The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-17

look at her, and it was pleasant ex-
erclse. She stood with one hand on
| her hip, il. an attitude of such sim
! plicity ana vase as the rustic obtains
/ only in his most interrupted estate.
Her smooth, dark hair was parted and
/ brought down behind her ears into a
knot OF eminent decency; her features
were good. strong, rather large and
| were set off by a fine rudty complex.
ion. She came out to the wagon as we
7 stopped and put up her hand to Jimmy.
"Howdy, she said-not smiling, but
liking her gray eyes upon him with
what was like maternal tenderness.
"Howdy, Miss Ellen" Jimmy an
swered, equally grave "This is my
cousin, Miss Addington-Miss Tod,
/ Cousin Adeline"
Il wanted to stop off and stay with
you, if might, while Jimmy goes to
4 MILL
I'm pleased to see YOU" said Ellen
Tod. wait and III bring a chair for
! you'-a chair to help me alight
Jimmy was right as to the spickness
and spanness of Ellen and her house.
Her innate superiority was shown in
\ her dress, which was of that standard
dark purple calico which knows no
north. no south, and it was made with
out furbelow anywhere 1t was a
model of the chief garment of modern
woman reduced to its simplest ele-
] full, al
and was perfect in its way, even tie
unrelieved band around the neck being
!, becoming to so handsome a column.
That tombstone of the southern house
Keeper the hearth, was swept so clean
that its secured stones attracted the
eye, and the big bed in one corner of
the room was radiant in brilliant
turned a moment to the wagon and
shook hands with the departing jim
my. who was to return in a couple OF
hours. For that time Ellen and We're
left to each others uninterrupted So
ciety, for her father was away ut
work, and she and he composed the
I family. She was Il charming hostess
full Of hospitality and with an effort
j less gift of silence almost equal to
Jimmy's own.
! She took my hat. allowed me to sit
I in the back doorway, which looked out
into the near woods, and brought me a
I glass of cool buttermilk from the buck
ct in the spring. My soul was satisfied
when she got out big spinning wheel
tn I q e.l,
spun when Jimmy came and was in
clined to think that no woman could
be ignorant of the charming aesthetic
1 possibilities of the occupation. could
imagine Jimmy sinking into a deep and
deeper daze of pleasure as he watched
the swift, light moving figure passing
to and fro while the big wheel whrled
her about Jimmy, but l couldn't. She
was too big and grown up; she ms &c
me feel too small and light minded
She actually smiled at me, however
| when the wagon returned. l felt now
as if a handshaking all around were
| justified, for it seemed as if l had
spent a pleasant, dreamy, drowsy life
time in that back door.
II amt very lively company; never
was" Ellen said as l put on my hat
scarcely apologetically. but as if the
fact We're an undeniable drawback.
| She took Jimmy some buttermilk-he
did not leave the wagon-and delayed
my appearance while he drank it.
II don't know as I'll ever see you
again." she said, as she gravely gave
me her hand, but Pm glad you come,
and wish you we'll. Take care of your
SELF" she said as we started, including
me in the kindly gaze she turned on
Jimmy.
did see her again, but before the
second meeting Cousin Betsey had
learned of her as possible daughter
in-law. / came in from a tramp the
day before left, and found mother
and son closing terrible and portent-
Gus interview. Poor Jimmy was sit
ting in his mothers room with his bow
ed head supported in his hands and his
every line expressing crushed suffer
ing, but withal hardly so limp as might
have been expected. The little master
full mother stood with her knotted