The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-01-23
WHAT ALLIED 'MAHALY.
BY ELEANOR ROOT.

'What allied Mahaly?' That was the
question the neighbors all asked each
other. Every day that it rained-and
it was a wet spring-they had out t.
look out the window to see her lrudg.
ing along, umbrellaless, oftenti1nes
tonnetless-her face turned upward.
''Pears if she'd got religion this win
ter; I'd feel to think she'd gone daft
over it, the way't she gazes up at thu
sky" said old Mrs. Mosely.
Il jes' think it's flynn in the face ~
P-royidence!" cried her nearer: "her
a-gallivantin' round that away in
ey'ry thunderstorm. She'll be brought
home some day, see if she hain't. Why.
my Uncle Cy jes' stepped to the door
one day, and the lightnin' went clean
through him. He died right away. He
made a beautiful-lookin' corpse, jes' az
nat'ral-the blackened part was all in
his side and arm--but it was dre.fnl
sad! He was buried on Sunday"
signing.
Il b'lieve she's little empty in tho
upper story" said third, tapping her
head. And so the talkwent on. Wheth-
er:Mahala knew of the various surmises
If the village folk, or whether, know
ing, she did not care,' was almost as
fruitful theme for conjecture as the
cause of her rambles. 81
At last, two of the Dorcas banl took
it upon themselves to stand by each
other in an attempt to find out some
thing about it. 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
der coadjutor said she guessed she'd
take over some fruit cake and elder
berry wine; the thought in both far.
aeaclling and diplomatic minds being
that their hostess could hardly with
stand such delicate bribery. She would
surely fee1..that something was due
them insreturns1s 4s~. .t; sfssi # T. 5''+'
1t happspsd that, the day they set
upon daWiaed darkKand lowering. It
looked y tho'nghI 2 "a thggHderstor,n was
imminent.ss III ia;st p
".Oh, Mi, Simpson, puffed Mrs.
Brown; 1r II islhqat9csrem into
her neighhe bick 4oor, gej6on'tf5ou
think we'd Deter letTes''r thfpggolan'
git right over sthere?~ didn't think
about piekin' a rainy day, but, done
you see-it'slsjes' the thing. We can
xitstarteflon the subjec' better. Hurry
Zip and git On your bunnet md Iettthc
dishes 60. Here, pdtsyonr things right
: in my basket. We want to git there
before sheSstarts--and she'll be startii'
out to-day, sure!. Look at them clouds"
\ 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 opena1d she
''Howdy, Mahaly; we jes' thought
Mis- Simpson and sI-how we'd come
over and spend the day with you. You
l,evn't looked q bit we'll lately-k1nd o
peaked *lookin'-z- you must be SO
lonesome here all alone. +, How .sir you
now, anyhow?''. =: .',->.7 =. ~ ~ ~
II hain't no call to complain of my
health" answered Mahala;;, littls
stifay. She: glanced up at the sky:
but come in It was real thoughtfui
of you to think of me-" Mrs. Simpsons
conscience gave alittle prick ss=. :*..s y;
Looks like rain, don't it p pursued
Mrs. Brown, CHANGING UP. But mebb,
you was goin' out to-day'-bravely fol-
lowing up the charge. II should think
you'd ketch your death O. cold goin'
out in all these cold spring rains-so
,nebby it's a good thing we come, any,
way" She trod on Mrs. Simpson s toeE.
YES, you're gittin' real peaked
lookin'," hastily calculated thar
worthy woman, taking up the cue SO
inimitably thrown out by her COM
panion. Mahala flushed slightly.
''Why. feel real WE'LL" she faltere,'.
abe l peaked? I'm goin' to try to e.,t
more. But when persons all alone
they don't feel no great appetite" She
1,shered her visitors into the little par
lor and took their things. can't
hardly bring myself to cook now" shr
atlded.: 50 n s. :A 81: M Es, Vi,
''Well, now, hain't it fortunate! I
brought over some O. my elderberry
wine, for thought you needed chirkin'
up since your mother hain't here TO
zee to you.a Poor woman! How longs
she been dead?' e. sY& S,s&
Three years, said Mahala, choking.
"There, there, poor dear, we're sjes'
c-goin' to come over real often
and I'm a-goin' to see You don't
60 out 2 in the rain no more
without bonnet" exclaimed Mrs.
Brown: ''What do you do it for
anyway2' she persisted. "You'n ex-
cuse me for sayin' it-you know I'm
sayin' it for your own good-but ev'ry-
body's wonderin' bout it. They say't