New-York tribune., 1897-01-10

mo. no. I won't. Don't you worry bout that.
But there's one thing. Hannah Dropers. that
must say" impressively.
Whats that?" eagerly.
Jest this: II you start on anything don't you
give in-mind what say-if you start. don't you
give In. II you do you'll be worse off'n you ever
was"
Il sha'nt give n"
You take notice I amt advisln' you either
way"
"Oh know that"
Il don't believe in meddlin' between man and
wife But. If you start be firm. Hannah Drop.
pers"
You'll see" said Mrs. Droppers.
Mrs Blair turned to the chair where she had
placed her cup She took the cup and hurried
from the house.
She had gone n few rods down the road when
she felt impelled to turn back. She retraced ner
steps and again entered the house she nad JUST
left She did not know that Mr.. Droppers nad
come from the barn and was standing at the
sink mixing shorts and meal and water IN a
pail The open door hid him from Mrs Blair y
view; but she saw Mrs Droppers putting WOOD
in the stove.
Hannah" she said with great impressveness.
'be firm
She hastened away without waiting for any
reply
The stick with which Mr. Droppcrs was stir
ring his meal and shorts suddenly ceased its
motion. ,
What in thunders the matter with Mis-
Blair"
shes jest ben over here to borry some
emptins," replied Mrs Droppers.
What's that to do with you ben firm was
the next question.
"Nothin' that know Of was the answer
Mr. Droppers turned and gazed al his WIFE
Sims TO me you look brghter'n common he
remarked
DO L."
Sims to me you do
Then Mr.. Droprers took his pail to the barn
and Hannah went to the north buttery and cut
off some slices of souse She mixed the brown
bread cakes. and warmed the souse. feeling an
exhilaration that she did no, understand. But
her hand was not quite steady and she let one
cake fall on the stove when she essayed to turn
It. She whipped off the dough into plate ana
put it in the pigs pail; and she felt no COM
FUNCTIONS as she did so; she was sustained;
Supper was ready when the head of the house
came in. The two sat down opposite each other.
and Mr.. Droppers began to eat hungrily whiIe
his wife was pouring his tea. But when Han
nah essayed to swallow some OF the food. she
found that she could hardly do 1t. She drank
her tea and buttered a cake.
After a while her husband raised his eyes
from his plate He held out his cup for more
drink
Amt you eatin' nothn?" he asked. BE you
sck?"
mo but I amt got much appetite tonight.
The shining of her eyes caught his glance He
sucked up his tea with some noise, then ne
said
I'm sure d know what's come over ye. Han.
nah but amt seen ye look s much s You did
when was courtin ye s you do tonight.
Mrs Droppers colored but she made no other
reply to her husbands remark and presently he
rose lighted his lantern and went back TO the
barn to finish his evening tasks.
Hannahs excitement and exatation continued
through the night. and prevented her from sleep
ing Her own Wakcfulness seemed accentuat"d
by the deep. snoring slumher of the man beside
her She was glad when it was morning and she
could go about her work
At half-past : Mr. Droppers drove off with
a load of cider apples He went down the road
At a quarter to Mr.. Droppors wife walked
off toward the village. She went up the road
She passed by the home of the Blairs Mrs
Blair was at the open door shaking mat. The
two women said good morning to each other
Mrs Blair restrained her desire to express the
surprise and curiosity she felt at sight of her
neighbor at this hour. She stood for some min
utes watching the slight figure hurrying along
the road.
Il do wonder what she's got in her head" she
thought "Of course she can't amount 10 moth
in ! wish I'd told her agin 20 be firm.
She asked herself whether it was too late TO
shout that advice. and she concluded that it
was
The woman who had thus started forth did
not slacken her quick walk until she came 10
a large white house on the outskirts of the vii
lage. 4 small l. projected from this building.
and on this l. was a sign stating that here was
Squire I.orin's office. The Squire opened the
door to his visitor. ard. as he ushereG her in. he
gallantly that Mrs. DToppers seemed
TO he growing young. Not" he added, that
she is old as to need to grow young"
But Hannah did not notice this compliment.
She would not sit down. She took hold Of the
top of the chair the squire hat placed for her.
You know you said you were bout ready to
pay the last instalment Of fathers propty." she
said abruptly.
Yes: by next week. | think"
Il called to ask YOU 10 give II to me. 'thou let
tin Mr.. Droppers know. | en- sign the receipt
'thout lettin him know, can't ~
"Certainly.
That's all | wanted TO say" Mrs. DrOppers
turned and walked ont of the Office She almost
ran, being suddenly possessed by unreason-
able fear that her husband would return and dis
cover that she not at home She had gone
by the Blair house when she heard window
thrown up violently and then a voice crying:
Hannah. bc firm
She paused long enough TO nod her head In
an emphatic affirmative.
Mrs. Blair closed the window. saying in n
whisper that she for one did not believe in med
ding between man and wife Then aloud.
Il do hone that woman won't begin nOthin'
she can't carry out.
As the next few days passed Mrs DrOppcrs's
inability To eat continued In a noticeable degree
and she drank good deal Of tea. She also kept
looking so bright and young that her husband
was again reminded Of the time when he was
counting her. Perhaps this fact made him notice
her somewhat more. and one day he brought
home from the store sufficient calico. of "A red
and green pattern. to make n gown. II was a
hideous pattern. but Hannah prOfessed TO like II.
-yS.x.