Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1896-03-27
THE PLAID LADY.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

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, McN[urtry, the richest woman in
the county; that her running about
always had something to do with the
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, Amanda?" 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 off since THEN father
lied
'Well,, only about once week"
Amanda replied. at does seem oftener,
though"
"Well, Amanda" said Amelia, sit
Ieems to me as il | never look out of
The window but l see that plaid cloak
coming up the path. Sometimes
wish could die rather than go through
the talk about the trouble that has got
to come. What good does it do? Don't
she know I'd pay off that mortgage
IL could? And know that If can't
she'll foreclose. That is all right; all
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
rrazy. And she always goes away
crying: Make an effort, make an eff
iort-youll wish you had when it is
so have to do what | shall be sorry to
do Oh! if she isn't coming now.
There are wheels"
mo, it's the minister's wife," said
Miss Amanda, peeping over the kitch-
en- curtain. (Which of us looks de-
contest to go to the door? / can put
on my fichu in 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 battle her
eyes and make herself tidy, while
Miss Amanda, with her mouth full of
pins, took the muslin fichu she had
just been pressing from the clothes
horse, and put it on as she walked slow
ly down the front entry, SO that she
was ready to open the door brisllly
when the bell rang, and cry cut:
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
er? What touching sermon he gave
us last Sunday. l saw 20 people in
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.
ful--but the sad event was so recent
His second wife, wasn't it? queried
Miss Amanda, wishing that Amelia
would not pull so many drawers out in
the room overhead, where she was max.
ing her toilet, or scuttle over the floor
so often.
His second wife? His third" sail
Mrs. Becker, trying to be demurc
Ma says'-y know ma will have heI
laugh-she says she's not ministers
wife, if am. Ma says she saw him
looking out for the fourth last Sun
day. She says she wasn't sure wheth.
er it was Martha Hopkins or YOU he de-
cided on, but | said: "Well, Amanda
Perry won't have him, I'm sure"
Hell not look at me-" said Amanda
so there's no use refusing HIM before
I'm asked, and Martha Hopkins dc
spises him on the face of the earth
BESIDES, we're both too old. When ont
has got to Deacon Dewey's time of lille
he likes girls of 16 best"
''I'll Tell ma that" said Mrs. Becker,
shell laugh"
Poor, dear Mrs. Dewey 1t was
really sad, though. always thought
she was very nice, though ma
thought"
But what ma thought remained un.
told, or at this moment the postman
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 firm was
printed on the left-hand upper corner
of the cnyelop.
Full of apprehension, and anxious
that Mrs. Becker should not see this
he crammed the letter into her pocket
and went on chatting.
And how about the fair? When l.;
L to beP Has the committee decided -
YES" said Mrs. Becker enthusiasts
tically, 1--WE want it to opea Monday
fortnight. We are going to have u
New England kitchen. And I'm GO
ing az begging loans of china cups
s and - Aand plates and everything
md. vat you would lei us have
W you would if ycu