New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-24
AGAINST HUMAN NATURE.
BY MARIA LOUISE POOL.
Copwiqht 1895: BIZ The tribune Associdtion
XVII

"a MAN MAY BE a FOOL. ONCE IN HIS LIFE
mo. guess can't git out" said Mrs. Newton.
with her eyes fixed on sally who was shaking
the carpet in great pillows. Was goin' by n
/ thought I'd jest haul up. Amt you begun to
clean house ruther early? The flies amt hardly
come yet. l tell um if l git my house cleaned
fore fiy-tme. it's early enough
Il thought Id clean up the south room ie-
marked Almina in dignifed way. as Il she
reserved the right TO clean house when she
pleased.
IT'S Jest s anybody's mind to- of course
was the tolerant reply. But | tell um if git
it done tore fiy-time it's early enough
Mrs Newton was so occupied in gazing at Sally
that she was not aware that she had repeated
her former remark
Amina said nothing. She employed herself
by carefully rubbing the cloth in her hand back
and forth over the mirror.
She was glancing at Mrs. Newton. and she saw
that lady's eyes bulge still more. She immed-
ately discovered that the cause was the appear
ance Of Thimble who had stroled round TO the
front Of the house, and now stood with his ears
cooked toward the horse in the buggy-shafts
BEN buy!n boss, Aminy?' Mrs. Newton
tried to put this question in casual manner,
but her face could not have looked much more
startled If her interrogation had referred 10 an
ostrich.
NO" said Almina Il amt ben buyin' no boss.
Mrs Newton reached forth long arm. which
ended in a hand with brown cotton glove on
it. This hand was directed toward Thimble
"Ain't that some kind of a hoss?' she inquired.
Sally shook the carpet in greater pillows than
ever and clouds of dust flew up from it.
That's saddle pony" answered Almna
"Don't you think you better come in n Sc
down."
Mrs Newton ignored thus second invitation
"Where d 1t come FROM she inquired.
She was SO carried along By the intensity of
her curiosity that she was unable TO try to arrive
at these questions gradually.
..\orth Carony," was the answer
"Oh"
Mrs. Newton's hand sank TO her lap: but her
tall figure still remained leaned out of the buggy,
as IL she had been a marionette put in that posi-
ton.
"Ain't you kinder old n stiff to begin ridin'
horseback. Amny Drowdy?'
Il amt going to-
ooh"
A short silence.
when d'you conclood to set up niger help
Alminy?'
81 amt gon to-"
oh
GENTLY to enable the figure 20 sink back on its
seat.
"Cluck. G'longi Huddup. say
The Newton horse moved soal y away, drag
cling the Newton Goddard buggy behind him.
The occupant of the carriage turned and peercd
from the narrow slit Of a window at the back.
81 declare. do declare" she exclaimed aloud
"I'm good mineter call on the Seectmen I'm
good mineter IS ever had to eat Somebody
ought to do something. 'Tain't safe to let Al
miny go to her own head
But as Mrs Newton drove on she gradually
changed her mind about going TO the Selectmen
She did not know precisely what to say to these
guardians Of the town, so she decided dehhite!
to let Almina go 10 her own head
Miss Drowdy. when the Newton eQuipage wa
out Of sight. ted Sally, rather sharply to 'aK
the carpe, around to the back of the house an
finish shaking 1t. and TO tie up Thimbie III IN
barn.
The two women worked all tho forenoon by
o'clock not only the south room. but all the lowe
MONS had been through a regular housekeeping
Almina was tremulous with fatigue and ex
recitation She said half dozen times that sh
did wish she knew when Temple was coming, 10
II there was anything that wore on her 1t wa
uncertainty She made pot of strong tea an
she and Sally drank it.
AS the hours OF the afternoon crept on. Admin
was continually going to the window to look dow
the road in the direction Of the station. som
miles away.
She told Sally that she hadn't been so worke
I'd since that time she started 10 Carolina. thre
years before.
Sally herself partook OF the excitement, but he
expression OF the emotion was very diheren
She went about singing hymns In loud dee
cho CIR her nd
and shouted.
Come down. Lawd! Come down dis yer mil
ute'
Her dark face shone; there was a smoulderin
fire in her eyes.
AImna was constantly fearing that. II she gay
nav. she should herself begin to shout. and st