The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1897-02-19

Some one was calling sharply from the
road. The hail was insistent, but eau
tious. To one able to read faces it was
plain Mr.. Topmark had been listening
for it in spite of his elaboration of sur
prised vexation over it. But nothing of
that came to the woman sitting placid
ly on the piazza. Except within the
narrowest personal limits, she had no
penetration. Besides she would sooner
have questioned the ways of divine
Providence than those of her husband.
The stores back door alone was OPEN
cd after dark. As Mrs. Topmark heard
it clang behind her husband she settled
herself afresh, took Jinney in her arms
Hnd began softly to Groom fragment Of
an Old love song. But after minute
she 6dgeted uneasily. then sat suddenly
upright saying, with touch of author
ity: Now, you must all go right ter
bed, every one of you You hear that?
Come on an let me see who gets up
stairs first. expect there be some
candy in my pocket fer the one that
does"
As she made to follow the children
who went tumbling one over the other
somebody spoke from the dusk outside:
"Oh, Miss Louizy, wont yer dest be
30 good as ter tell me ef-ef de sto' is
done shot up fer de night? wants li'l'
whisky powerful bad. Sech er misty in
de back been had all day long,
"You can get it, Aunt Phemy. Mr..
Topmark's there right now-jest went.
You better hurry an ketch him. Like
as not the man that called him didn't
want nothin much-ter ask the way er
buy cents wuth of stuff, Mrs. Top
mark said, walking to the piazza steps,
just outside Of which stood weazened
old black woman. leaning upon crook
handled stick and holding curiously
aloof from herself big bunch of
strange looking herb. 1t was ragged
and dropping, yet the glimmering light
showed here and there amid the tangle
and of a livid, reddish yellow. The bear
er of it had thin, clawlike hands and
shut, strong, yellow teeth upon the stem
of cob pipe. Setting one foot on the
middle step, she said meditatively:
81 lowed ter fine Marf.~ Ben right
yere on de po'ch wild yots- Dat how
come I fotched him dis yere passel er
truck. He say t'urro day he want er
bunch or dem swamp yarbs"
''Leave 'em with me. 1 know he's
been wantin 'em. He's sure ter give
you all the Ticker you want fer bringin
'em, Aunt Pbemy," Mrs. Topmark said
kindly. "You lay 'em right there ON
the steps I'll tell him ter put 'em in
the lumber house soon as ever he comes
in. He wants 'em ter drive away rats.
We're pestered ter death''-
"Say! Don't talk erbout death wild
de moon jest risin an she er-dwindlin,
Aunt Pbemy returned, with little half
shudder. But she dropped her lids low
er than ever as she went on: "I'll lay
un right yere on de groun, Miss Lou
izy, an don't you let dem li'l' children
er yourn play wild no pieces er um.
Dee's-dee's bad bout maxim sores ON
liz, tender hands. -
As she hobbled away Mrs. Topmark
smiled, then sighed deeply and put her
arms above her head. II don't know
what is the matter with me, F" she said
to herself. "I've got the most curious
feelin, jest like was afraid of some
thin. / do hope Mr.. Topmark will come
back soon, but for fear he shouldn't I'd
better put the pison YARDS where they
can't hurt the Children. Oh, my, don't
they smellp' as strong, half fetid odor
came to her nostrils from the weedy
things she had taken up and was look
ing curiously over. "No wonder rats
don't like the stuff. 1t makes me sick.
But I'll put it in place before it loses
strength.
Still holding the herbs, she got lam
tern, lighted it and went toward de-
tached building in the yard. Some little
time later she came back with only the
lantern. She set it down heavily and al
most dropped into her chair, calling to
the black nursemaid as she did it:
"Ca'line, you tend ter the children.
I'm goin ter stay in the air till feel
better ~
Someway she did not feel better.
The herbs had been bound together with
a long, thready cat brier. Her hands
had got more than one prick from the
thorns. Each of the wounds began to
throb and send darting pains through
her. Her sight dulled. At last she saw
only flaming circles before her eyes.
She tried to cry aloud, but could only
moan thickly, though she heard with
preternatural clearness through the open
o. ntinued o1 poge 6.)