The silver lance., 1899-06-02
Borrowed News.

We'll, l guess you stopped to print
it on hand-press. 1 don't know where
In the world you take your slowness
from" Mr.. Luther Carter recrossed
the room to his easy chair, adjusting
his spectacles on the way. His mo-
tions were all deliberate, and suggested
a probably reason for little CYRUS
slowness.
Mrs. Luther Carter glanced up de-
precatingly from her mending. Now,
Luther" she said, with meek disap-
probation in her voice Now, Luther.
you haven't been borrowing Andrew
Bamble's newspaper again?"
That's hitting the nail higher on
the head than you ever did before,
Jane Ellen"
But you borrowed it yesterday,
Luther, and day before. and day be-
fore that"
And day before that-keep her a.
goin, Jane Ellen. 1 guess you can go
as far back as the food" Mr.. Carters
laugh cackled unmelodiously behind
the paper
But it's dreadful mol.tifying to me-
Luther, anyway. 1t does seem as II We
might take newspaper ourselves, and
lend instead of borrow, a spell. Then
we'd see how it feels"
One spectacled eye appeared above
the papers rim, followed shortly by
its mate. Little Mrs. Luther withered
under them. She fumbled for new
needle, clicking the scissors and spools
together nervously. She had never
ventured upon so bold a. suggestion be-
fore, and already was deeply repentant.
Jane Ellen, you better darn those
stockings, and l guess you can do it
easier if you keep your lips shut-to."
In at the open windows stole pleasant,
fower-sweetened watts of summer air.
Incessant, keen insect voices buzzed
and clicked and sang. Within, for
while, there was no sound but the
gentle crackle of Andrew CANDLES
newspaper; then Luther Carter spoke
with gruff attempt at apologetic good
humor.
when I'm in Andrews luck. and
the uncle 1 never had and wasn't nam
ed after dies and leaves me a pretty
little mess of money, I'll take the
DdDeT, Jduc 6uOoo VII SAN~A
twon't hurt Andrew If l do borrow
his"
THAT was a good while ago. l
should have thought Andrew'd spent 1t
all long ago, Luther, building barns
and things as he did"
Luther Carter suddenly laid down
the paper. He gave startled cry.
my rood land, what is it, Luther? :?
You look all struck in a heap" ex-
claimed his wife.
Hes dead, Jane Ellen"
Who's dead?" Her voice rose shrill
and anxious.
Andrew is-Andrew Gamble! He
died this morning-'as we go to press,
1t says There's a black mark all
round the notice. I guess Marietta was
thinking to send it to Johns folks. 1t
clean takes my breath away"
Andrew Gamble dead! I can't be-
lieve it, Luther-it isn't possible! l
guess we shouldn't have to find it out
in the newspaper"
well, read it for yourself, then.
Jane Ellen"
They huddled over the paper, read
ing the lines together with scared, dis
tressed faces. 1t was a small sheet,
whose local columns stood out, boldly
prominent. 1t was the only daily pa
per in the thrifty town of $.
Andrew Gamble dead! Andrew
Gamble, Why, he lived just house
or two beyond. How could he die and
they not know it at once? But there
1t was "As we go to press, the pain
full news reaches us of the sudden
death of our much-esteemed and we'll
known citizen, Andrew Gamble. 1t is
too late to obtain particulars OF the
sad event for today's issue"
! Luther Carter went to the door and
called "Cyry! Cyry!" imperatively.
cyrus shuffied slowly in and sat on the
edge of a chair, awed by the solemnity
in his parents faces.
/ "Cyry, did you see An-did you see
the folks when you went to borrow the
paper?"
Mrs. Carter groaned softly and wiped
her ewes on Cyrus undarned sock.
/ "Nope-guess there wasn't anybody
at home. 1t looked all kind Of shut
up. ..D;a,.
! Mrs. Carter groaned again. Dldn
Won see anybody, Cyry?" persisted
Iuther. Now you think real hard
Who came to the door,"
Nobody did. I walked in, after l'o
kept knocking while.
"But who gave you the newspaper
Cvry? Now you think"
Cyrus began to look embarrassed un-
dor this fire OF mysterious questions.
"WeIl, nobody gave me the paper.
/ +oot II It's always lying on the
table. waiting to be taken. l guess
Mrs CANDLES got sick Of getting 1t for
me-: and last time she told me to go
into the sitting-room and get 1t my
self I had to hunt all round. 1t was
,,nder the sofa. Say, pa, why don
r4npry'