Arizona republican., 1895-04-10
MANDANY'S FOOL.
EY MARY LOUISE Pool.

door, and, as there was no response,
man S strident, good-humored voice
put the above question concerning
tomatoes.
Bnt r9nehody had heard.
j 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 Irvine, pre-
palutorv to festooning them on the
clothes horse which stood in the yard.
This horse was already decorated pro-
1uselv IN this way. A cloud of wasps
had flown from the drying fruit as the
man walked up the path. He swung
of his nat and waved the insects
away.
Il say, have We got hungry again for
termaters?" he repeated.
Then he ratified the screen, but it
w;is hooked on the inside.
lie turned and surveyed the three
windows that We're visible in the bit
OF d house.
''They wouldn't both be gone, N 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 her hair and peering into
the glass. She was speaking aloud
with the air of one who constantly
talks 10 herself.
Jest as sure as [ don't comb my
hair the first thing somebody comes"
She gave a last pat and went to the
door. There was faint smirk on her
lips and q ilush On her face.
Her tab figure was swayed by
slight, eager tremor as she saw who
was staining there. She exclaimed:
Goodness me! 'Tain't you, Mr..
Baker. is it? Won't We talk right in?
But I don't want no termarters; they
always go aginst me. Aunt .Mandany
ain TO home"
''0h, amt she?" was the brisk re-
Spouse. Then I guess 1 will come in
tbs speaker pushed open the now
unfastened 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, 81
knew she was gone. 1 seen her goin
crost the pastur'. That's why I come
now. l amt got no longin' to see Aunt
Maudany-no, stree, not a grain of
longin' to see her. But 1 thought t
would agreeable to me to clap my eyes
on to you"
The woman simpered, made an in
articulate sound, and hurriedly re-
sumed her seat and her apple pairing.
won't you Sc down, Mr.. Baker?"
she asked.
Her fingers trembled as she took the
,darning needle and jabbed it through
an apple quarter. The needle went
into her flesh also. She gave little
mouth. Her large, pale eyes turned
wistfully toward her companion. The
faded, already elderly mouth quiv-
cred.
I'm jest as scarf en- be if 1 see
BLOOD she whispered.
Mr. Barker heavy underlip twitched;
his face softened. But he spoke rough
1y.
you needn't mind that bit er blood"
he said; ''that won't hurt nothin'. I
don't care if l do Sc down; I amt drove
any this mornin'. en- jest as well as
not take hold n help ye. 1 s'pose Man
dany left a thunderin' lot for We to do
while she's gomez
1.-TWO bushels, was the answer
''The old cat! That's too much But
'twon't be for both of US, will it, Ann?"
The woman said: No"
She looked for an instant intently at
the man who had drawn his chair d.
rectly opposite her. He was already
pairing an apple.
''I'd know what to make of it." she
said, still in a whisper.
ITO make of what?" briskly.
''Why, when folks are so good to mes
you be-
''Oh, sho', now! Everybody amt like
your Aunt Mandany."
Sh! Don't speak so loud! Mebby
she'll be comm back
''No, she won't. No matter if she is"
The loud, confident tone rang cheeri-
ly in the room.
During the silence that followed Mr.
Baker watched AIMS deft fingers.
Everybody says you're real capa-
ble,'' he rmarhed.
A joyous red covered AIMS face.
81 jest about do all the work here"
she said.
She looked at the man again.
There was something curiously sweet
in the simple face. The patient line at
each side Of the close, pale mouth had
strange effect upon Mr.. Baker.