The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-07-06

1
said decidedly: 1.-The mares got to rest
up for tomorrer. guess you can foot IL
all right"
Mrs. lockers spoon fell Gathering to
her plate. There was almost relief in her
face. The red flush In Mary's face flick
cred, died out, then woke again. The
shadow of Independence day touched ber
once more.
"But, father" she said. subduing the
quaver In her voice with unusual success,
"I'd like some money.
Adam Tooker sat down suddenly In q
chair by the door-so suddenly and so
heavily that the chair, unduly weak in
constitution, succuinbed to his weight.
1t was unfortunate for poor Mary.
Money" he exclaimed, getting him
self together stiffiy "Youn your mother
are always an everlastin' ly wantin money.
I amt made of money. Where's the dol
lar give you last week?"
Last month";" Mary quietly corrected
him. Mother had to get new milk pail
with most of that and a butter mold with
the rest want this money To spend for
us-mother and me. "
"Then l guess you'll have to turn to
| an earn it. -
Adam Tooker was not a brutal man.
! There was even n secret core of unused,
rusty tenderness beneath the husk of self
ishness, but just now his shins twinged
with rheumatic pain from his fall and
his temper had him in hand.
"Oh, Mary" Lavinis Tooker remon-
strated ENORMOUSLY over the dish washing,
how'd you dare To vex your father so?
He feels the heat dreadfully, and l don't
knows he feels real we'll besides. l wish
J you hadn't done IL. "
"Motherl' Mary Tooker stood up
straight and impressive, even majestic.
Her old young, spiritless face shone with
q new light. The grace of honest indig
nation transformed it,
Mother, look at mel I'm going on
30. Do / look as If i ever'd spent cent of
fathers money on myself, as other girls
dor Do l look pretty and tasty and young?
Did l ever look soY And he says I'd better
earn some money!
The scathing of her voice burned into
her mothers heart. She spread out both
her calloused, unlovely hands and let
them speak with wordless eloquence for
her The Redeemed skin and worn nails
bore pitiful evidence of rough work.
Where's the money l have earnedY
Where's the money you've earned all this
time, mother, while you've been growing
old and stoopy and feebleY Where's our
new dresses I've earned and laces and rib
bons like other women's? Have you ever
had a nice dress in your life-everS Have
/, eitherY Where's the celebrations we've
ever been TOT Where's anything beautiful
or easy or comfortable we've ever had or
done?"
Mrs. lockers helpless tears fell. Was
poor Mary crazy?
Hush hush, dearel' she said sooth
ingly You 70 tuckered out, what with
the heat and working so stiddy. You don't
know what you re saying. You go get on
your hat-it'll sort of settle your feelings
TO walk down TO the store. Law / guess
l can make out with this little mess of
dishes-go way
At Orrs Mills the Fourth of July
dawned hotter and more breathless still
the kind of Fourth of July we have been
bred To expect if all goes we'll
Adam Tooker got an early start TO
Stratford. Tho women folks were left
with the most of the mornings chores To
do TO that end. II was long before they
were done. Then Mary disappeared in her
own room.
When she came out, half an hour or
more later, her mother fairly gasped at
the picture she made in the low, smoky
doorway. Was it Mary-Mary Ann Took
err Had she fallen asleep there in the
creaking rocker and opened her eyes in
heaven? For this was the way Mary would
look in heaven-young and sweet and
like other mothers Marys.
Mother don't you know meS" called
Mary joyfully. why, you're crying
Why, motherl"
Her mother reached out both arms to-
ward her suddenly. You look-so-
beautiful, dearie!" she almost sobbed.
Mary had lcosened her brown hair into
soft girlish curves and tendrils, and it
framed in her face with softening effect.
She had put on all her scant fnery. am
plffying and identifying it with surpris-
ing success She even had flowers in her
hair and a little bunch at her belt. But
best of all was the pretty light in her eyes
and the smiles that brought out forgot
ten, unused dimples in her cheeks. She
was young for once in her life at last
Mary Ann Tooker 20 years old.
Over her arm she had her mothers best
dress, freshly bedecked with lace rucbings
IN neck and sleeves.
Put it on, mother. Put it on quick
We mustn't lose minute. This is indie
pendence day "
All, the secret was out 1t was indie
pendence day at Orr's Mills, at Stratford,
the world over and in Mary lockers
soul.
Mrs Tooker made feeble protest: II
hadn't ought TO, Mary. 1t amt right
But Marys fingers, smoothing the thin,
straight white hair strayed out to the
wrinkled forehead and lightly rested on it.
Then Mary Ann Tooker leaned over and
kissed her mother. Dear land alive Mary
dressed her, Mrs. Tooker meekly submit
ting now. Mary fastened a few flowers
over her mothers thin breast
There now, mother, you look beauti-
full'' she said briskly. I'm going to set
| you in the parlor in the haircloth rocker
out of the sun. You're my company"
"Mary-why, Mary
Eyes, you're my company. I'm going
to open a jar of preserves for your supper
and cut the fruit cake-hush, you needn't
say word guess / can entertain my
own mother on Fourth of-on Independ-
ence day" she corrected herself quickly.
g guess so! I'm going to see If you and l
can't celebrate too. "
But Mary
II was going to get a bunch of fire.