The Van Buren press., 1895-02-16
81 hope so," he said, gently. II do
declare tried to make her have good

I y
to Norris Corners then"
The man picked up his knife and abb
sently tried the edge Of 1t on the ball
of his thumb.
81 s'pose," said Ann, "that folks are
sorry when their wives dic?"
Mr.. Baker gave short laugh.
"Wall, that depends"
"Oh, does it? l thought folks had to
love their wives N be sorry when they
died"
Mr.. Baker laughed again. He made
At last he said:
II was sorry enough when my wife
died."
A great pile Of quartered apples was
heaped up in the wooden bowl before
either spoke again.
Then Ann exclaimed with q piteeus
intensity:
"Oh, I'm awful tired Of bein' Aunt
Mandany's fool!"
Mr.. Baker stamped his foot involun-
tarily.
"How jew know they call you that?'
he cried, In great voice.
~ heard Jane Littlefield tell Mis-
Monk size hoped nobody'd ask Man.
dany's fool to the sociable. And Mr..
Fletcher's boy told me that's what
folks called me-"
"Darn Jane Littlefeld! Darn that
little devil of a boy"
These dreadful words burst out furi-
ously.
Perhaps Ann did not look so shocked
as she ought.
In q moment she smiled her imma-
ture, simple smile that had q touching
appeal in It,
'Tain't no use denyin' It," she said,
~ amt jes' like other folks, m that's
fact. can't think stiddy more n q
minute. Things all run together, some
how. N the back er my head IS odd 3
it can be-"
"Poohl What Of it? There can't any
of US think stiddy; n If we could what
would it amount to, l should like to
know? 1t wouldn' amount to row OF
pins"
Ann dropped her work and clasped
her hands. Mr.. Baker saw that her
hands were hard, and stained almost
black ON fingers and thumbs by much
cutting of apples.
aye see," she said in tremulous
voice, sometimes l think If mother
had lived she'd er treated me SO t /
could think stiddier. spose mother d
er loved me. They say mothers do.
But Aunt Mandany told me mother
died the year l got my fall from the
cherry tree. was eight then. don't
remember nothin bout 1t, nor bout
anything much. Mr.. Baker, do you re-
member your mother?"
Mr.. Baker said "Yes," abruptly.
Something made 1t impossible for him
to say more.
"rd know how t is," went on the
thin minor voice; "but 1t always did
seem to me g though II could remem-
ber my mother, could think stiddier,
somehow. Do you think could?"
Mr.. Baker started to his feet,
"I'll be burned + ON stan It," he
shouted. mo, nor l won't stan 1t,
nuther!"
He walked noisilv across the room.
He came back and stood In front OF
Ann, who had patiently resumed work.
"Come," he said, II think lot of ye.
Les git married"
Ann looked up. She Strengthened
herself.
"Then I should live with your" she
asked.
"Of course"
She laughed.
There was so much Of confident happi-
ness In that laugh that the mans heart
glowed youthfully.
'I shall be real glad to marry you,
Mr.. Baker," she said.
Then, with pride, "'N' can cook, n
l know first rate how to do house.
work"
She rose to her feet and flung up her
head.
Mr.. Baker put his arm about her.
"Le's go right along now" he said,
more quickly than he had yet spoken.
"Well call to the minister's N engage
him. You en- stop there. We'n be
married to-day
Cant ye wait till 1 en- put on my
bunnit m shawl2" Ann asked.
She left the room. In q few moments
she returned for going. She had q
sheet Of note paper, q bottle Of ink and
pen in her hands,
II en- write" she said confidently,
"'n' l call 1t fairer to leave word for
Aunt Mandany."
"All right" was the response; "go
ahead"
Mr.. Baker said afterward that he
never got much more nervous In his
life than while Ann was writing that
note. What II Mandany should ap.
pear? He wasn't going to back out,
but he didn't want to see that woman.
The ink was thick, the pen was like
q pin, and Ann was o good while max
ing each letter, but the task was at last
accomplished.
| She held out the sheet to her COM
panion.
"Ain't that right?" she asked.
Mr.. Baker drew his face down SOL
emnly as he read:
"Dere Ant Madame: I'm 30 dretfull Tired Of
beeing you're fool that ime going too be Mr..
Bakers. He askt me- ANN"
"That's Jest the thing" he said ex-
plosively. snow, come on"
As they walked along In the hot fall
sunshine, Mr.. Baker said earnestly:
I'm certain sure we sh'Il be ever 80
much happier"
"So'm l." Ann replied, with cheerful
confidence.
They were on lonely road, and they
walked hand in hand.
"I'm goin' to be good to ye," said the