New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16

Wall Miss Runciman you'll stop to dinner
with rs | spos. we're goin to have picled-up
dinner but you'll make allowances for that.
Mother stepped up nearer and held out her
hand. ,,
ready in a little while now. Amt you wet?
Thank YOU no: I'm not wet-only my hair
little | shall be so glad to stay while. You
see had driven over to this town because some
sale. was locking for one to make out my team,
end il happened that your husband was at the
village He wanted me 10 drive with him and see
how the colt went. So did. We were caught in
the shower AID he said we were nearer his home
than anywhere else so we came mere.
Having made this explanation to mother, Miss
Runciman in ar Wer to an invitation TO go into
the other room asked leave TO sit down In the
kitchen She said she hoped they wouldn't make
company Of her, and that every moment she spent
in farmhouse ike this was ilKe-she hesitated,
smiled. and continued
II was going to say like wine to me, but don't
mean that. l mean like one Of my childhoods
days come back again.
So she sat down by the window and looked out
or looked at us and sometimes spoke few words,
saying them with WONDERFUL new KIND or gen
teness. and in some mysterious way putting
great deal of meaning into them.
/ hclned about getting the meal. We had fried
ham and eggs. and Miss Runciman. when came
with the basket of eggs rose and said she wished
| would let her attend to them; that Ii was thou
sand years since she had broken eggs into
spider with hot fat in IT. and had to jump back
for fear the fat would spattcr on her face.
SO ] brought her the little fiat spade that
use 10 turn the eggs and take them out. She
took the instrument. but she remarked that she
had never been used to luXuries Ike that and
didn't know as she could adjust herself to It,
Their she laughed and We all laughed; and
for one. had 4 sense of pleasurable interest that
lacked very little OF being excitement. began 10
think of how | would describe this woman in
a letter to my friend. who called mo Nihelm
and finally decided that couldn't describe her
Mt all. because the very thing that seemed so
interesting was thing whatever 1t was. that
hadn't name.
We were usually very silent at meals
but to-day we grew gay ana full of talk Even
mother told a llttle story. and told II with Il
zest that was charming and Aunt Low Ivy re-
melnbered something that had happened when
she was a girl and took such delight in telling
it that We all shared her pleasure
As for father. he bcamed and shone. didni
know what allied III. The stranger ala not taIK
much Her eyes. brilliant. laughing, stimulat-
ing glanced from one to the other, as she SAID
And 1t was good to have a guest so hungry
Miss Runciman ate with relish. | furtiVcly
watched her large. white. strengthening hands
They gave me idea that she could do any
thing These hands had the unmistakable APP
pearance Of not working, the nails were PINK
Very likely 1t is silly In me to try to tell 80
much about this woman's appearance. when ~
| have limited. the vital thing cant De tolu'
After dinner W. all went 10 the barn To see
the colt again. He was led out into the middle
of the great floor and Miss Runciman walked
round him. looking at MS legs ana hftins UP
ms lcc. ~ sr ,' ii,,. a frog ~ he cut off so
,, ~, ,h", sb. said cmphaticallv holding
mo ,na torofan, I'm nor hand and putting
the tip Of finger on the frog.
Father burst into asseveTations that the horse
had never walked lame step, that he lad inc
best shoer in the county that tne moon VIZ -
SOUND as a GoiliI' anu 49, ITO,
II know the hoof is sound she said. nut
it's cruel thing To cu' h"lS, ~, ,'' COO, ." -,
shoe instead 81 n''ihE unc s"ur ~ ,',, him
You mink 'niS i'!i"" WI ~ - ,otind in hie
For the hrst 'lIHr ny i'., '"'' "
GhhnesS OF speech ne h'S''"''. Iii. t,,s -
Il didn't know you "dl'eu 9'"''' ''''
he said. Ao,ru,.
Lets try him she responded cneerI .n
In t." hpihen's mr. "'o 'i-,, 49, HE b,,d
the gray = PACK ana hr WIZ e"'''"7 ~ '''
ana ms '!Is ~, ,,,rer yo,, woullnt"' exclaimed
II VOW. Ia ruther !o" "'"'"
father ...,,,,
Miss Runcnan did not r'py; enc VIZ NJ s', AMI
Ing in front of the horse, io'hlib ~ nun az
strohing his nose ne S'oip.u, u,1 .,irh,i
toward her. if the animal wy" asking TOT
an"th,' ,"l'rS , hand Mr. Armstrong" said
Miss Kunciman. ,.,.. ..,,, 49,. ,,,ber
- zen .''- ,l .,Id arain
please hcip me up $500, 80, ,,,s, e,ro,,,.
Father ext nd-d his mana ana ou' b"''' '''-""
into the saddle. ,ho
The gray snorted and made a dash out '' o''
Darn fool" cried father in low. furious
voice. "this'il spoil the SAFE. ana ~ s, h,
10 git FIVE hundred for that cot. Nh"' S"'
want 10 ride him fort
"Iemu,l" said mother. roprovinsY
But father only s"o'e uhu'r MS u'r"t', oil,
We ran out Of the barn 10 see ""''' VIC ''''
had gone. t
There he was. galloping down the r"aI' a"inb
AT a great. swinging pace. tho wei sand Hyihs
up from his feet, his long gray TAN Sti"E"' o"'
b.hind 49,
"What kind Of woman is that, anyway
II ,roe Amt LowiZy who asked this.
- d'know." said father but she's woman
who's got to buy the colt. anyway.
~ hon. van aIn'f misrepr"scnted anything to
ber Irmuel" said my mother.
"Misrepresented, Don't you go n y" io'
ccrIesv THAT woman knows boss Wei :
;, ,rho,,, Croce was uared down too much;
~, si,.. ,hc hlackemith a good cussin' for it.
- 5,h,,,Gar, Thrrn they go into the cross
rnod, I do hone the colt won't smash her all