Middletown transcript., 1897-03-27

80 49, maybe, ought
or heg hitched up the colt and carried
her over TO the station. But then
'taint morn mile an a half by the
road an going cross lots shortens the
distance some. II l he'd, 1t would u
taken the best part of two hours and
put back the plowi1' that much. Gee
Dockl" shouted he with start and an
inward reproach for wasting time in
foolishness, as be termed his little rev.
erie.
The morning sun cast its slant beam.
over field aud meadow. It glorified
even the dull clods Of yesterdays up
turning, over which in irregular patch
es the busy spider had woven snares
and the dew had sp .ngled them with
liquid jewels. Jacob saw no beauty in
dew spandgled cobwebs, they were SIM
ply a sign of good weather to him. He
knit his brows and leaned more heav.
lily on his pIow handles as his thoughts
REQUIRED to the little woman almost
stumbling In her haste over the rough
field. He thoght she stopped q little
more than usual and felt aggrieyed
that she was beginning to show signs
o ( age.
''Women amt like they was ID
mothers time" thought he. Jacot
10 rgot that his mothers work was con-
fined to the care of the little deserted
log house which stood few rods back
Of his pretentiOus brick dwelling, and
Hocks and herds had increased bring.
ing more and more work every year
for one pair of tired hands.
Little Mrs Berry reached the un-
painted shed called by courtesy the de-
pot, almost breathless from excite
ment and fatigue. She had barely
time to buy her round trip ticket and
board the train. She sank into the
nearest seat. Her face was anxious
and tense; she could not get over the
hurried feeling She had prepared
breakfast and hastily performed other
household duties long before light, and
had MIXED before the sun had fairly
risen. Her thoughts were iD curious
jumble. As she climbed the rail fence
she had noticed the wild Ioses in the
fence corners were coming into leaf
and the sturdy trumpet vine had thrust
its rootlets into The decaying riders.
az must remember just where they are
and maybe I'll have time to pick
some when they bloom. Let me see,
it was twenty yards Of muslin Pm to
get for Jacobs shirts aud I'D better get
it all fixed in my miEd.n She examined
the memorandum which Jacob had
made with y little blunt pencil on the
back Of sn old envelope by the aid Of a
chance copy Of city paper.
II tell you Marthy we've got to econ
omize like sixty, now we're in debt for
the Cummins farm. l recken we'll
save two or three dollars buying In the
city and old Skinner al the crossroads
store'll find it don't pay to wrangle
with me about accounts"
Finally Mrs. Berry settled back into
her seat and began to rest and her
thoughts turned into pleasanter chan
mel. "Maybe can manage to go to the
Art Museum thought she, land see
the pictures Miss Long told me about. /"
She finished her shopping sooner than
she expected and had a trifle left for
car fare. Jacob had not provided for
this luxury. you'll be tired settin'
still so long and need the walk" said
he. In q sudden spasm of generosity
be continued ''you might git a pair Of
them dollar and half shoes they ad-
vertise. You. don't really need'em
but you kin put t'sm BY till you do and
here's quarter for your dinner. got
a good one for fifteen cents.n Jacob
neglected to state that his meal was
eaten at lunch counter patronized ex.
clusively by men.
When Mrs. Berry 3 accustomed din
ner hour arrived, the excitement had |
taken away her appetite and she started |
to feast her eyes upon the beauties of |
the Art Museum, which her summer
boarder, Miss Long, had dialated upon
after the work was done and Mrs.
Berry had q few moments to rest on |
the porch before bed time. When abe
arrived at the entrance Of the museum,
10 her conformation, an admittance |
fee was demanded. The door-keeper
coLrteously explained that 1t was pay
day. She gladly rendered her precious
quarter or dollar. It seemed to her
IS is the gates Of paradise had unclosed
Rs she entered the domain of ert, and
tosher great joy she fonnd Miss Long
who was copying picture. Mis- Long
kl lBdly laid aside. her brushes to guide
be visitor. She conducted her to the
hoicest paintings and statuary and
explained the stories they sought to
1 III. Many timts she was surprised at
} low interruption. "Oh, yes / know.
/ read about that years ego. bofore I
" rs married. / haven't had time to
read much since.n
The hours sped all too fast and Mrs.
Berry found she had barely time to
Ieaeh the train. AS she was claiming
her parcels a. The check counter, the
rates closed and there was nothing to
10 but walt long three hours for lhe
ltxt train. AS she took her seat, q
llzzs, laint feeling came over her and 4
he knsW nothing mors antil mid.o
/ isht yhen she opened hsr eyes 10
Eeak ~ nsk Blers st6 Was. she hati I