The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-04-14

tHdt lnlS was tDt
chief event of her day. She then TOOL
time to look up and down the long vii
lage street, to exchange greetings with
passers, to inquire about the sick, and
TO receive the latest bit of village news
She and her mother lived like two
sparrows in the small weather-brown
house with the $500 mortgage en- it,
The debt had been incurred in poor
father's' time; and after his death the
Two patient, toiling women strove vain
ly to reduce it. Whenever they had
saved few dollars of the principal.
sewing would be slack coal and pro-
visions higher, taxes increased, or Mrs.
Hillwould have one of her poor spells, .
and the money would melt like spring
snow. leaving the debt no smaller.
Thusa had tried working in the silk
mill in the next village; but she was
FAR past youth. her fingers were too
rough and awkward for the delicate
winding and spooling, and her appre-
hension was slow, Her place was want
ed for younger, swiftcr worker, and
with humiliation and secret tears, she
took up again the making of sheets and
pillow cases, or the fashiOning of sim
pie garments for children and unfas-
tidious "help."
Standing at the gate, her faded blue
eyes gazing into the perspective of the
quiet street. Thusa Hill did not look
like subject for romance. The
straight. scant folds of dark blue cal
leo fell stiffly about her thin little fig
ure, the sun of early April cast chilly
CLEANS on the plain bands of ash-col-
ored hair done up in small knot. her
shoulders were curved and her chest
was hollow. Yet, in the years gone by,
a lovers voice had whispered to her on |
long, sweet summer evenings, and a
tender hand had stroked her brown,
abundant hair.
How different life might have been, |
IT Henry Gleason had not misunder- |
stood that ride with Nathan Burnside
True, she had promised Henry that
she would be at home that evening:
and when he met her driving with
Nathan-in answer to sudden and
urgent appeal from Nathan's sister
Henry had given her one swift look,
proud and stung, and had turned on
his heel. following in the dust of Ma
than's wheels.
His look had aroused her defiance, and
she would not send word of self
justification. He might have had more
faith in her-she had expected to be
home long before it was time for his
visit. And so, as young hearts are
prone to pride, the note was never
written, the word was never spoken
justly as Henry was entitled to it-and
weeks and months glided into years. till
Thusa was 40.
Henry had married his cousin.
teather-brained. selfish creature, whose
own folly and vanity brought on her
death few years later Now he lived
in his childless home. with hired farm
boy and bustling housekeeper. On
winter evenings, sitting alone by the
fire, the thought of his early love some
times fitted across his mind, and he
felt sorry for her struggles. both be-
fore and after the death of her father.
But mans pride is a hard possession
SAY what you may about the obsti- !
iacy of woman-and Henry Gleasons
vas like the granite of his native New
England hills. !
Thusa went into the house, stirred
he fire and filled the kettle. Her
mother was hemming pillowcases in ,,
he tiny sitting-room beyond, and
allied out, as she heard her daughters !
MF
There's few of those stewed
'ruhes in the buttery, Thusa. Couldn't 9
We have them for supper instead of in
lie? Iseem to crave something besides Il
ca and bread and butter. But it's just e
s you say"
"Of course we will have them for "
upper. if you want them, mother" o
aid Thusa. 81 don't know as | want S
} spend time tomorrow rolling out a Z
lie, anyway. There's that nightgown s
{ Sally Myers to be finished, for we il
sed the money right away; and !,
romised to 60 and watch with Cynthia A
Tarner tomorrow night. She's very O
Id, they say n
Her mother looked at her doubt ST
gly. in
s'You don't look any too well your W
If, Thusa. / don't believe you're si
rong enough to watch with the sick. di
,lits that work bard's you do can't be af
ole Of their night s rest without pay
: for it, in
j know e." was the answer, "but on
nfhia would come and watch with de
]. Il MAS in her place." to