The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11
CHANGE PARTNERS.

cases he would be able to express NOR.
decided opinion about her mu.om- "A
present they puzzled him Haf Dol content
ed himself with looking Iohr
Emanuel on the bach .. Hu l,
keep up heart and hon Whoa
he was gone the HUSBAND aired I'd
the fire. with his rmpg frr BOZ h.- hand
There was a certain snfosmu, u Tho
knowledge that everybody iH the village
would soon be talking ab0u, his vi'e's oc-
cident
"Tha naabors II mobile COON i'm Ia see
Soosan." he said aloud reAsetiyely. and he
put down the empty pipe on the mantel
shelf. with its cheap clock That seemed to
tick more loudly than usual and its two
pot dobs which smiled as foolishly as ever
in spite Of the calamity which had come
to the house.
There was a gentle tap at the door be-
fore he could sit down. and John Emanucls
face tool, shade OF deeper gravity and
Importance as he crossed the room to open
it.
oh. its thoo. Cousin Sarah. he said.
as a buxom woman Of thirty or so entered.
"A thowt tn news d be getting roond the
place"
IT'S rare an sad news said Cousin
Sarah, as she shut the door behind her. "A
met III doctor. as war coomin and he
says it'll be tn end o soosan. Tell us
how it COON abawt They say as thee
fawnd 'er when thee COON hodm to tina
tea"
"Yaas.' said John Emanuel. shaking his
head slowly, joost ath' foot o tn ladder,
an a thoWt she wOr dead. Hoo long tn
poor thing had been thear a don't know
but she ha Mt moved a syllabul since. an
l doan'J think she ever will
"Tha woan't find another like her in a
hurry" said CoUsin Sarah. VINO had been
skirmishing around the place while sire
talked, and had just discovered table
cloth. which she proceeded to lay on the
wooden label in a busting, workmanship
manner
~ man nun have his vittlcs. COON what
may she said, in answer TO his enquir-
ing glance AN be boond tha's had nowJ
sin tina COON hoam.'
"A han't thowt on il, said John Eman-
uel looking q little brighter. as the bust
on the kettle.
"Tha woan't find another like Soosau In
a hurry she suggested again as She re-
turned to the table; and John Emanuel
nodded
"Oop early and ia bed laate. she went
on, an hazard at it all tn time; she Nor
a wonderful woman. What wor she doom
when she toombled of tn ladder
.'Whitewa hing, said her husband.
"A thoWt as much"
We'll, thoc'rt joost such another sug-
gested John Emanuel as he watched her
busting about over the meal. Ave often
said to mysen Soosau an Coosin Sarah are
IN only two wimmon as a'd like Ia see
abawt ma place. II Soosau shOod be
took ave said to myseu agaan and agaan.
Cousin Sarah's tn lass as q shoed maak
Missis Smith "
The woman stopped in The act Of carving
a huge slice Of bracd.
'Tha' doan't mean IT, John Emanuel"
she said staring at him.
a do that" said John Emanuel with
determination; but. of coorsc there
Patrick in tina way nav"
"Of coOrse," said Cousin Sarah. going on
with her bread-cutting. and her tone be-
came more conversational again. Pat
trick COON with me as far as III hCn.e. 90
she said. He sad he'd sop an smoak in
tn garden. He's no good in time o. trub-
bic. amt Patrick"
He nCa nearer marryin'. A spoase Doc
said john Emanuel thoughtfuuy. COUSIN
Sarah shook her head
'Patrick's bone idle. 4 think"
Then why doant three glib him o0p""
said the man. looking down at his boots.
Give Patrick COP. Whatever focr."
said Cousin Sarah, with an excess OF in
nocence. and the man still stared a his
boots as he answered.
Why Ia marry me. of coorse a shall
want somebody Ia fend an to do for me
when SoCsans goan."
Cousin Sarah put down the knife again
to stare across at him.
"Dost Ia mean it, John Emanuel"
"A do" said he.
Then, all goa and tell Patrick that a
can't keap company vim any longer.
she said briskly. and she opened the COT
tage door TO put her plan into execution
as she spoke
John Emanuel looked medilatiyely into
the fire when she was gone. The kettle
was beginning TO sing. The cheap Ameri-
can clock seemed to tick more cheerfuliy.
A wonder what Patrick n saa" he re-
marked 10 himself aloud. and then he star
ed into the fire again.
Cousin Sarah came back just as the
kettle was beginning to boil, and she made
a dash for it with the teapot Ia her hand
"Tha's not taken long abaat it," said
John Emanuel What does Patrick
saa2"
"Oh. he doan't mind"
Has he goan hoam?"
'Noa; he's Talking "a that Mary Emily
Qupple next door over tn hedge"
"A m glad he takes it kind said the
h., L.
woman in these parts a'd like "a see in
SOosan's place but tina, Cousin Sarah
Tha's made this tea joost she does and
three loomps o. sugar too"
A spoase youl be burying Soosln on
tina Sunday" said Cousin Sarah. who had
been following a train Of thought Of her
own. "Tha' better get tn coffin made in
Ioark. It'll COON cheaper than il tina
give it ia Tompkins "a do. He's rare an
dear. What's tina matter. John Eman-
uel?"
For the man was staring with a white
scared face toward the narrow. ladder
like steps that led ND to the room above.
As she spoke she. too heard the sounds
Of steps descending, and they both sat
with mouths aiar, staring.
The next instant they started simulia-
noousiy as a well-Enovu voice said qucru-
I0usly:
Here's fine to do Ne lying in ma
bed till all tina daaiighCs goan an IN ont
hoOse not haalf doom yet loost because
ave had a bit of fall on IN ladder rs
like thee John Emanuel Iaain' me there
in tn best clean sheets wi my dirty shoou
and cloase on. Why, what's tina To do
now. that tina looks as if tha'd seen
boggle2"
Ten minutes later Cousin Sarah called