The Monitor-register. [volume] (Woodstown, Salem Co., N.J.) 1892-1972, 1897-09-03


to say. Il wonder what makes you
walk SO fast, Adelaide You only had
| q minute ahead Of me.''
II didn't know you were following"
"You amt 80 fat as am, Adelaide,
or you'd realize how feel. Well, let's
go on"
Il guess the worst of the hot SPELLS
over" said Adelaide, q minute later.
II hope SO, anyway" Jane was star
ing wild eyed at her neighbor. "How
old TINY you look, Adelaide ! l believe
you had dress like that when he fist
came to see YOU"
"Who ?" asked Adelaide. III finch
ing.
adam"
They toiled along, one painting and
crimson, the other erect and high headed.
a loaded hay wagon, moving ponder
ously. in the opposite direction, went by
them. 1t seemed to Adelaide that the
farmers boy, perched on top, looked at
her curiously.
"He's been talking a good deal about
you to-day, Adelaide" I'D -
"Who?'
"Adam."
The tall woman's face was Hike stone.
HE just came back last night. | tell
YOU Twas mighty glad to see him.
Eighteen years is long time to do with.
out seeing your only brother"
Adelaide kept dumb.
"His wife's dead. and his children's
dead, and he's come back to stay-that
is-that is" she ended vaguely.
'Jane Roseborough p
swell, Adelaide ?"
"You needn't be afraid to saw any.
thing to hurt. You can talk all You
want to-"
There was moments silence.
adelaide y
"Well p,'
"What was it that made you and
Adam fall ont ?''
The only sound in the road was that of
their mufflsd feet going along through
the dust. Further down the road the
hay.wagon still numbered. Adelaide
measured out her words when she spoke;
there was snap to them.
'1've never told any body yet, and
never expect to-"
Il didn't think you wo uld," said Jane,
shrilly, "but thought I'd ask, anyhow.
DO you see this ?' holding up the pacl
age liz her hand; its liniment. Do YOU
know what he has gone and done to
himself %
mo"
he was fixing up my grapevine for
me this morning, and he slipped and fell
and hurt his back. The doctor says he'll
have to keep quiet for week. Adam
always was unlucky about some things.
When he was baby he didn'G do any
thing but bump his head, and when he
got older he stumped his toe. They used
to call him Stamping Adam"
They were coming to small frame
house set well back from the road. Two
rows of box, eaob row as tall as man,
led up to the front door. ".---.
"How's Ellen ?" persisted Jane
''She's gone down to Haversham
"John Emmett sticks as close as ever.
don't he :? You'll miss her when she's
gone"
'She amt married vet"
They had reached the gate. Jane
stopped, irresolute. "You might let by.
cones by bygones," she blurtsd out.
"You might send him word or two,
Adelaide. He hasn't forgotten you"
cts no use going on like that, Jane
Roseborough.'
II know it amt. Well, goodbye"
Good bye," said Adelaide. -
She lifted the latch and passed aus
terely along the tall rows of the box.
"Miss Adelaide !! Miss Adelaide ~
ooh. dear |" she said.
Back of the little house stretched a
fat vegetable garden, and over the fence
that divided it from the green, alley like
lane beyond, hung the owner of the
voice, young, stalwart, white shirted.
Heard anything from Ellen lately,
Miss Adelaide ?''
"NOt a word" She put down her
basket and faced him judioially.
What's the matter between you and
Ellen, John Emmett ?''
He groaned.
"Who began it ~
ELLEN. She saw me stopping down
the pike ono afternoon last week to ia Tx
to one of the Bean girls. I only asked
her how her mother was, and couldn't
run right off when she began to tell me
all about the old lady's rheumatism. l
just stuck it out, though by the time she
| was through felt myself all wrapped up
| in red flannel, with a hot iron dragging
| at each foot. And Ellen got jealous,
and wouldn't listen to anything said,
and the mex. day she was down in Haver-
week, and haven't heard word since. "
/ "That's like Ellen"
81 love the very ground she walks on, !"
he cried vehemently."
| She looked at him kindly. 81 guess
| it'll all come right p
| He swung himself off dowp the lane.
She watched him with a new and yet
strangely familiar pang at her heart. 1t
seemed to her as If she were listening to
the same old story again.
| In the house she remembered her let
ter. She read it seated on the edge OF
chair in her solemn little parlor.
"Adelaide-I'm coming back to Green
Meadow, just to see you. Adam"
Her face hardened, grew soft, AND
hardened again. At last she cried out;
But he got married, he got married J?
Id flung the letter from her.
Over the mantsl in cheap gilt frame
hung the photograph Of q young girl
Her face was dimly like Adelaide's.
She rose and CROSSED over to it, ane
shook her fiuger in the soft and smiling
eyes.