River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-04-14

wonder why Molly's hand trembled so
when she poured the tea. Then, he
could not help noticing that there was
a little pink spot on each of Molly's
cheeks, which were unnaturally white
otherwise.
When he did notice these things,
though, he "made such fuss about it, !"
as Molly herself said, that she had at
last made up her mind that she must do
something about ii to keep peace in the
family
just then a dear friend came quite OPP
portunely to the rescue, and sent Molly
such a warm invitation to come out into
the country for a week or two, that
John had said he would carry her away
bodily if she did not go peaceably.
Dear Cynthia" so the letter began,
ard thus it ended.
The stage drew up at the door, and
the driver came down to help some one
out.
"Who in the world"
Molly's dream of the country few
away on eagle wings, as she looked out
of the open window at the little old
woman, who was slowly trying to get
her feet down on the walk.
mo one | ever saw, anyway. Prob
ably she has made mistake; but I'll
go down and talk with her a minute. !
can write my letter all right after l
come back"
It was clipper, bright-eyed, old
lady, who took hold of Mary's arm to
steady herself from the stage.
"Arc you Johns wife?" she queried,
peering into the sweet, young face,
when at last she stood on the walk.
"Yes, yes. I would have known you
from the picture he sent me. You don't
know me, but l do you. I'm Aunt
Leafy."
Molly had heard John speak of her.
'Well, Aunt Leafy, We are glad to see
you; that is, 1 am, and know John will
be, too"
do you really think he will? don't
know about II; don't know about it. ]
ain't much account in the world any
more, seems to me. I'll just hold on TO
your arm a little as we go along, just to
Study me. I'm gittin' old and shaky.'
Wen all be so some day, maybe,
Aunt Ieafy. You lean just as hard as
you have a mind to, and we'll get along
all right. I'm good and strong, and
thankful for it."
"Be We? Well, we all ought to be
thankfuller than we be. l don't often
complain; but settin' cramped up in
that old stage so long l got kind of stiff.
/ m, al
smart for one of my age. You know
no you don't, either, but III tell We.
I'm in my eighty-ninth year. Born in
the year 1906, in Connecticut state"
What a long time ago!"
And Molly looked down at the wrin-
killed. face Would she ever live to be as
old? If she did, would she not need
help, too?
Yes; it does seem a good while. An
I've seen good deal in my day. What
a pretty house you've got! ! shall en-
JOY it here, know. An this porch;
what nice, deep one, and so shady.
ANYBODY could sit down there and rest
to their hearts content"
1--WE think our home is a pleasant
one, Aunt Leafy."
They were now in the CHEEKY west
room. How still and cool it was. Aunt
Leafy slowly took off her old, old bon
net; old in fashion and old in material,
and the thin, gray shawl, and dropped
into the easy chair which Molly drew
forward. Molly brought out a fan,
which Aunt Leafy used quite vigorous
" for a moment, and then dropped
into her lap.
you wonder how I came TO visit you
without askin', l cont doubt; but I'll
tell you kind of gradual. l don't feel
like sayin' much about it now. 1t hurts
me when l think of it."
Then l wouldn't think of it, Aunt
Leafy."
81 can't help it, child can't help it;
and want to tell We all about it some
time, you an John. What d good boy
John is! Always was. So different
from Ciliab; that was his half-brother,
older than him. Ciliab himself was
pretty good boy; but arter he got mar
RED someway he changed. 1t does
work that way with some men. guess
it's cause they git wimmen that don't
help 'em any. Nobody can ever say
that about me. / always done my part, |
if do say it."
Il don't doubt it, Aunt Leafy."
"Ciliab's wife had such temper!
She / a good deal TO put up with
nine children, ana me in the bargain.
You don't wonder she got cross some
times, do We? nor l, neither. But if that
had ben all, l never should have said
a word. Ye see, when Josiah-that's !
my husband-died, he left me quite
little property. We was always careful
an savin', an / done my part. After he
was gone, there didn't seem to be any
where for me to go but to Ciliab's.
knew it was goin' to be quite an under
takin' for them to have such an old
woman as be in the family, and so did
Ciliab's wife. An she limited two or
three times that it would be worth a
good deal to look arter me. Finally she
limited so strong that / told Ciliab if
he'd take what money | had an take
care of me the rest of my days. I'd make
it over to him. My! didn't Ciliab's wife
Jump at that! She didn't let him sleep
till the papers was all made out. /
thought | had done the best l could;
but l was always ready to go on an
help what l could around the house, |
into the bargain. never could sit still |
and let somebody else do the work.
You'll find that out"
''But we won't let you do anything |
unless you want to, Aunt Leafy."
"All right; we'll leave it just that /
way. But 1 was goin' to say: OF all /
the unlucky men you ever seed, Ciliab |
beat all. Why, everything went wrong. |
Holes would come in his barn floor,
an the horses an cattle would fall |
an break their legs, so that
he had to kill 'em toput 'em cut of their
misery. / used to think it would be
cheaper to Sx up the holes, beforehand; |