The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-04-24
THE PLAID LADY.
AZ MAKY KYLE DALLAS.

There IS the lady Ii the plaid cloak
again" people who were strangers IN
Dairytown used to say. 81 wonder
what she runs about so much for?"
Old residents, however, could have
told them that the lady in plaid was
Mrs. McBIurtFy, the richest woman in
the county; that her running about
always had something to do with the
mortgages she held on most OF the OUT
lying farms, and that, rich as she was,
she had worn the plaid cloak and no
other for 20 winters. So that children
were in the habit Of calling her "The
Plaid Lady," and, indeed, some grown
up folk also, in moments of irritation.
''How often does the plaid lady come
here, Amaada?" Amelia Perry asked
of her sister one day.
The plaid lady held mortgage on
their little place, which they had not
been able to pay of since their fsther
died.
"Well, only about once a week, +"
Amanda replied. at does seem Oftener,
though"
'Well, Amanda" said Amelia, ''it
seems to me as if I never look out Of
the window but Iisee that plaid cloak
coming up the path. Sometimes I
wish could die rather than go through
the talk about the trouble that has got
to come. What good does it do2 Don't
she know I'd pay of that mortgage
IL I cculd2 And l know that il can't
she'll foreclose. That is ell right; ell
just. Poor pa borrowed the money
and if we can't pay it. why the little
place has got TO go, but all this going
over and over it is enough to drive one
crazy. And she always goes away
crying; Make an effort, make an eff
fort-you1l wish you had when it is
so have to do what I shall be sorry to
do Obi If she isn't coming now,
| There are wheels"
"No, it's the minister's WIFE," said
Miss Amanda, peeping over the kitch-
On curtain. (which of US looks de-
contest to go to the door2 I can put
on my fchu in a minute, and you've
been crying, Nelly, and persons nose
and eyes will get red if they cry. You
come in after awhile. You know what
gossipy place this Is, and if Mrs,
Becker was to say to her mother that
she hoped nothing unpleasant had hap
pened to the Miss Perrys, for she felt
sure Amelia had been shedding tears
why the old lady would tell the next
person that called"
So Amelia ran upstairs to bathe heI
eyes and make herself tidy, while
Miss Amanda, with her mouth full OF
pins, took the muslin fcbu she had
just been pressing from the clothes
horse, and put it on as she walked slow
Iy down the front entry, so that she
was ready to open the door briskly
when the bell rang, and cry out:
81 saw you getting out Of the buggy
Mrs. Becker, and ran to let you in
How well you look. How are the chill
dren, and your mother, and Mr.. Beck,
err What a touching sermon he gave
US last Sunday. saw 20 people il
tears"
1T seemed appropriate to the recent
loss Deacon Dewey has suffered" re
piled Mrs. Becker. Generally Mr.
Becker feels that he ought to be cheer
tul-but the sad event was so recent,
| His second wife, wasn't it?" queried
Miss Amanda, wishing that AmeIiG
would not pull so many drawers out II
the room overhead, where she was max
ing her toilet, or scuttle over the hoOl
so often.
His second wife2 Bis third" sail
Mrs. Becker, trying to be demure
ma says.-you know ms will have hel
laugh-she says she's not a ministers
wife, If I am. Ma says she saw hin
looking out for the fourth last Sun
day. She says she wasn't sure wheth
er 1t was Martha Hopkins or you he de
cided on, but I said: well, Amanda
! Perry won't have him, I'm sure"
He'll not look at me" said Amanda
$50 there's no use refusing him befor,
I'm asked, and Martha Hopkins dc
spises him on the face OF the earth
Besides, we're both too old. When one
has got to Deacon Dewey's time Of life
no likes girls Of 16 best"
'Tll tell ma that" said Mrs. Becker
shell laugh"
Poor, dear Mrs. Dewey! It Wa
really sad, though. I always though
she was very nice, though ms
thought"
But what mt thought remained un
told, or at this moment the postmal
flew in at the gate, tapped On the win
dow and presented letter.
Miss Amanda glanced at It, and saw
that the name Of some legal arm wa
printed on the left-hsnd upper cOrnel
Of the enyelop.
Full Of apprehension, and anxious
that Mrs. Becker should not aes this
Fhs crammed the letter into her pocke
and went on chatting.
'And how about the fair? When 4
It 70 be2 Has the committee decided ?
ayes" said Mrs. Becker, enthusias
tieally 1--WE want It to open Monde.
fortnight. We are going to have
New England kitchen, And I'm 60
ing about begging loans Of china cup
and saucers and plates and everything
And We thought you would let US haY