Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-04-10
THE PLAID LADY.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

"There IS the LADY IN tue plaid cioaM
again." people who were strangers IN
Dairytown used to say. Il wonder
what she runs about so much for?'
Old residents, however, could have
told them that the lady in plaid was
Mrs. McMurtry, the richest woman IN
the county; that her running about
ALWAYS had something to 90 with the
mortgages she held on most OF the out
lying farms, and that, rich us she Was'
she had worn the plaid cloak and no
other for 20 winters. So that children
were in the habit of calling her "Ihe
Plaid Lady," and, indeed, some grown
up folk also, in moments OF irritation.
"How often does the plaid lady come
here, Amandaw 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
died.
well, only about once week,
Amanda replied. 1T does seem oftener'
though
well, Amanda" said Amelia, lit
seens to me as If l 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 l know that IL can't
she'll foreclose. That is al! 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
crazy. And she always goes away
CRYING: Make an effort. make an Ell
fort-you'n wish you had when it is
so I have to do what L shall be sorry to
do Oh! if she isn't coming now.
There arc wheels"
NO, it's the minister's wife, said
Miss Amanda, peeping over the kltch-
en curtain. (which Of US looks de-
contest to go to the door? | can put
on my fichu in d minute, anG you've
been crying, Nelly, and PERSONS nose
end eyes will get red if they cry. You
come in after awhile. You know what
a gossipy place this is. and If Mrs.
Becker was to say to her mother that
she hoped nothing unpleasant mad nap
pened to the Miss Perrys, for she teit
sure Amelia. had been shedding tears.
why the old lady would tell the next
person that called"
So Amelia ran upstairs to lathe her
eyes and make herself 1idJ. while
Miss Amanda, with her mouth fun Of
pins. took the muslin 1ichu she had
lust been pressing from the clothes
horse, and put it on as she walked slow
by down the front entry, SO that she
was ready to open the door briskly
when the hell rang, and cry out:
II saw you getting out OF the buggy,
Mrs. Becker, and ran to let you in.
How we'll you look. How are the chill
.dren, and your mother, and Mr.. Beck
or? 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 MIR.
Becker feels that he ought to be cheer
ful--but the sad event was so recent
Ills second wife, wasn't ito 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 delnu1'e
Ma says--you know ma will have her
laugh--she says she's not a ministers
wife, If / am. Ma says she saw hin.
looking out for the fourth last SUI
day. She says she wasn't sure whetll-
or it was Martha Hopkins or you he de-
<ided on, but I said: "Weli, Amanda
Perry won't have him, I'm s"re.'"
Hell not look at me- said Amanda
$50 there's no use refusing him before
Am asked, and Martha Hopkins dc
s;,ises him on the face of the earth
BESIDES, we're both too old. When one
has got to Deacon Dcwey's time Of life
he likes girls Of 16 best"
''Pll tell ma that" said Mrs. Becker,
shell laugh
53 .:Poor, dear Mrs. Dewey: 1t was
really sad, though. l always though,
she was very nice, though MA
thought" .s..
But what ma thought remained TN.
told. or at this moment the POSTWAR
flew i'll at the gate, tapped Oh 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 envelop.
Full Of apprehension, and anxious
that Mrs. Becker should not see this,
she cramned the letter into her pocket
and went on chatting.
.'And how about the fair? When is
it to be? Has the committee decided ~
Yes" said Mrs. Becker, enthusiasts
tically. 'tWe want it to opea Monday
fortnight. We are going to have u
New England, kitchen. And I'm 60.
ing abou: begging loans Of china cups
and saucers and plates and everything
.ind we thought you would let us haze
some; we know you would if you
could" W.
we'll let you have everything but
the best dinner and fen set said Mig