The silver star., 1899-06-02

AAO " "a -oPAt60S0 0tCb0s AC0t RSo0
I'd better put on black dress. Is'pose
so. out of respect for Marietta's feel
ings."
soberly begowned and shawled, Mrs.
Carter a few minutes later, tapped
gently at the Gamble back door. She
noticed that the blinds were nearly all
closed and the shades down. An air
Of hushed solemnity brooded over all
things, animate and inanimate, in the
small dooryard
Poor Andrews choice Plymouth
with dropping tail-feathers. To Mrs.
Carter's sensitive ear, even the old
cocks growing had a doleful, drawn
out wall in 1t.
She tapped again softly. Nobody re-
sponded. Then adjusting the corners
Of her mouth to appropriate droops.
she stole gently into the kitchen.
There was no one there. The little
room had on Its prim afternoon dress,
and looked unsocial and stif. The
faintest possible hint OF clicking knit
ting-needles drew the visitor uncon-
sciously toward the sitting-room.
Mrs. Andrew Gamble sat there knit
ting in the still, dark room. She gave
little start as Mrs. Carter entered.
"Oh," she said, In a low voice, I'm
real glad to see You, Mrs. Carter No,
don't take that chair-that's Andrews,
and can't bear 1t. This rockers cas-
Ter to your back. Undo your shawl,
do"
II had to come over. Mariett-seem-
ed as II I must couldn't bear the
thought Of your sitting here all alone.
l wish l could help you-O Marietta, l
wish 1 could"
Mrs. Gamble looked up from her
knitting quickly. "Yes, 1t is lonesome
with Andrew gone," she said. quietly.
She was slight, sweet-faced woman,
and the loose wisps Of hair, turning
gray, curled prettily around her face.
For very little space neither Of the
women spoke. The subdued creak OF
their rockers sang dirge in the visit
or's ears. She was wondering how
Marietta could knit stockings, and look
SO composed, and curl her hair! Still,
she had been crying. Her eyes looked
reddened.
Then the visitor spoke In sharp
whisper, drawing the words out SOL
emnly. Wasn't 1t dreadful sudden,
Marietta"
"Yes, 1t was sudden. Still, I'd been
expecting as likely as not 1t might
happen. He's never been real hearty" !"
"No?" Mrs. Carter assented, with a
doubtful. upward infection. Andrew
had looked hearty. very.
Ever since he sprained his knee
joint last fall he's been ailing especial
ly; It seemed to use him up"
II never noticed that he limped."
Well. he did, going uphill and COM
ing home after long trip"
Another pause, and another stanza
Of the creaking dirge.
when did-it happen, Marietta?"
whispered Mrs. Luther Carter then.
Three o'clock this morning. or a
few minutes past. We were up all
night with him. I didn't get q wink
OF Sleep"
Poor childw Mrs. Carter softly pat
ted the knitting-needles. "Did-did-
he suffer much?"
mo. I guess not. That was . mercy.
He didn't seem to sense anything all
night. We did everything we knew
how for him-everything. Laudanum
didn't seem to do any good" She be-
gan to cry suddenly. II was 30 fond Of
him!" she sobbed, apologetically.
Eyes, yes, do cry, Marietta-it'll do
you good. You ought to cry. It's q
mercy you can"
II don't know how we're going to get
along without him. Mrs. Carter"
Its a great loss to the neighbor-
hood. We all feel IT," Mrs. Carter mur-
INJURED. Luther and were all stuck
in q heap. He read It in the paper.
Just think Of our finding 1t out In the
newspaper"
Mrs. Gamble lifted her dropping head
with an air Of solemn pride. "Yes.'
she said. "they put It In the paper right
away. didn't s'pose they would in
today's. but they're dreadful smart
about getting things in. When An
drew's Uncle Andrew died, they got
that into the morning paper. too"
II was warm In the room. and Mrs.
Carter took up a paper from the table
to fan herself. She folded It neatly
and set It waving with slow. steady
strokes.
when are you goin to-to-when
will you-bury him. Marietta?" she
asked at length. gravely.
Mrs. Gamble took up knitting work.
'Oh. We buried him this morning a.
soon a. twas real light. We thought
we might as well get It done with. and
we wouldn't feel SO bad when twas
over"
"Why. Mrs. Gamble! Why. never
heard Of such thing In my born days
Il never!" She spread out the news
paper fan In abstracted agitation. and
stared It II absently. Her face ex-
pressed the utmost amaxement and
horror.
Suddenly her eye fell on one Of the
items In the paper. She read II hastily
once-twice. Then she glanced at the