River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-01-23
WHAT ALLIED MAHALY.
BY ELEANOR ROOT.

DOnnetIeSs-her lace turned upward
Pears if she'd got religion this win
ter; I'D feel to think she'd gone daft
over il, the way't she gazes up at tn
sky" said old Mrs. Mosely.
Il jes' think it's fiyin' in the face a.
Providence" cried her nearer. "her
a-gallivantin' round that away il
ev'ry thunderstorm. She'll be brough;
home some day, see if she hain't. Why
my Uncle Cy jes' stepped to the door
one day, and the Iightnin' went clean
through him. He died right away. He
made beautiful-lOokin' corpse, jes' az
nat'raI-the blackened part was all in
his side and arm-but it was dre.ful
sad! He was buried on a Sunday -
signing.
II b'lieye shes little empty in the
upper story" said a third, tapping her
head. And so the talk went on. Wheth-
er Mahala knew of the various surmise:i
Of the village folk, or. whether, know
ing, she did not care, was almost as
fruitful theme for conjecture as the
cause of her rambles.
AT last, two of the DOrcas banl took
IL upon themselves to stand by each
other in an attempt TO find out some
thing about IL. They were TO take q
whole day to it and report their success
or nOnsuccess at the next meeting.
Mrs. Brown said that she would take
over some of her crabapple Jelly, and
her coadjutor said she guessed shed
take over some fruit cake and elder
berry wine; the thought in both far.
reaShing and diplomatic minds being
that their hostess could hardly with
stand such delicate bribery. She would
purely feel that something was due
them in return.
1t happened that the day they set
upon dawned dark and lowering. Ii
looked as though a thunderstorm was
imminent.
"Oh, Mis- Simpson" puffed Mrs
Brown, running without ceremony into
her neighbor's back door, don't you
think we'd better let ey'rything go ana
git right over there? | didn't think
about pickin' on a rainy day, but. don't
you see-it's jes' the thing We car
git started on the subjec better. Hurry
up and git on your bunnet and let the
dishes go. Here. put your things right
in my basket. We want to git there
before she starts-and she'll be siartin
cut to-day, sure. Look at them clouds 8
A little later, flushed and dusty, the
two stood at Mahala's front door. Mrs
Brown, who usually took the initiative
in everything. knocked vigorously. She
felt drop of rain and knocked again
The door swung slowly open ard sn,
began, vOlubly:
''HOwdy. Mahaly; we ies' thought
Mis- Simpson and how we'd cont
over and spend the DAY with you YOU
hewitt looked bit well Iately-kInd O
peaked lOOEin-and you must be 81
lonesome here all alone. How air yol
now. anyhow"
II hain't no call TO complain of my
health" answered Mahala, a littl.
stiffiy. She glanced up at the sky
But come in. Ii was real thoughtful
of you TO think of me" Mrs. Simpson
conscience gave little prick.
Looks like rain, don't it," pursued
Mrs. Brown, glancing up. But mebt,
you was gOin' out to-day fol
lowing up the charge. II should think
you'd keteh your death o cold goin
out in all these cold spring rains-sC
mebby it's a good thing we come, any
way" She trod on Mrs Simpsons toe;
Yes. you're gittin' real peake,
loOl<in'," hastily CALCULATED thar
worthy woman, taking up the cue 5,
inimitably thrown out by her CON
panfon- Mahala flushed slightly.
why. feel real WELL" she faltere,l
''Be | peaked? I'm goin' to try to e.,
more. But when a persons all alon,
they don't feel n great appetite" Shs
ushered her visitors into the little par
Tor and took their things. " can
hardly bring myself to cook now" sh,
added.
Wei. now, hain't it fort'nate,
brought over some o my elderberr,
wine. for thought you needed cEirkin
up since your mother hain't here Il
see to YOU. Poor woman, How long,
she been dead?"
Three years" said Mahala, choking
There, there, poor dear, we're les
u-goin' 90 come over real otter
and I'm a-goin' to see you dom
go out in the rain no NOR,
MlA1OuE ~ n0uItl. RNtAItInNU MIS-
Brown: what do you do it fol
anyway" she persisted. You'll ex
cuse me for sayin' it-you know In
sayin' il for your own goOd-but ev'ry
bOdy's wonderin' bout il. They saw
II they didn't know better, they'd jes
think YOU was crazy woman"
Mahala Strengthened up her meager
STOPPING form. Mis- Brown" she said
TREMENDOUSLY, but with dignity, II like
20 feel the rain" She hesitated. II
comes from where my mother is Sh,
always liked il too. and / don't thinl
people have any call to talk bout m,
for that" She turned away her face
and looked out of the window at the big
drops pattering down on the expand
ing foliage. The rain came down NOR,
heavily. There was n perfect deluge
Mahala looked uneasy and restless. ana
once made an involuntary movement
as though to go out. She checked her
self and brought out her work basket
I'm piecin' Risin' Sun quilt fol
Rose" she said. quietly. "She's goin
TO be married this fall"
''Now this'll be real cozy," exclaimed
Mrs. Simpson. We've got piecin'. too
Tn helpin' Mis- Brown piece her Jeru
salum Cherries" She opened the
basket. Here's the elderberry winc
and this is some fruit cake I've haC
mellerin' for nigh about a year.
brought it over for you to eat with tn,
wine. l thought il might tempt your
appetite. It's real strength'nin, Nv,
hearn." She took out the things ant
laid them on the table. And this i.
Mis- Browns crab jell.'' she added.
ats not as good as your mother
used TO make" interPosed Mrs. Brown
depreciatingly. but knew't your tree
had died, and 1 thought I'D bring il
over"
Thank you," said Mahala, simply
Such delicaeies as cake and Jelly and
elderberry wine were as far removed
from her in these days as Victoria
crown Jewels, but she would not lei
her manner or her profuse thanks pm
her 10 shame before her visitors, sh,
thought. They should not know bu
il was a common thing for her 20 havs
such Injuries in the hcuse-at leas'
when she wanted them. She told then