The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-07-05

x had an object,

way tickets and furniture bills west un-
til the Plaintiffs purse was far too lank
for parlor furniture But now the money
was saved, and this dearest delight of
Lizzie's heart could be gratified. Time
and again the two had planned the fur
nishing. Only two new chairs, for the
red wicker rocker was good still, and a
cheap table, adorned with the scarf Liz
zie had embroidered, and the black
horsehair sofa which had been Mother
Plaintiffs, and an ingram rug (Gus,
after hours, could paint border on the
foor) and perhaps curtains-curtains on
a gold rod. This afternoon being half
holiday Gus was to have gone with
Lizzie to actually buy the articles which
they had "looked att half dozen
times. Instead here sat Gus, greedily
listening to tales of fairy gold. Every
sale made somebody rich. There was to
be canning factory on Arcadia addi-
tion; a Chicago firm was to build vast
pork packing house on the east half; an
eastern syndicate wanted to buy the
land; natural gas had been discovered
in the southeast corner. Money seemed
to float in the air for any ones clutch
ing. The jovial buyers told stories of
recent investments. A sharp fellow had
made $40, 900 on single deal. A timid
fellow had edged away with hundreds,
which his successor, of harder metal,
had turned into thousands. "What you
need is to keep your grip" said the
street car magnate. Over Gus head
dangled placard Lots would be sold
at prices ranging from $500 upward.
"One-fifth cash, remainder in two
years, 6 per cent interest. " Why, he
could buy lot himself. He glanced
from Wheelan, who had apparently
gone to sleep, to Mrs. Grove, wooden
sort of woman, whose nose was too long
for her face, as her body was for her
legs. Sitting, she looked like tall wom-
an, but when she rose she became
absurdly short Her figure she was
won't to describe herself as call of a
bigness." Z" Literally it was all of a thin
ness, and its straight lines were not
disguised by any vain curves of dra-
perry. SCOT too many knobs and corners
to ketch OH fur furbelows," I" said Mar
tina Grove. Her black skirt hung in
plain folds; there were no ornaments on
her black coat; her black straw hat had
band of Grape upon it, like mans.
She wore her iron gray hair short, say
ing, "Ain't never had 'nuff to waste
hairpins on. -
She rarely smiled, even behind bar
gain, but kind of sardonic irony gave
her talk an edge. She had not visible
creature in the world belonging to her,
except an apoplectic old dog. Rumor
explained her black garb as mourning
for the departed Grove. but as it was
known that he beat her until she pitted
the redhot poker against his fist and
drove him out of the house this expla-
nation was not accepted generally. Fur
thermore, Mrs Grove had an open
grudge against the sex, which she graf
ified not only in words, but by lending
money at an unconscionable rate of in
terest Yet Lizzie Plaintiff always
maintained to Gus, who had q great
dislike for the woman, that Mrs. Grove
had her good points. "She always pays
promptly. and she pays fair wages, and
don't believe cleaner woman ever
lived. The house is kept in repair bet
tor than any place I know" All the
more Lizzie wondered over Mrs. Crows's
business. "How can you stand all these
dreadful old duds?" she said to her
once, and Mrs. Grove had answered in
her grim way: "You kin stan dirt ON
hi P,,k &c
bad," she owned. 'Tain't SO much
the clothes; the furnichure is what beats
me-" She gave Mrs. PLAINTIFF glanss
of awful significance 81 dream of 'em
nights" said she.
For the lands sake" gasped poor
Mrs. Plaintiff, ''you don't think they
can walk up stairs?"
"Bless you, no. fop ain't no call ia
fret / got solution that 'ud kill the
Wanderin Jew. You kin buy every
blessed thing I've got safely, an that's
moren you kin say of some of these big
furnichure stores too l could just make
gour hair raise your bunnet, Mrs. Plain
tiff-mother' too Some folks say they
cayn't be killed. I kin kill 'em. They's
secrets in all trades, as a fool man I
knowed used to say, but the only thing
he ever did say warn It a lie. Guess your
husbands middling clever to ye?''
''Indeed he u.s., cried Lizzie "He is
the best husband in the world"
II came from your town." Mrs.
Grove went on calmly. His father
kinder kept company with me onot.
Guess neither him nor his son would
set the river afire. But he looks clever.
wouldn't go without my meat for din
ner to save it up for his supper, though,
if I was yon. You kin cut off your right
hand fur man, an then likes not he'll
grumble cause you re left handed. Oh,
l know 'em! I've summered 'em an
wintered 'em. You eat your meat"
Unfortunately Gus, having come
home half an hour earlier than COM
mon, heard every word of this speech,
because he was in the hall outside. Sit.
ting by Mrs. Crowe's side now, he
wriggled in his seat under the prick Of
those remembered sentences. Mrs. Grove
turned her pale green eyes on him.
'Thinkin of buyin?" said she
'Ive not decided, =" replied Gus cold.
ly
"Well, Wouldn't then." Mss. pgeFe
said, without expression either In face
or manner. Better go home"
81 guess if you d followed your own
advice you'd have been a good deal
poorer, said Gus. And when a man
opposite laughed he felt glow of satis-
faction. His wits were equal to this old
harpy's.