The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-28
ON the New Orleans Times-Democrat.

the birds sang In the woodland, the
bees hummed over the wayside flow
ers, the crops fipened on the hillside;
within was the staid tick-tocs of the
clock, the whirr Of the sewing md
chine In the mature beauty Of Au-
gust, as is the heartening freshness Of
April, the gracious serenity Of Octo-
Der, the icy isolation of January, life
kept for the Misses Dudd the even ten
or of it's way.
The Misses Dudd sat silent in the lit
tie front room, which did double duty
as parlor and chamber. What, indeed,
was there to say? If Miss Ria put out
her hand. Miss Malvina handed her the
thread; if Miss Malvina left her seat,
Miss Ria made room at the machine
And so on through the daily routine.
But today there was a suppressed ex-
element in Miss Ria's handling of the
needle and shipping Of hastings At
last she spoke.
Them tickets for the excursion to
the Springs Sa'day are mighty cheap
Just a dollar for the round trip. Mrs
Green says we ought to go by all
means in the world"
That's just what Cousin Luel!a
says" rejoined Miss Malvina "She
means both her girls to go. She ran
get our recipe for mixed pickles.
It's early to make them pickles. I
always like to do it late SOS to save
my green tomatoses from frost"
Cousin Luella never did have much
economy about her. Now she'll take
that 81 out of her purse a'day morn
ing and give it to them girls, and
sa'day night them girls will be back
at home same as ever and the 81 gone
That's fact" assented Miss Ria
The machine ratified along, one seam
after another
"There!" said Miss Ria, as she meas
ured off facing; tits well under way
This is just Monday. If we work
peart and steady we en- finish these
dresses by Thursday-or Friday, any
way. And there's the money in hand
What with our eggs and butter, we
might go to the springs, too, if we've a
mind to-
Yes" said Miss Malvina, "orly it
would look like a pity to spend so
much money in a lump that way
That's So" agreed Miss Ria.
There was silence again. The ma
chine needle sped across facing
breedths
Would you cut this ruffle straight
or bias, sister?" asked Miss Ria.
1.-THE bias hangs better, but it's more
wasteful. That goods won't more'n
allow for it straight. Miss Norah al
ways buys a skinny pattern. Yours
on your plaid skirt hangs well. Now
that would look nice for you to wear
to the springs Sa'day, and if you didn't
choose to put on your waist like you
could wear your pink and tam
Miss Ria nodded. And you could
put on your brown skirt with that light
blue waist" A quarter of a century
before Miss Malvina had had a peach
h1Nnyp1 4 IN, CIT
to the delicate hues which had then
been her prerogative. But it looks
extravaganza to be traipsing round the
country in our best fiXings"
That's the TRUTH admitted Miss
Malvina, and the machine started
again.
The clock struck 10. Miss Malvina
drew her scissors from the breadth of
dress goods into which she was about
to plunge them, and carefully folding
her work, laid 1T on the foot of the
bed.
You'll need to scrape the ashes out
before you start the, fire, sister," said
Miss Ria, and when you feed the
chickens count the gray hens. 1 saw
a hawk round this morning. They're
all going to take enacks. There's the
young Dominecky ROSTERS we've laid
off not to keep. We might fry one Of
them. And we could make sponge
cake. I don't know as we could spare
for a butter cake" '.e
1T would look like a pity to eat our
chickens when they're selling SO we'll
now"
so 'twould," said Miss Ria, and Miss
Malvina set about dinner.
AS they ate their midday meal Miss
Malvina spoke medftatively. "The train
leaves before Z, and It's two good miles
to the depot. We couldn't foot it of a
morning through the heavy dew. Now,
we might have Aza take us over in the
cart, and at night we could turn our,
skirts UP and walk back with just
Lucindy Ann" 80
Yes, but it's mighty unsatisfactory
getting Aza and Lucindy Ann to 90
for us. They won't trade; they want
cash down for everything
That's the way Of it." said Miss
Malvina.
It was Miss Ria who picked up the
thread of discourse some hours later
as if 1T had been dropped NO longer
than the spool Of cotton She stopped
to catch.
II reckon we'd better see Lucindy
Ann and Aza this EVENING" she said,
and let Mrs. Green know we want our
tickets with the others.
the guests at the springs struggling
from the dining rooms. Feeble old
gentlemen and handsome ladies turned
their steps according to custom toward
the spring; trim, shir-t-waisted girls
grouped picturesquely under the trees:
young men, immaculate In white duck,
gravitated toward feminine att1ac-
lions; some young folks sought the
bowling alley, the tennis court claimed
others, and a few enthusiastic wheel
men defled the August sun. A little
later the guests would take wing for
mountain or seashore, but now fashion
and pleasure held undtsputed sway at
this old aristocratic resort. But upon
the day fell a shadow.
co." said a girl. dolorously, there
is another picnic crowd from the coun-
try 1 wonder Maj. Lightford allows
them to come here"
Painfully conscious of themselves
and their spectators, the picnickers
wandered ON. They halted first at the
far-fa1ned spring, whose virtues lured
wealth and fashion to this out-of- the
way corner. The two or three loiterers
drew aside, a triae scornfully it ifs to
be feared, as the rustic procession filed
up and each member Of them, eyes set
in the cup, drained its contents.
Him." calculated Miss Ria, pursuing
disbasteful bps, "it's got a kinder queer
taste to it. For all people talk SO
much about it, the water right there
at our back door is better"
Yes" said Miss Malvbna, that's
prime water. Whew! how this does
smell!''
They strolled on till a tennis game
gave them pause. There was fas-
cination in the swift play of the balls,
but the plIaSeOlogy of the game was