decorated profusely
In this way. A cloud Of wasps had flown
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
martersp 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 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
| htl iitsl anu pOtIluB lhbO buO BldSS. GOH6
was speaking aloud, with the air of one
who constantly talks to herself.
jest as sure's 1 don't comb my hair
the first thing somebody comes.
She gave last pat and went to the door.
There was faint smirk on her lips and
flush on her face.
Her tall figure was swayed by q slight,
eager tremor as she saw who was standing
there. She exclaimed:
Goodness mel 'Tain't you, Mr.. Baker,
is itp Won't ye walk right IMP But 1 don't
want no termarters; they always go against
me. Aunt Mandany amt to home"
ooh, amt sheP" was the brisk response
Then guess 1 will como in."
The speaker pushed open the now un-
fastened door and entered He set his
basket of tomatoes with thump ON the
rug and wiped his broad, red face.
Fact is, " he said, with grin, IT knew
she was gone. i seen her goin crosst the
pastur'. That's why come now. aint
got no longin to see Aunt Mandany, no,
stree, not a 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.
i "oh you DO uo"ht NIL DdhOEI bhc
asked.
, Her fingers trembled MS she took the
! darning needle and jabbed 1t 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 g en- be II
. see 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. don't
care If / do Sc down. amt drove any
this mornin. en- jest as well as not take
! hold n help ye. s'pose Mandany left q
thunderin lot for ye to do while she's
gomez"
, "Two bushels" was the answer.
I The old cat That's too much. But
Q 'twon't be for both of us, will 1t, Ami"
The woman said "No."
She looked for an instant intently at the
man who had drawn his chair directly op-
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 whatf" briskly.
why, when folks are SO good to mes
: you be-"
"oh, sho', nowl Everybody amt like
, your Aunt Mandany."
. "Shl Don't speak SO loud! Mebby she'll
be comm back"
| "No, she won't. N no matter If she is. "
I The loud, confident tone rang cheerily
r In the room.
, During the silence that followed Mr..
Baker watched AIMS deft fingers.
Everybody says you're real capable, "
q he remarked
| A joyous red covered AIMS face.
. IT jest about do all the work here" she
said
, She locked at the man again.
a There was something curiously sweet in
( the simple face. The patient line at each
a side of the close, pale mouth had a strange
a effect upon Mr.. Baker.
s He had been known to say violently in
conversation at the store that he "never
I seen Ann Tracy 'thout wantin to thrash
( her Aunt Mandany."
. what in time be you dryin seek nc
! furthers forP" he now exclaimed, with
some ierceness. "They' re the flattest kind
of apples know Of"
A THAT'S what aunt says, was the reply.
"She says they're most as fat as l be, n
/
These words were pronounced as II the
speaker We're merely stating well known
fact.
j "Then what does she do um forH" per
q sisted Mr. Baker.
"She says they're good 'nough to swol
for groceries in the spring"
Mr.. Baker made a deep cash In an apple
D and held his tongue
. Ann continued her work, but she took O
, good deal of seek no further with tho skin,
/ In way that would have shocked Aunt
/ Mandany.
Suddenly she raised her eyes to the
sturdy face opposite her and said:
! ~ guess your wife had a real good time
didn't She Mr.. Baker when she was
livin2"
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.
~ hope so, I" he said gently. IT do dc
: clare tried 10 make her have good
4 time"
"How longs she been deadP'
. Most ten year. We was livin down tC
] Norris Corners then"
n a