The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-20

had on it's prtm Afternoon dress, an
possible hint OF Clicking knitting
needles drew the visitor unoonsciousi,
toward the sitting room.
Mrs. Andrew Gamble sat there knit
ting in the still, dark room, She CAV,
a little start as Mrs. Carter entered.
"Oh," che said, in q low voice, "Tn
real glad to see you, Mrs. Carter
No, don't take that chair-that's AN
drew's, and l can't bear it. Thi
your shawl, do"
u had to come over, Marietat-,
seemed as II must. l couldn't beal
the thought Of your sitting here al
alone. wish [ could help you--C
Marietta, wish could %
Mrs. Gamble looked up from hel
knitting quickly. Yes, it is lone
some with Andrew gone, +" she said
quietly. She was a slight, sweet-facet
woman, and the loose wisps Of hair
turning gray, curlsd around her face
For very little space neither OF the
women spoke. The subdue(; creak o
their rockers sang q dirge In ths
VISITORS ears. She was wondering how
Marietta could knit stockings, and
look 80 composed, and curl her hair
Still she had bon crying. Her eyes
looked reddoned.
Then the visitor spoke In q SHARP
whisper, drawling the words out
solemnly. Wasn't it dreadful sud
done Marietta ?'
| "Yes, it was sudden. Still, I'd been
expecting rs likely as not it might
happen. He's never boon real hearty"
mo ?" 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
coming home after long trip"
| Another pause, and another stanza
OF the creaking dirge.
"When did--it happen. Marietta ?"
whispered Mrs. Luther Carter then.
"Tnree o'clock this morning, or q
few minutes past. We were up all
night with him. didn't get wink
Of sleep.'
Poor child " Mrs. Cartor softly
patted the knitting needles. Did
did-he suffer much ?"
"No, guess not. That was q
mercy. He didn't seem TO sense any
thing all night. We did everything
We know how for hlm-averyt thing.
Laudanum didn't seem to do any good"
! She began to cry suddenly. Was
80 fond OF him :" she sobbed, APOLOGIZE.
L caliIy;v v 40. 10 ouu M.r,0t,.,,,,
n 20 you good. You ought to cry. ltS
a a morcy you can"
~ "I don't know how we're going to
~ get along without him, Mrs. Carter. }.
It's great loss to the neie hbor'
hood. We all feel IT," Mrs. Carter
~ murTured. Luther and ! wore oil
~ ~ struck in heap. He read it in the
10 paper Just think Of our finding It Out
~ in the newspaper !"
i Mrs. Gamble lifted her dropping
> head with an air OF solemn pride
,. Yes" she said, "they put It In the
papor right sway. l didn't s'pose they
would in to days, but they're dreadful
q smart about getting things in. Wher
' Andrews Uncle Andrew died, they
a got that into the morning paper, too.
1t was warm In the room, and Mrs
u Carter took up a paper from the tabl
"a to fnu herseli She folded IT neatl
y and set it waving with slow, stead
strokes.
o. "Whon are you goin to-to~-whe
| will you-bury him, Marietta ?" sh
nt asked at length, gravoly.
~ work. "Oh, We buried him this mornin
- as soon 40 twas real light. We though
VS. %iSht SS wSdl Sdl So 50 i Bad S when t~, %
IT, Ovor.'
ly "Wby, Mrs. Gamble Why, | neve
" hoard OF such thing In my born day
=. / mover !" She spread out the newl
" paper Zen IL abstracted agitation, an
70 stared at it abscntly. Her face OK
! ! HrSGSI,i
- horror
A. Suddenly her eye fell on one OF tn
h ltcms in tho paper. She read |
n hastily Oncotwico Then she glance,
q at the papers date. 1t was the morn
It Ing paper, and the notice In 1t was O
tho "lamontablo loss our respectel
d townsman, Andrew Gamble, has sus
,. tanned this mOrning--as we 90 to pres
.c in tho death of his valuable ant
" pcttcd chestnut horse" etc, etc.
Mrs. Luther Carter crumpled tn
10 paper IN her fingers and rose. "Well
@ Marietta, | must be going. I'm rea
sorry for you and Andrew, but tain
d as II twas one OF the family gone, yo
d know. Goodby."
She wont rapidly home, and findin
y tho borrowed paper, thrust 1t int
I Luther's hand unceremoniously, poin
ing to the date. For the first tim
t they noticed that 1t was old and tim,
l stained, and exhaled a faint must
odor. They had read its mention
the death Of Andrew CANDLES uncle.
d Luther Carter read and re-read til
date. Then no got up and went out
). the house.
Whom at supper-time he came bacl
l. he remarked briefly to Cyrus as /
went through the kitchen:
:. " Ivo subscribed for tho newspape
@ myself, Cyry, 80 guess you won't nee
8 to go borrowing any moro"
0 IHNT ORIGINAL SIN=PrOhahlv Oh