The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-20
ONLY A BUNCH OF C0LUMBINE


Two women, standing near a stove in a
pleasant, roomy kitchen. looked at each
other in dismay as the strident voice
reached them from the little outside piazza.
where its owners attention had been ar
rested momentarily and as they considered
mercifully, by a giant hydrangea full of
bloom in red tub. The older of the two
pushed pan filled with delicately Drowned
crullers toward the younger, with a hastv
gesture in the direction of the pantry.
Hide EN-, quick, Julyie,'' she said in an
undertone. Polly Anderson won't leave
one if she gets hold of en-
The pantry door being conveniently near
Julia Frayle vanished through it. escaping
with her prize just as the visitor entered
the kitchen. You alters have such good
luck with plants, Miss Fragile" she was
saying while her sharp eyes fitted around
the room. Il thought / saw Julyie when
1 passed the winder. Where'd she disan-
pear to sudden?"
she directed an inquisitve glance at Mrs
Frayle, as If expecting to discover on her
good-natured face some indication of en-
patIaSSmeht at the question, but Mrs
Frayle's manner was undisturbed.
she went into the pantry a minute - she
answered, shaking a fieck of flour from her
apron Lay off your bunnit, Miss Polly
an sit down an taste one of nv hot mr.
cakes. This kittlefui is just ready to take
up"
Polly Anderson had anticipated the invi-
tation so far as the bonnet was concerned.
the fact that the crullers were stiu DANCING,
about on the surface Of the boiling far mad
alone prevented anticipation of this hos
pltality also. 1t was usual with her to
take things for granted, a comfortable
habit from her point of view undoubtedly
Il not from that Of those called upon to
cater to it. The people Of Barne Center
hdd' however, long ago reconciled them
selves to making the best of Polly Ander-
sons peculiarities. She was a privileged
character in her way, being the daughter of
former minister of the place. a man be
loved to an extent that made federation of
his troublesome daughter possible, even to
generation that had softening recoIlec-
lions or him. Miss Polly had been clever
III her youth. She was simply tiresone
ana sharp-tongued now, but custom still
obtained Tor her a degree OF consideration
lar IN excess of her Deserts for she made
trouble wherever she went
Jula trayle had always found it diff
CuII 10 De clVll TO the uncharitable, CEN
serious old woman. She belonged 10 a mod
eTn generation who looked at things from
the STANDPOINT OF the present, ana could
See no reason why the faults OF q daughter
should be condoned for a long-dead fathers
sake. She was now Intentionally proione-
ing her stay in the pantry. ana depIorine
its construction, which afforded bur two
means of egress, one a high window filled
with Jam pots and jelly tu1nblers the other
the door that led into Miss Polys presence
Julia! calico her aunt's voice sharply
Am t you found that sage box YETI III S
on the top shelf, next the crackers"
. una made a wry face. but yielding to
the inevitable came forth reluctantly bear
ing the unneeded sage box with her She
gave Miss Polly rather ungracious good
morning Ia11l and colored deeply when the
meanlngIy II they havored their crullers
with sage. Il don't see anything else you
KIN be gotn' to use it for, Mis- Fragile"
she added, disagreeably.
Mrs. Frayle made no answer. Her unde-
Eeloped imaginative powers had been ex-
hausted by. the subterfuge that had liber-
ated Julia from her awkward haven of ref
uge. She was unequal to a further flight
Oh fancy at that moment, and stood look
ing foolishly at her visitor, who had drawn
a chair close to the stove and was helping
that stood or It's broad apron.
Sage tea is good for the nerves." said
Julia trayle, quickly and distinctly. Aunt
Liza an L thought we'd need some by and
by, SO m goin to make it," The sight of
her good aunt standing like culprit before
Lneir unWelcome guest eXasperated her. She
had spoken lmpulsively, but felt no regret
at having done so when the words were
SAID, though she knew that Polly anderson,
so used to dealing in sharp-edged ambigu-
tiles herself, would not fail to understand
her. The little involuntary sniff that the
latter gave proved that her conclusion was
a correct one, though Miss Polly responded
only by meaningless oh"
Them nuts need turning, Aunt Liza"
said the girl, breaking the awkward pause.
Give me the fork a minute"
The dish was nearly empty now and Julia
did not gain in the good graces of Miss
Polly when, after repIenishing it, she set
1t upon q distant table, with significant
thumb intended to indicate that this sup
ply was not to be tempered with.
Mrs Frayle regarded Julia helplessly. She
was a peace-loVing woman, so averse to
giving pain that she seldom permitted her
self to utter a reproof however much one
might be needed. Julia's rude speech made
her feel very uncomfortable, and concerned
as TO its ultimate consequences as well.
L want to know what you think of my
with view to propitiating the offended
old woman. It's the best ever made, 1
think, don't you Julyie?"
Julia was spearng the crullers with an
aroused expression of countenance. Il
relenting as she saw her aunts, troubled
face, she added: You always make it bet
after it il you II watch these. They re about
ready to come out.
you" began Miss Polly before Julia had
fairly gotten out of hearing, and picking up
the cruller that Mrs. Frayle had just
dropped from the end of her fork You let
that gal run right over you. She sasses
people right an left, an seems to think
bright enough to see through her sage tea
for nerves? l amt quite fool VT, If
am poor, friendless old woman"
Her voice quivered, but it with anger,
not with sadness at the picture she had
evolved of her lonely age. The faded eyes
her heavy shoes struck the floor in series
of very energetic taps she rocked back
and forth excitedy. Mrs. Frayle did not
know what to do.
''JuIyie don't mean half what she says,
she FASTENED to interpolate alphabetically.
she's young and quick-tempered and
fghty, but you remember Mirandy Coles
she's her mother right over agin, for all the
world. I hope you won't lay II up ag1n her,
Miss Polly. l never pay no testion to her
when she's like that"
In her distress the crueller which she was
holding aloft fell back into the kettle with
a splash that sent little spatters of fat ra-
dating in all directions. Both women
screamed and jumped backward, Miss Pol
lys shawl getting entagled in her chair
So that the latter tipped over, dragging her
with it, The noise they made brought Julia
from the cellar, with a face of consterna-
ton. Mrs. Frayle had picked Miss Polly
up, and both women were satisfying them
selves by sundry pulls and shakes that she
was unhurt. The picture presented TO the
gaze of the fun-loving girl, as the two
women stood facing each other, shaking
their despatched clothing, and making fu-
tile attempts to eXtricate the shawl, ana re-
store the heavy chair 10 an upright posi-
ton was irresistible. She threw back her
pretty head, and laughed so that the room
rang.
The singing deluge. supplemented by the
laugh completed Miss Polly's discontinue.
III