The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-07-06
- talked it o-vr and he figured it up

10 talked it o.vr and he figured it up
and
''jood heavens, Esther!'' cried Giles,
too vexed to listen further, Il never
knew such gadfiy as you are. You get
an idea in your head and harp on it
eternally. Door! Door! Door!' You
can't think or talk anything else; and
now, after all the barn has cost and the
necessity for economy, one would think
you would have some common sense.
But, you are a Royal"
He sneered as if thus branding her
signified that her people had been ex-
travagant and wasteful. Then, noting
the quivering of her lips and the tears.
welling beneath her lids, he was more
angered than ever and went on irately:
For 40 years my mother used that
kitchen and never heard her complain.
but some women want the world, and
having that would cry for the moon.
Don't you say door to me again."
She turned away without word and
went down the hill to the orchard bars.
She wiped her eyes before she took up
the apples and trudged back 10 the
house. The girls must not see the
tears.
"Mother is long time picking APP
ples," said Ella Hewitt, as she frosted
a tempting cake just baked for the
picnic.
/ Probably pa has called her to tag
him about the barn. said Ria, who was
deftly slcing pink ham for sandwiches.
THAT barn is the hub of his universe
| Just now-has been for six months. He
houses his cattle better than his women
folks. Isn't this o fine, light, airy,
handy kitchen?" "Very, for a man of
his MEANS" said Ella, vexedly. "I'm
just ashamed of such gloomy, un-
handy little pen. See the walls-rough
boards that it never pays to clean. two
miserable, tiny windows, stuck so high
up you can't see out of them, and cell
lar trap door in the middle that takes
up good quarter of the room; no wa
ter brought in; and thesvell way down
in front of the house; not a single con-
venience to make work handler or
easier, and poor mother has had to put
up with it all these years! Why doesn't
pa have that door cut through for her ?''
| She shrugged her pretty shoulders.
'Say, do tell me if this ham is thin
enough. I want my sandwiches to be
frst-class."
Giles Hewitt was distinctly taciturn
at the dinner table that noon, and in
view Of his lowering countenance the
meal proceeded in unpleasant silence
Immediately after dinner he made
ready to drive to Hoyt with a load OF
grain. 1t was second nature for Esther
to anxiously wait on him when he
dressed to go anywhere. She always
put out his clothes, brushed them, tied
his cravat, saw that he had clean
handkerchief, but to-day he told he1
coldly to go about her work. he would
help himself. Presently he came into
the kitchen where she was washing tht
dishes to blacken his shoes. Phew, how
hot it was, and how dark that little cor
ner where the cracked square of look
ing glass hung, before which she fun
bled with his cravat!
Esther stood at the sink with hel
back to him, and just opposite the traI
door was white cross chalked on tn,
! rough wall boards, marking the spo
! where she wanted the outer door cut
Somehow the sight OF the innocen
a mark angered him again. She seemed
: to have chalked it for purpose. ant
= he went out, slamming the door child
iishly.
Presently the girls came in all in
J fiutter, looking very pretty and daint.
t in their simple lawns and big hats ant
!. quite overfowing with the pleasurabl
e Lanticipations of youth.
ut was shame, mother, to leave yO'
;. in this hot place to do the dishes alone,
!. said Ria, penitently, but we had t
s make ready. See, the Warmer boy
iare driving in the gate now" The.
a kissed her and fluttered out, and sh
u followed to take look, a fond, prou
d look after them as they rode away wit
!, their cavaliers.
It 1t was almost insufferably hot tina
8 afternoon; the mercury mounted high
T er and higher in the tube on the stoop
g the fowls went with dropping wing
e and gaping beaks; the cattle sough
IS grateful shade and rnminated in sha
t low pools; the house dog dug gray
b behind the currant bushes, in which b
" lay painting with lolling tongue; vegs
tation shriveled and wilted; the cart
/ was cracked and baked; but by and b
y clouds gathered in the west and gust
a OF wind capriciously swirled the dui
" and caught up sticks and straws in {
8, fin dances. An old farmer driving b
d called to q man digging ditch in
r field: II guess the dry spell is broker
A shower is coming up"
1t A gloom almost appalling settled Q
b, the landscape; the bees flew to the
r hives; the cattle snorted and race
le about, frightened at the rolling I
lie thunder and the shooting of javelir
ot Of fire from the jagged clouds.
T. There was going in the treetops,
or strange, distant murmur of millions
raindrops advancing with the swiftne'
" Of mighty host.
l tsvl fSSr~. H..