Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-04-23

myself, said Sally. 81 seemed tn miss
seeing the house as sat there 70 my
window sewing. The trees and bushes
have budded out amazin' since yester-
day. I kind of missed you and felt
lonesome. expect can see the lower
light for some nights yet, till the leaves
really come, and Cynthi's light can
see all the year round in her window up-
stars can't seem to go to bed till
she does, and they both laughed.
You and Cynthi' used to make sig
mails when you was girls, don't you re-
member, wavin' things and movin'
your lamps?"
Twas kind o. convenient, really.
We used to be havin' our plots together,
and we had ways o asking things an
answerin' yes and no. seem to for
get good deal of it now," explained
Sally.
You're just as much OF girl as ever
you were," said the elder woman look
ing up with an affectionate and an ap
preciative smile.
We'll, 1 did feel as if wanted 20
stop and make dam by the side of the.
read there where the water runs out
under the stone WALL" and Sally smiled
in her turn.
"Sping is spring, amt it? Always
just as new every year." Mrs. Bascom
gave long look out across the lovely
April country. Suddenly her ex-
preston changed. ''Why. 1 can see the
gable o Isaac Bottoms new house. 1
knew he was raising yesterday, but
never thought to look. There over the
knoll to the right of the woods, you can
just see the top of it,
why. yes" said Sally, looking eager
ly and then going back to her rocking
chair again. She was blushing and her
eyes looked very bright She seemed to
make an effort to speak, but no words
came.
Mrs. Bascom also made an effort to
look away for some time, and pretended
to be busy with her work. At last she
laid her hands in her lap.
Sally" she asked, as a mother
might speak to her child. don't you
really think you are foolish? / feel as
IL you were most as near to me as my
own Cynthia; truth is can say things
right out to you sometimes that I can't
good man and faithful; 1 don't know
what he's building that house for, but
I don't believe he'll ever want any body
for his wife but you"
''Iheard he was engaged to be married
to somebody in Pelham" answered
Sally, stiffiy. but with no resentment.
Il haven't seen him to speak with him
for eight months-not since last Au-
gust, when l happened to meet him
here in the yard
You done very wrong then, Sally,
my DEAR" said Mrs. Bascom with digni-
ty. He was glad of the chance to see
you and all ready to be friendly, and
you passed him right by after you said:
How do you do an something about
She weather. set right here where 1 be
now. an see his face work like a
child's that has real task to keep from
cryin'. All these years now you've held
on to that grudge, an twas all foolish
ness. Your Gran'ther Walkers mar
row stubbedness keeps you from givin'
in, while he's made every effort he
could. Sometimes I've thought you
didn't love him, an he was better off to
let you have your way about it, but
truth is, you'd deny yourself an go
through the world without happiness.
rather than feel you was the one to give
in"
''It's all true" said Sally. humbly.
I've tried to beat down that hard
feelin'. but l can't, Mis- Bascom. 1
own up to you as if you was my own
mother; sonethin' freezes right up in
II l. f@l1 III 4.
tall, about it, She covered her face
with her hands and began to cry.
There, there. dear: twill all come
right one of these days." said Mrs. Bas-
com. soothingly. II never meant to
work you all up just as we was havin'
such q pleasant visit together"
Somehow or mother I'm so content
ed Twin just as be, if it only want
for that" said Sally, drying her eyes,
but not changing the subject Il never
could think Of anybody else as have of
Isaac I'm glad you spoke right out,
Mis- Bascoln. I've wished you would
q good many times"
You an Isaac an Cynthi' used to
have such good times together when he
was still Twin here" Mrs. Basco1n
braided away intently and did not look
up as she spoke-"an' since all this has
happened he's often talked to me very
free and said it troubled him to know
you had SO little means while he was
we'll off, and you with no brother nor no.
body to look after you in winter time,
an all that"
i've got along all right" insisted
Sally, with dangerous spirit. then she
softcned again. You see how it is.
Mis- Bascom, it S too late now and we've
got to leave it as it is. l expect it's
poor old grandfather'S setness. as YOU
say. Her face was pathetic and child
ish as she spoke. You're always real
good
"WeIl, 1 don't knows be- said the
placid old friend. I've had very hard
feelings about being laid On the shelf
SO carly, while l was full of spirit to
work, and Wet just built that great
barn and had ali our plans about run
ming n creamery. The farms so good
for grain, and 'twouid been easier for
my husband, but Cynthia want able
to continue without me. He never COM
plains. but in few years we should
have been forehanded and paid what
we owed. instead o only adding to It,"
She looked out across the green yard at
the barn, the building of which had
proved to be sucn mistake. and sighed: