The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-11-24

addin'. You wouldn't 'er known the
story by Sunday, they'd put so many
frills and furbelows to it."
She looked hard at Mrs Smithers,
searching in her stony features for
some slight encouragement to proceed,
but, finding none, she proceeded any.
way.
Now. seein' I'Di your best friend,
Sarah. l thought u would be a kind
ness 10 come and tell you what they
were sayin'. 1t seemed sort of pitiful
Ike to hear everybody talkin' about
Mary Ann. and you smilin' around
unbe1nownst-smilin' maybe at the
very people what was doin' the worst
talkin."
She fidgeted n moment, while the
sound of the churn filed up the ST.
lence.
'As 1 said to Jane Hawkins" she
wound up lameiy, at wasn't right.
If nobody else would come and tell
you, | said, l would"
Mrs. Smithers cleared her throat.
II see by the mornin' paper" she
said. that's wheat's gone up. Thatll
be n good thing for Kansas-that is,
if the railroads don't charge morn it's
worth to haul it away. This ought
to be a good year for Kansas with
such big wheat crops and the corn so
fine"
"Hes; the corn's fine enough right
now,' retorted Liza, "but there's no
telling what it'll be before the sea-
sons over Like as not the hot winds
will kill it, or the chinch bugs'll eat
it all up"
She tipped speck of dust from
her sleeve and took up the old sub
ject where she had left off.
IF l was a lone widder with one
daughter and people was talkin'
about her, I'd thank somebody to come
and tell me. That's what l would
do
II try not to think of the chnch-
bugs" said Mrs. Smithers. IF they
come, let 'em come. Any way, half
crop in Kansas is better than whole
crop in any other state. That's what
bit Win NunSSiS. lltE oWu
people run her down."
Liza suddenly left her chair and
stood erect. her starched skirts rust
ling with Indignation.
You're queer creature, Sarah
Smithers," she said. You never were
like other people, and you never will
be, l guess. When friend comes to
do you a kindness you amt got n civil
word in your head for her. This is the
last time I'll go out of my way to ac-
commodate you-the very last time"
Mrs. Smithers remained seated.
you'll excuse me not gon' to the
door with you, hope" said she, with
out offering any special reason for not
doing so; and her visitor flaunted out
of the house and down the walk alone,
heedlessly brushing against the inof-
fenslve rows of phlox and sweet will.
liams as she went.
When the gate had closed upon her
with loud click, Mrs. Smithers rails
ed her head and listened for the sound
of the churn. 1t had ceased.
MARY Ami! she called softly.
'Ma'am," answered Mary Ann from
the pantry where shs stood, moulding
a shining pat of butter.
Come here a minute"
Mary Ann printed clover leaf on
the butter, laid it on a plate, and ap-
peared in the doorway, holding it out
upon the palm of her hand.
Look ut this" she said, "ain't it
yellow rs gold?'
Yes" smiled her mother, -but put
it down and come here
She put the plate on the table and
approached her mother, her face
flushed with the exercise of her work.
She knelt down by her.
There's something l want to tell
YOU" she said, clasping the old wo-
mans waist with her strong young
arms, and throwing back her sunny
head with an estate gesture, her eyes
aglow.
Wait" said Mrs. Smithers. Maybe
l can guess what it is. Let me seew
She pondered, her finger on her lip.
Saturday night you and Charley Sui
livan were out driving along in the
shadow of the trees. You were driv-
ing towards Mulvane. He asked you
to be his wife and you said you would.
What naughty girl, to promise with
out her mothers CONSENT Just then
you drove out of the shadow into the
moonlight, and he threw his arms
around you-and kissed your
The girl smiled and dimpled.
why, mother!' she cried. "How did
you know"
I'm mind reader" Mrs. Smthers
answered; then, seeing the puzzled
look on Mary AIMS face, she added:
mo, dear, I'm not n mind reader, but
I've got so many friends-good, true
friends who come and tell me things
they think l ought to know"
II hear one of them coming now."
said Mary Ann, rising from her knees.
aNntI IN fha doc, ,,o,l,.,