Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-05-24
MERCY FOOTE'S
RECONSTRUCTION.

A RUG pathway meandered from
"a the kitchen door to the parlol
Il \ door, with ramifications on eth
ef side to chairs and sofa and table
Square rugs and round rugs and oblong
octagonal, oval rugs filled up all the
chinks. There was scarcely a square
inch of the carpet visible anywhere.
The two or three ambrOtypes anO
steel engravings in solemn black wal
nut frames We're befogged behind wells
Of mosquito netting. The comfortable
looking lounge was draped in crisp
clean newspapers to protect the new
covering underneath. The face of the
clock on the mantel looked out coyly
through its veil of netting.
1t was dim and cool in the big, clean
room-and empty They sat in the
kitchen or. on especially hot evenings
out on the porch. There was so much
danger of flies in the sitting room, and
dust and sun-fading and all sorts OF
dreadful things, especially in dog days.
II was dog days now.
Mercy Foote was upstairs in the un
finished chamber. resting; but 1t was
so hot and so close that even to rest
was hard work. She never dreamed of
going into one of the spotless, speckles'
chambers and "mussing up" one Of the
white, plump beds. Mercy Foote was a
very neat woman-sOme Of the neigh
bors openly called her ''p'ison neat"
About midway of the afternoon Nath.
an FoOte came up through the orchard
from the hay field. He walked very
slowly, as il it hurt him. Every min
ute or two he mOpped his bald. shiny
head with his handkerchief and drew
long, tired breaths. Nathan was almost
an old mana good deal older than
Mercy.
He had been working hard all day,
and every individual old muscle felt
strained and sore; and how his back
ached! 1t was a rather long way, too,
up to the house.
Mercy put her lips to the window
screen and called sharply to him when
he came into sight round the corn
house.
Nathan, go in through the stable"
she called, "and mind you slide the door
to real quick behind you! I've been
out there fy-powdering. 1 don't want
to have flies following you in. Shut 1t
the instantH'
"Yes, Mercy" Nathan said, wearily.
1t looked like a long, circuitous route
into the house, and he was very tired
He Slid into narrow crevice in the
door. rubbing his aching bones against
the edges. Then he braced himself and
slid back the heavy door.
In the sudden transition from the hot
glare outside to the dusky interior he
felt dizzy and blinded. and had to sit
down on a wagon thill a minute. Then
he shufi1ed up the steep stairs and
through the shop" and woodhouse to
the kitchen, opening and shutting all
the doors with conscientious dispatch.
Mercy's voice drifted down to him, muf
ded but incisive.
Don't wash in the best washdish,
Nathan. I've got 1t all secured up. You
get the old one over the tubs in the
woodhouse. and mind you empty the
water out in the asparagus bed. l don't
IKE to have the sink all wet up"
Yes, Mercy"
He got the old basin and filled 1t and
set 1t on chair with the soft soap
crock. Some Of the drops splashed to
the shining floor. and STOPPING with evi.
dent pain, he wiped them up carefully.
81 declare" he murmured, II don't
know as 1 was ever more beat out than
l am this afternoon. 1 don't know as ]
was ever! guess I've got to lie down
SPELL"
Nathan
Yes, Mercy"
"If you're thirsty, you'd better draw
some water out of the we'll; the pumps
all dry and clean. l gave 1t hard
cleaning to-day, the last thing"
Nathan took the basin of water out
through the shop and stable door and
emptied it over the asparagus bed. He
made a second Journey over the same
toilsome route for a drink of water.
I've got to lie down somewhere right
away he muttered. I'm all beat Oit.
Nathan Mercy called.
Eyes. Mercy
"Did you rub your feet on the mat in
the porch and the scraperF'
d" The scraper's out to the kitchen
Ing his voice with an effort.
Did you rub 'em on the porch mat?
"Yes. / don't know as l did all the
times. I did once"
groan. muffied but clearly audible
descended TO Nathan.
"1 can't help itr' he muttered. 81
guess I'll go lie down on the sitting
.oom sofa for a minute. I'll have to;
can't stand up"
He took off his boots and padded soft
" along the rug pathway. 1t was so
dim in there that not till he got close to
the lounge did he notice the newspapers
covering it. He lifted one of them Off
with a determined twitch Of his lips,
but replaced 1t hastily, and padded soft
ly back to the kitchen. He went to the
door.
Mercy" he called up, where's the
last paper? l don't see it anywhere
Goodness, Nathan Foote, shut that
door! You'll let in a mess of flies"
where's the last paper, MercyYN
Nathan's diminished voice rose, patient
end tired, to Mercy's ears through the
s.psed door.
IT'S all piled up nice, Nathan. You
cont want it now. You take the al
i:.anac over the kitchen table and read
Tie jokesw she called back. He got the
almanac and put on his boots. Then
lie dragged them wearily, step by step,
out to the stable. His grizded. seamy
face was drawn with exhaustion and
pain.
Mercy Foote came downstairs at pre-
cisely 8 o'clock to Est su01e. Just g