The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-03

| fast; his very back looked ugly when
he went out of the yard.
That very day, about o'clock In the
evening. after tea, had just washed
the dishes and put them away and
went out of the north doorstep. where
father was sitting, and sat down on the
lowest step. There was a cool breeze
there: it had been a very hot day.
II want to know If that Ellis fellow
has been to see you any lately" said
father all at once.
mot a great DEAL" answered.
"Did he come to see you the last night
you were there?" said father.
Eyes, str" said I. "he did come"
''If you ever have another word to
say to that fellow while l live IN kick
you out Of this house like a dog. daugh-
ter of mine though you be-" said he.
Then he swore a great oath and called
God to witness. speak to that fellow
again, If you dare, while I live" said
he.
did not say a word; just looked up
at him as l sat there. Father turned
pale. and shrank back. and put his
hand to this throat where Rufus had
clutched him. There were some purple
finger-prmts there.
Il suppose you would have been glad
III he'd killed me-" father cried out
II saved your Efe," said I.
what did you do with that pistol ?"
he asked.
II put 1T back in the desk drawer"
l got up and went around and sat on
the west doorstep, which Is the front
one. As I sat there the bell rang for
the Tuesday evening meeting, and
Phoebe Dole and Maria Woods. two old
maiden ladies. dressmakers, our next
| door neighbors, went past on their way
to meeting. Phoebe stopped and asked
if Rufus and his wife had gone Maria
went around the house. Very soon
they went on, and several other people
passed. When they had all gone it was
| as still as death.
l sat alone a long time, until could
see by the shadows that the full moon
| had risen. Then went UP to my room
| and went to bed.
/ lay awake a long time crying. 1t
seemed to me that all hope of marriage
| between Henry and me was over. l
could not expect him to wait for me. I
Thought of that other girl; could see
her pretty face wherever looked. But
at last I cried myself to sleep.
AT about o'clock woke and got up.
Father always wanted his breakfast at
O'Clock, and l had to prepare it now.
When father and I were alone he al
ways built the fire in the kitchen stove.
But that morning did not hear him
stirring as usual, and l fancied that he
must be so out of temper with me THAT
he would not build the fire.
I went ITO my closet for a dark blue
| calico dress which wore to do house,
work in. 1t had hung there during all
the school term. As took it off the
hook, my attention was caught by
something strange about the dress l
had worn the might before. This dress
was made of thin summer silk; 1t was
green th color, spr-nkled over with
white rings. 1t had been my best dress
for two summers; but now was wear
ing 1t ON hot afternoons lat home, for it
Is the coolest dress have. The might
before, too, had thought of the possi-
bility OF Henry's driving over from Dig
by and passing the house. He had
dome this sometimes during the last
summer vacation, and wished to look
my best If he did.
AS took down the calico dress saw
what seemed to be a stain ON the green
silk. threw on the calico hastily and
then took the green silk and carried 1t
over to the window. 1t was covered
with spots-horrible great splashes and
streaks down the front. The right
sleeve, too, was stained, and all the
stains were wet.
what have got on my dress?"
said I.
1t looked like blood. Them I smelled
Of 1t, and It was sickening in my nos
trils, but I was not sure what the
smell of blood was. I thought I must
have got the stains by some accident
the night before.
If that is blood on my Dress" I sadd,
II must do something to get 1t off at
once, or the dress will be ruined
1t came to my mind that had been
told that blood STAINS had been re-
moved from cloth by an application Of
flour paste ON the wrong side. I took
my green silk and ran down the back
stairs. which lead. having door at the
foot. directly into the kitchen.
There was no fire in the kitchen stove
as had thought. Everything was very
solitary and still. except for the ticking
of the clock on the shelf When I
crossed the kitchen to the pantry, how
ever, the cat mewed to be let I'm from
the shed. She had little door Of her
own by which she could enter or leave
the shed at wih-an aperture just large
enough for her maltese body to pass at
ease beside the shed door. It had a lit.
tie lid, too. hung upon leather hinge.
On my way let In the cat; then went
to the pantry and got q bowl of -four.
This ! mixed with water into q etiff
paste and applied to the under sur
face of the stains on my dress. then
hung the dress up to dry m the dark
end Of q closet leading out Of the
kitchen, which contained eome old
clothes OF fathers.
Then made up the fire In the kitchen
stove; ! made coffee, baked biscuits ana
poached some eggs for breakfast.
Then opened the door into the sit.
tingroom and called Father, break