Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1895-01-31
MANDANY'S FOOL.
Nv MARY LOUISE 81 ~

~
quartering these, and then .tabbing
the quarters through and s~tringing
them on yards % white twine. pre-
paratory - festoouing them on the
clothes horse which stood in the ward.
This horse was already decorated pro-
fuseIv in this way. \ cloud OF wasps
had Town from the drying fruit a. the
man walked mp the path He swung
of his hat and waved the insects
away
4 say. have ye got hungry again for
termaters2 he repeated
Then he ratified the screen. but il
was hooked on the inside.
lie turned and surveyed the three
windows that were visible in the bit
~ house
They wouldu both be gone. I left
them apples out. he said % himself
I'm bout sure AIMS 70 home, n shes
the one 7 want - see.
A woman in the bedroom which
opened FROM the kitchen was hu-riedly
smoothing her hair and peering into
the glass She was speaking aloud
with the air Of one who constantly
talks 70 herself
jest as SURE A. I don't comb nv
hair the first thing somebody comes.
She e a last pat and went to the
door. There was a faint smirk on her
lips and a flush on her face.
Her tall figure was swayed by a
slight. eager tremor as she saw who
was standing there. She exclaimed:
sE---.T-m-= - IT. NJ
Baker. l. it, Won't We talk right in
But I don't want 10 termarters. they
always ~ aginst me Aunt Mandany
ain 70 nome
oh. amt sheQ~ was the brisk re-
Spouse. Then I guess I will c0me in
The speaker pushed open the row
unfasoened door and entered He set
his basket % tomatoes with a thump
on the rug. and wiped his broad. red
tace
Pact j., he said with a grin. 1
knew she wa gone. seen her goiu'
crest the pastur That's why I come
new amt got no louEin 70 see Aunt
Mandany-un. stree. not a grain Of
Iouzin 20 see her. But I thought Z
would agreeable = me - clap ny ewes
% 20 you
The wounan simpered- made an IN
-artieuIate sound. and hurriedlv re-
summed her seat and her apple pairing
Won't you 81 down. Mr.. Baker
she asked
Her fingers trembled a. she took the
darning needle and jabbed Il through
an apple quarter. The needle went
into her flesh also. She gave a little
err and thrust her finger into her
mouth Her large pale eyes turned
~isffsIv toward her companion IT,
faded 5lreadv elderly mouth 4uiv.
e-ed
In e-t a. II 7 en- be e see
blood. she whispered
Mr.. Barker heavy unaerliD rs itched,
his face >ofteued But he spoae rough.
".
You needn't mind that hit er blood .
he said. that wont hurt nothin
Ion care # I do - down. Z amt drove
anv this mnruin len lest a. well a.
not take hold n help We s'pose Man
danv left a thunderin lot for We 10 d
while she gone
A3D HN-4rl-s was me answer
The old eat. That's too much But
'twon't he for both Of u viii il. Aane'
The woman said No
she looked for an instant inteutl~ a
the man who had drawn his chair ii
rectlE opposite her tie vas already
pairing an apple
I'd know what "a make Of = sh,
said stiu IA a whisper.
To make Of WHAT briszIr-
Why when folks ara 80 good 70 ne
you -
=oh she now Everybody ain Tx,
your Aunt Nandauy.
>h- Don speak 80 loud NebbJ
she'll be cemin hack
~No. she won't No matter Il she Is
The loud confident tone ran cheer
Is in the room
During the silence that followed Nr
Baker watched Ann def fingers
Everybody says your real capa
bic. he rmarked
A joyous red covered AIMS face.
Jest about DO al the work here
she said
She looked AZ the man again
There was something curiousIv .xss
IN the simple face The patient line a
each side q The close. pale mouth Ia.
strange effect upon Mr. Baker.
tie had been known 70 say v~ioleutI
in conversation at the store that h
never seen Ann Tracy thout wautir
to thrash her Aunt Nandany-
What in time be you Gryin seek-no
furthsrs forF he now exclaimed wit
some ~iereeuess -They're the hattes
kind ~ apples / know Of
That's what aunt SAYS was the r.
ply; she says they re most a. eats
be. a that's fat nouEh-
These words were pronounced a
though the speaker were merely stat
inE a w~sll-knovn fact.
Then what she do UNI torg~ PEI
sisted Mr.. Baker
she says they re good nough 70 swo
for groceries in the spring.
Mr. Baker made a deep cash in a
apple and held his tongue.
Ann continued her work. but she too
a good deal Of ssek-no-further with ID
skin IN q way that would have shockr
Aunt AAndA1y.
Suddenly she raised her eyes TO IN
sturdy face opposite her and said:
4 guess your wife had a real goo
time didn't she. Mr. Baker. when Sd
was Hvin,2-
Mr. Baker dropped his knife. q
glanced up and met the wistful gar
! upon him
Something that be had thought lon
! lead stirred in his conscience.
hope 50. he said. gently. Il d
ieelars tried u Eaks her have = goo
inc"