The morning times., 1897-02-14
HOW HANNAH
REMAINED FIRM

by her husbands face, when he Game home
from tie village, that he knew she had the
money. She wished now that she had bold
ly told him, and then asserted that she in
tended to keep the sum.
Mrs. Drpppers did not mention tile subject
until he had come in from his night work
at the barn. He sat down, with his feet on
tile stove hearth, and looked at his wife,
who ha d a stocking OF his pulled on over
her hand. She was drawing very thick
wooden yarn across a hole in this stocking.
Her face was ia the dusk, above the shad-
owed lamp, but her hands were in the fun
hight.
Hannah" said Mr.. Droppers, Il seen
your brother David today. He told me that
Squire Lcrin' had paid him the balance
from your fathers prop'ty. / said the
'squile hadn't paid you, N he said he
guessed he must have-he wouldn' pay
one heir 'thout payin' the other"
Mrs. Droppers laid her stockinged hand
on her lap, and folded the other closely
over it
HE has paid me- she said distinctly.
She was looking down al her hands.
When
- week ago day before yisterday."
a silence during which the woman
thought her heart stopped beating, and was
rather glad that it had done SO. If it
should Lot begin to beat again she would
be saNeG all the trouble OF being firm.
Where Is it?''
Another silence Hannah now became
aware that her heart had not stopped per
nanently, but that it was al present throb-
oing all through her, and making it diff
cult for her TO speak. But she must speak;
and she must be firm.
Its my money, amt IT. she asked.
Where is it?''
"You don't tell me halfthe time when you
have money paid to you-you know you
don't"
Where is it?''
And you wouldn't let me even touch that
hundred-dolIar biIl-and that was mine,
too"
Her voice did not wayer, but it was high
and shrilI.
She casped her free hand tightly over the
one covered with stocking. In doing So
tie daruing needle pierced her palm. She
was rather glad 10 feel the sudden, singing
pain.
Mr. Droppers leaned forward
I'm going to ask you once more. Where
is it@'' he said.
His wife was impelled to glance mp at
him. II seemed strange TO her that her
only vivid thought at the instant was that
She had never seen his head look SO snail
Sne made no reply. She supposed that
her husband was about 10 burst out into
savage inHective. He was usually as
wordy as a woman when he was angry
He threw himself back in his Chair; he
opened his lips and made some inarticUlate
exclamation. Then he pulled himself up
and SAID slowly:
Il guess / won't say nothin' tonight. I'll
think it over. shan't let 1t pass; no, 1
shant let il pass"
No more conversation occurred between
the two that evening.
Mrs DrOppeTa Compelled herself To go on
darning with an assumption OF calmneSs
She wondered what kind Of an appearance
she presented. As for herself Size felt that
she was half flame and half ice But She
sat still and finished mending the pair OF
stockings.
Mr.. troopers. at 3 minutes to g, rose
and locked the outer doors and wound the
clock. A few minutes later his wife heard
the bed crcak heavily ia their bedroom.
Presently she hurriedly prepared for bed
She was shocked and indignant TO find her
NJlaA p1Ali'Ai NAIfl flillS Ntuii'AlE - 48fl ONLi
hazy surprise, she herself soon fell asleep
She did not waken until the clock was
striking six That was an hour later than
she usually arose or course, Mr.. Droppers
was up long ago She turned her head.
She dimly saw head on the other pillow.
.Kenup." she said in surprise, ''aint you
made a fire YETI"
No, L amt"
.'Aint you goin' to-
II can't 'thout gettin' up"
Hannah rose on her elbow
''Ain't you goin' to get up?"
Not till you've given me that money
Squire Lorin' paid you
You goin TO lay abed TIL them
II be"
Mrs Droppers sank back again on her
pillow She was perfectly still for q time.
Her first impulse was 20 go immediately
and pour the sugar from the sugar-boX and
bring the package to her husband She
combatted that impulse as being weak and
slavisli, and she had been weak and slavish
all her life.
Il guess you'll get real tred,' she re-
marked.
..Mehby shall" came the response from
the pillow.
Mrs. Droppers dressed more quickly than
she had ever done She was strengthened
10y her sleep and by a high resolve TO be
firm.
In a short time Mr.. DroppeTs heard the
clatter OF the cook stove, ana then, after a
time, he srnelled the odor of coffee and fry
ing sausage, and probably Hannah was
making Johnny cake. 4 half hour passed,
and the bedroom door opened to admit his
wife. she brought tin wash dish OF
water, a cake OF yellow W soap and towel.
Il thought you'd want to wash fore l
fetched in your breakfast" she said, cheer
fully.
The gentleman on the bed was astonished
He had heard his wife coming and was posi-
tive that she was bringing the money. He
had Immediately decided that he would for.
give her and be very pleasant. He thought
also that he would get her some kind of a
present. Shed been wauting comb TO put
in the back Of her hair when she went to
sewing circle. Yes, he would get her one
Of those combs that looked like tortoise
shell, but that were not tortoise shell
Yes" he said, grimly; Il do want to
wash fore / eat breakfast
SO he raised himself IN the bed and ap-
piled soap and water to his face and hands.
After this process a bountcous meal on a
waiter was put before him. 1t was his
habit TO be hungry for breakfast, and he
was hungry now. AS he broke his fast ne
heard his wife Jingiing the dishes in the
Fitchen. Presently he called for more cof-
fee. 1t was Immediately brought.
Have ] sweetened il all right?''