The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-04-16
GOOD FRIENDS
AND TRUE.
BY ZOE ANDERSON NORRIS.
BY ZOE ANDERSON NORRIS.

Harry Ann stood on the back porch,
churnng, Her dress vas neatly tucked
away from the contact of splashing butter
milk aud her eyes rested on the blue ilecks
Of sky, showing through the leaves of a
Virginia crceper which covered the lattice;
but her thoughts were remote enough from
lecks Of sky, green leaves, or splashng
buttermlk.
Inside the dim sitting room her mother
nodded to the musical rhythm of the churn
and the bu2zing Of two flies, high on the
window pane. The needle, stuck half way
through the cross stitches in the heel Of
Mary Annes stocking, was held pefilously
close TO the gray head bending over it and
bobbing up cgain at regular intervals. The
warm, dangerous June day courted sleep,
the Chgrn dasher outside rose and fell
noaotonously, and its cadence mingled
with Mrs. Smither's dreams
Presently there came a rap OF bony
knuckles at the front door. Mrs. Smither's
head gave a final jerk upward and her
eyes blinised open. She rose and fastened
TO the door, the stocking still in her hand.
ooh, is it you, Liza?" she said, "Come
right in. l was half asleep when you
lznocked-thcse long summer days make
one SO drowsy."
Liza gave her skirts shake. cts awful
hard for people to keep clean in Kansas, "
she complained, with the wind blowing
the dust all over creation" She seated
herself and glanced smilingly ahout her.
OTIS nice in here, though she added,
"and Pm mighty glad l found you at
home because l came on special business. y
~ hope you didn't come heggn' for the
church" said Mrs. Smithers "There
amt e red cent in the house, and won't he
anil Mary Ann finishes the churnin' and
sells the butter"
That's her churnin' now, amt it?'
asked Liza.
eyes. Why"
give got somethin' to say / don't wan
her to hear, that's all" She took off he
mittens and smOothed them ont across he
lap.
Sarah" she began solemnly, after Al
awkward pause, GIVE always been goo,
friend to you, haven't l?'
"'Bout rs good as any friend Pve cot,
answered Mrs Smithcrs, with a curiou
intonation which was lost on Liza, so in
tent was she upon the subject in hand.
"Well, I've come to do you friend
turn no~." Here she paused again, anC
Mrs. Smithers, drawing her needle through
held it suspended waiting to hear
Sometimes" Liza went on, "people'
own kinsfolls is the very last ones to hea
things that : goin' on-talk, mean-an,
that amt right. II there's talk goin' on
the ones nearest of kin ought to be thu
first to hear it, Leastways, that's my
opinion. Amt it yours, Sarah?"
ct depends" said Sarah, dryly.
Liza rolled the mittens neatly together
and turned the hem Of one over both.
''Now supposin, i" she said, at a slighr
loss for words for once, THAT had q CIR
like Mary Ann
Mrs Smithsrs involuntarily started. For
second she shook as if with chill.
"Ana people was goin' round talLin
about her? wouldn't it be your duty tc
come and tell me?"
Mrs. Smithers did not reply. Hel
wnukiad face had turned pale yellow
under the tan from the Kansas winds. The
stookius had fallen into her lap
COZ course it would, " continued Liza,
''aud SO Pm goin' to tell you this, because
think you ought to know it,"