The Republican journal., 1900-12-06

'G-grew into a remarkable fine W.
woman" replied Mr.. Brown.
Her mother fine woman?" She's
one of the most waSteful houSekeepers
l ever seen. I've heard ma say so time
and again. l tell you guess you'd see
a difference in the livin' expenses if
such woman as Mis- Gardiner was
here
'R-remarkable fine c-cake," was all
the return Mr.. Brown made.
Meliss wept and used her apron cor
ner vigorously.
'When l get SO | can't cook to suit
you, you better let me co. walled Me
liss, adding, spitefully: chat young
hussy couldn't make loaf of cake to
save her. 1t was her mas cake"
'S-saw her b-bake it," assented Mr.
Brown. ''S-saw her b-bake that re-re-
markable fine c-cake"
Mr.. Browns eyes twinkled, but Me-
llss did not notice the expression. She
was planning between sobs what she
could take to that chest up in the gar
ret. There were two new steel bread
knives. One could be spared. There
were the new towels. They had never
been used and consequently her father
and she would never miss them. Up
stairs toiled Meliss with her mothers S
half and secreted it.
''There is some things she shall never
handle" she snapped, coming out on
the front porch and taking the baby
from Aunt Ruth.
'Quite number of things, I Judge" ;"
said Aunt Ruth
Ma certainly owned half here and
I'm her girl, and-ter | have the right
to 'em. Amt it enough to see this farm
go to her children and see mine made
beggars?"
The GARDENERS drove by and Aunt
Ruth waved her hand at them cordially.
Melss deliberately turned her back.
"Why, Melissn' calculated her aunt
eff you think I'm going to speak to
them scheming people you're mistaken.
| wouldn't fall so low as to scheme af-
ter a man who has been a widoWer
only six weeks Meliss' apron went
to her face ''To think III have to
leave here"
''Iour pa would never turn you out
-" interrupted Aunt Ruth.
| "Pa would never turn me OUT cried
Meliss, her nervous frame shaking in
her excitement. ''Do you think I'd stay
here and see her in my mas place."
When her father came out of the
house Meliss turned Woe -begone face
toward him.
''Pa, shan't you come into the parlor
and hear me play some?''
"G-golly no. You are b-bound to
k-keep me at a funeral all the thine, ;"
said the old man irritably.
There, you can see what is coming
He has clean forgot ma," sobbed Meliss
as her father left the porch.
Il think all your father wants is a
little peace" suggested Aunt Ruth.
But Meliss was obdurate Week after
week and month after month she wept
and talked, talked and wept, while the
trunks in the garret gradually filled.
Its simply mas half that I'm get
tin and that's my own" she averred to
Aunt Ruth. ''She shall never lay hands
on it.
Summer had come again and still MI.
| Brown remained unmarried Nearly
every evening he smoked his pipe with
Mr.. Gardner, as he had done for years.
and nearly every evening Aunt Ruth
was told amid sobS that Meliss wouldn't
be surprised if her father should come
home that night married.
One day Meliss came back from the
! post-otfice in state of excitement pain
full to behold. Her lips were twitching
her eyes staring, and her fingers clutch
ing the papers she carried.
'Aunt Ruth" she screamed, bursting
into the sitting room.
Screw your voice down, Meliss,' y
said her aunt, quietly, rocking the
cradle
"What do you think pa has gone and
done? Oh, | might have know'd that
runnin' to GARDENERS was all put on to
throw me off the track. Oh, am such
| n ~
ly assented as Meliss wrung her hands.
.'Now I've found out who he's after. 1
might have suspected. What have l
been thinking about? When l got to
town there he was talking to her and
patting that ugly little young un of hers
on the head. And Mis- Hinckley told
me he brought her into town in his
wagon. Oh l do believe they're married
now and the farm will go to her chill
dren. Oh dear Oh dear.'
you've not told me yet who you're
talking about" suggested Aunt Ruth.
''You might know" fairly hissed Me-
liss. "Who could mean but that widder
Ellis, who has been trying to do her best
to marry for two years. She's had her
eye on this farm and house all the year
and pa has just been deceiving me by
going to Gardeners and-ter he's failed,
and-ter now know"
When Meliss' ideas gave out she
always clung to her conjunctions.
eff it had been someone | liked I
wouldn't care so much," walled Meliss,
but l never could abide that Ellis
| woman -'
"That's news" interrupted Aunt
Ruth.
There's one thing about it, said Me
liss, determinedly, after pause; Its
been years since she has been in this
house and she'll never know if | take
the crockery out of the north room and
the quilts out of the big chest. They
are mas half
Another pause. Meliss worked her
fingers nervously on the lace around
her overskirt and then said, decidedly:
! Mis- Gardiner never liked her either.
| guess ri go over and sit awhile with
Mis- Gardiner"
"Why, Meliss!" Aunt Ruth was sur
prised out of her usual calm. "You
haven't said one word to Mis- Gardiner
for over a year."
Il can make Mis- Gardiner under
stand that pas actions is the only thing
that's between u.s." said Meliss.
| She put on her Sun-bOnnet and then