Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-03-09


then she WIS hurricdly huiluuing up
her stoUicsJ pair 81 boots They would
bc waiting for her up al the Hall
There was 10 end Uf things san tu hc
done.
The stand for the baul was 90 bee
decorated. and Jess would lee wauin.
10 knew how many turkeys wvr" to bc
dressed. and all that cut glass was 10
he washed. CHANGING up irum her low
stool. She saw som, thing that made
her stare curiouSly marks of damp
yellow clay un the Sulrs Il her moth
crs ample oxford ties. which We're
crossed conSpicuously on the hu>>uc&
In front of the chair She fired an in
dignani protest through the old lady's
ear trumpet.
Mother. you have been walking
about out of doors without your rub
brrS"
"Euhhcrs: out Of doors, Wal ing
about Who says So? Who saw me-
/ What are YOU talking about, Malvina
/ Spillman|'
/ Her voice was SO shrill and her man.
| ncr 50 excited that Miss Malvna look
I cd at her in growing alarm. Mother
/ is certainly turning queer
Aloud She said soothingly: We'll,
you've got "A right To pruwl around il
you feel like II, hummer. Only don't
! like you Ia 90 out without "ycrSAuus.
| Good old ladies are getting scarce, ana
! | want to keep min" II great many
/ years to come"
"Oh. I'm al right. child, What made
you think had been out of the house,
CLAY. on the sulcS of your shoes.
and your white flannel wrapper is all
bcdragCled about the hem. mother.
\ look Of intense cunning came into
the faded eyes. The old woman chuc-
Killed. audlbly.
We'll. you are one for finding Il body
out. ! thought | heard somebody at
the chicken coop last night. MalNna.'
You heard, mothcrF'
"Oh. I'm not as deaf aS YOU think |
am nor as blind neither Why, | could
60 from here up To the Hall the darkest
night that ever came and 90 all over
the house without stumpmg a toe, If |
wanted To.
Il hope you wont want TO, mother.
just then. with a swish of starchrd
pctticoatS and a catching Of hurried
breath. Mrs. Deb Lyons presented hcr-
self in the cottage doorway. Sh" had
a roll OF cloth in her hands
Il just thought | would step over,
Miss Malvina, and ask YOU if | might
run up .Tohnny'S hrccchcS Oh your ma
chine. Mines got the very old mischief
in it, and the childll die outright or &c
plum crazy If he don't have pair OF
new brccchcs to wear to the coming
ont party"
is your Johnny invited to the par
tyT asked "Mother" Spiliman, with a
slight infusion of sarcastic inrredulity
in her voice Not that he amt go0C
enough"
Mrs Deb laughed frankly.
after fashion. he's invited. Miss
Ollie told him if he would fix up rca
nice he might pass lemonade arount
among the folks. He is in her Sunday
school class. you know She IS a rca
sweet young lady. My, but what II
affair it is going to be. They say Mis-:
Olle's dress is going to outshine any
thing Miss Jeanne WestOvcr's fetched
over from Paris"
I'D be rather glad" said Malvina in
consequently, ito have you sit witt
mother while I'm gone" Then, will
lowered tones: shes been 50 restless
la ely | don't know what she'll be NJ
to when she's alone. have put tn
machine in the back room so that
can sew when mothers asleep. Some
times | think she hears the buzz"
"Ill watch her. Thanks for the ma
chine. | guess you'll be on hand he
fore have to get back home to Sc
about Deb's dinner"
'Oh, yes, long before them AM
Johnny's mother passed into the She
room, closing the door between.
I'm going now, mother. Won
stay any longer than I'm obliged to.
D said Malvina. She bent few INC
ments later and kissed the withere
l forehead. She omitted to announc
Mrs. Lyons occupancy of tho she
. room. Nothing rritated the old Won
al more than to be put under survei
lance, and after that recent outburS
. discretion was advisable. To Mrs. I.N
. ons Malvina spoke Il final word of cat
ton
She cant hear the machine in her
nor see it neither unless she was t
come across the room and look int
the shed room for something. Sh
. amt likely to do that. Sometimes ht
= eyes do her good turn. 1t might vo
her If she thought you were watchin
:. her.
,. "All right" said Mrs. Lyons, drol
>. ping into husky whisper. III be q
still as mouse
=. Left to herself as she imagined
. Mother" Spillman developed an acti
ity that made Mrs. Lyons forget a
=. about her Johnny's breeches as she $;
- with her hand on the wheel and III
y eyes stretched wide with aStonishmcn
~ Presently she stole from the machI
-, and glued her eyes to crevicc in ii
- wall.
Rising from her chair, the old wor
:, an began feebly shaking its cushion
=. about with quick, impatient motion
Getting down on her knees. with on
10 spread hands she felt over the emit
- surface of the chair. Evidently ket
10 disappointment was the only resu
"a Whatever she was looking for she d
~ not find. With a sigh of discouraG
ment she finally rose to her feet, Ia
10 gaunt, masculine figure and stood wi
20 folded hands gazing down upon Il
n vacant chair, muttering audibly:
,y Lost. lost, lost! And 1t is my fau
- Somebody has stolen il. Poor TOl