The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-02-21
A WATER BARREL CURE.

over the weeks wash when a loud
knock caused her 10 wipe her red
suds hllstered hands, smooth out her
thin hair. roll down her sleeves aud
walk quickly to the door.
A woman Of her own age and her ex.
act counterpart, 80 far rs face and
form we're concerned. stood Ia the rick
ETY. porch, surrounded by big cOllec-
ton OF bags, baskets aud bundles.
"Matlldaw cried Mrs. Mundy.
Aud then tears m0lstened her eyes
and she Clasped the visitor Ia her bony
arms.
The newcomer returned the embrace
aud kissed Mrs. Mundy affectlonately.
"YOu look awfully worn aud tired,
Priscilla" she observed rs the latter
led the way into the meanly furnished
parlor 'llOw's everybody
Mrs. Mundy sighed before she made
reply She had great fashion of
signing OF late, and goodness knows
she had sufficient cause 10.
I'm washing" she answered apollo
.-ctlcally. "and | suppose the hard
work does make body look worn and
tired. The children are all well. They
are all at school, except Tommy. He's
gone TO town with his father"
$50 he's gone 10 town. observed
Matilda. with q particularly strong
emphasis on the hes"
YES" was the final response.
'ln harvest time. too. and all the
place going To rack and ruin right un-
der his eyes. just for lack Of atten-
ton. Priscilla, why don't you put
your foot DOWN
ooh. Matilda" was the protest.
"Now. look here, Priscilla Mundy
Priscilla lieehe that was" she con
tlnucd resolutcly. I've come 10 stop a
month. and I'll Just tell you things
have got to 40 differently while I'm
here. Johns folks told me how shame
fully you were being treated Why,
they said he wouldn't even allow you
10 pay them visit aud Maria de-
clarcd that you didn't have q decent
gown TO your hack"
Mrs. Mundy hung her head and the
tears started afresh.
Il stopped az Johns as came on, ="
continued Matilda. who by the way,
was Mrs. Mundy's twin sister "and
they told me to make you come up and
spend month with EN-"
Il can't leave. Matilda. just now.
What with" began Mira. Mundy.
But her sister interrupted her
NONSENSE she cried. Don't make
excuses 10 me. You've got 10 60. and
that's the long and short Of H. The
coach will be by here In half an hour,
aud I told the driver 20 stop Put ON
one OF my dresses and make yourself
lonk decent. Tor Johns folks see lot
Of company. and Maria Is mighty
dressy. Here Is - 10 pay your eN-
penses.'
She handed the shining gold 10 the
bcwlldcred woman and gently pushed
her from the room.
"Wiatll Tom sayy venturd Mrs.
Mundy, timidly. as they climbed the
rlckety stairs together.
"I'll attend TO him." was Matthias
confident aud rather splteful answer
"Say no more about u"
Aud Mrs Mundy. who recognized
aud felt p0werless to resist the su'
perlor will force Of her sister. allowed
herself 10 be- made up" And when
the coach stopped az the door on It's re-
turn trip she was ready Tor the visit
10 her brother John. who lived about
twenty miles distant
la one of her sisters neat iitting
dresses. with q snow white collar al
her throat and q bit of ribbon in hei
hair. gloves on her hands aud smart
bonnet ON her head. she very closely
resemhlcd Matilda. who had put on
Que ~ Mrs. Mundy's plain calico h0us,
dresses and stood beside her b. bid hei
! good.hy
Now have good time. Priscilla.
said she as she gave the pour woman
u farewell kiss "l'll Keep things
moving az home
When the coach rolled away and wa.
lost from view Ia a cloud of dust. Mis-,
Matilda Belec entered the house and
resumed the interrupted work.
by o'clock the clothes were hang
Ing on the line. the Kitchen had beeu
cleared NJ aud the other rooms swept
and the beds made.
j Now she hustled about preparing
supper. and was mixing mp dough for
cake when a small boy knocked tim
idly az the kitchen door
"wclly' was Matilda's inquiry a.
SIR opened the door.
Please. Miss Mundy." began the ur
chin. Una sent me over 90 ask you II
/ Willie and the girls could stop az ouI
house io-nightT
Yes. they can stay" was the an
swcr, and the hoy. with muttewd
"Thankce. mom!" bobbed his head aud
ran away.
"Now III have him all to myself.
said Matilda aloud. and her sharp eyes
twlnklcd maliciously. And IN be
4 bound he'll learn a lesson this day that
he won't forgct-thc hrulev
She had supper ON the table when
the sounds Of wheels were heard. aud
pcepiug through the window. she saw
red wagon with yellow wheels
drawn 10y a buny horse. Just turning
the corner Of the house
4 man aud a hoy were IN the seat
The hoy was driving, aud the mau
b rcclpd backward and forward when
ever the wheel NJ the vehicle tau
against an obstruction.
Drunk, as usual" was Matilda,
comment, as the wagon halted before
/ the Kitchen door
The man alighted aud walked m
steadily toward the house. The boy
I drove the horse on 10 the barn
The face ~ the man. who was M
other than Mundy. was red and
flushed. aud be- kicked open the door
aud staggered into the room.
! Mntlldn lacked uD uulrklv aud bci