The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-04-16
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fore she began again.
las near as | can make out" she said
"it was this way. Jake Saunders was
comin' along the road from Mulvane Sat
urday night think it was, yes, Pm sure
it was Saturday highland he saw two
young people drivin' towards him in q
buggy in the shadow OF the trees Ii was
bright moonlight, you know, and when
they come out from under the shadow the
young fellow threw his arms around the
girls neck and kissed her! Kissed her
right there in the moonlight where Jake
Saunders could see, where anybody could
'er seen what had a mind to look! Why,
in the name OF common sense didn't he
kiss her when they were in the shadow of
the trees? That's what I'd like to know.
Sarah that young fellow was Charlie Sui.
livan, and the giIl-well, the girl was
Mary ANN
Mrs. Smithers had mechanically taken
up her work, and was slowly running the
long needle through the heel OF Mary AIMS
stocking. She pressed the threads down
with her thumb nail and shipped off stray
end with her scissors. Her face was emo
tion!ess as il carved in stone, but the
fingers that held the scissors trembled a
very little.
''lou know Jake Saunders" Liza went
on. Gle can't keep nothin'. That was
Saturday night, and before mornin the
whole town was alive with it. Everybody
knew it, even the little children. Such
things 20 like wild fire once they get
started, and the worst of it is, they keep
addin' and addin'. You wouldn't Ter
known the story by Sunday, they'd put so
many frills and furbelows to it,"
She looked hard at Mrs. Smithers, search.
ing in her stony features for some slight
encouragement to proceed, but, finding
none, she proceeded anyway. "Now,
seem I'm your best friend, Sarah,
thought it would be kindness to come
and tell you what they were sayin'. 1t
seemed sort of pitiful-like to hear every
body talkin' about Mary Ann, and you
smilin' around unbeknowpst -smiln'
maybe at the very people what was dom
the worst talSin'."
She fidgcted moment, while the sound
OF the churn filed up the silence. Gas
said to Jane Hawkins" she wound III
lamely, 'it wasn't right. II nobody else
would come and tell you, said, would. -
Mrs. Smithers cleared her throat" see
by the mornin' paper" said she, that
whcat's gone up. Thatli be q good thing
for kansasthat is, if the railroads DONE
charge more'n it's worth to haul it away.
This ought to be good year in Kansas
with such big wheat crops and the corn SC
fine"
yes, the corn's fine enough right now
retorted Liza, "but there's no tellin' what
ISL be before the seasons over. Like as
not the hot winds will kill it, or the chinch
bugsl il eat it all up"
She Tipped speck OF dust from her
sleeve and took up the old subject where
she had left off. "lf | was a lone widdeI
with one daughter, and people was talkin'
about her, I'd thank somebody to come
and tell me. That's what l would do"
81 try not to think Of the chinch bugs -
said Mrs Smithers. "If they come, let
'em come. Anyway, half a crop in Kan.
sas is better than whole crop in any other
State. That's what's the matter with Kan
sas. Her own people run her down"
Liza suddenly left her chair and stood
erect, her staIched skirts rustliDg with in
| dignGtion. YOU'RE queer creature,
Sarah Smithers," she said "Nou never
were like other people and you never will
he, guess. When friend comes to do
you kindness, you amt get a civil word
in your head for her, This is the last time
I'll so out Of my way to accommodate you
the very last timen'
( Mrs. Smthers remained seated. "You'l
excuse my not goin' to the door with you,
hope, - said she, without offering any
special reason Tor not doing so; and her
visitor Haunted out Of the house and down
the walk alone, heedIe,sly brushing against
the inoifen9iva rows of phlox and sweet
williams as she went.
When the gate had closed upon her with
a loud click, Mrs. Smithers raised her head
and listened Tor the sound of the churn. 1t
had ceased.
Mary Ami" she called softly.
'Ma'am, answered Mary Ann from the
pantry where she stood, moulding a shin.
sng pet Of butter.
Come here 4 minute"
Mary Ann printed clover leaf on the
butter, laid it on plate, and appeared in
Tie doorway, holding it out upon the palm
OF her hand Look at this" she paid,
"aint it yellow as gold?"
Yes, smiled her mother, "but put it
down and come here"
She put the plate on the table and ap-
preached her mother, her face flushed with
the exercise Of her work. She knelt down
by her
There's something want to tell you,"