The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-22

In accordance with a promise given
to Electra at breakfast time, Miss
Wagner went downstairs and entered
Mrs. Barker's little sitting room just
as the clock was striking 9, Electra,
with her hat already on, stood by the
margin of the Weekly Chronicle. Her
forehead wore a puzzled frown, and
she hesitated now and then, moving
her lips in apparent perpleXity, and
gazing abstractedly at her pencil.
But she welcomed Miss Wagner with
a beaming smile, and ,as soon as she
had written the last word, folded the
strip of paper into squares and tuck
ed it indifferently into her pocket.
In her longest and most stiffiy
starched calico tier, Electra had an
air of being in full dress. 1t was
pink-the pale, delicate pink that
ranked next to cross-barred muslin
itself among her tiers-and she knew
how to make it rustic with indescrib-
able elegance as she walked. In al
most anybody else the rustling and
the elegance might have betokened
self-consciousness. With Electra they
were but part of the natural develop
ment of things, no more to be con-
sidered, in the general scheme of well
being, than uImples or laughter.
A sudden anxiety overspread her
face as they went down the steps;
and, with murmured exclamation,
which her companion failed to under
stand, she flashed swiftly across the
yard and out of sight around the cor
ner of the house. The sun seemed to
shine little less brightly in her abb
sence. Miss Wagner even fancied
that she felt q snght chillinessi in the
air; whereupon she stepped inside the
door again, throwing her thin cape
over her shoulders and fastening it at
the throat with an impulse of habit
ual caution.
''Cold, Miss Wagner" Mrs. Barker
stopped on her way from the dining
room to the cellar. her eyes resting
kindly upon the listless figure, sill
houetted against the lavish splendor
of the summer morning III TINS
entry does it, she went on. Most
anybodyn SILVER in it, no matter
whar time O. day tbs. l could use it
for an ice chist an done with it, l
tell EN-, if 'twasn't quite SO pubic.
Years of experience had familiarized
Mrs. Barker with nearly every phase
of tn genus summer boa er, but this
tanguid Young woman was a new
type, not easily classified The aver
age occupants of her best chamber for
example, would have thought it only
courteous to reply to her remarks,
Miss Wagner either did not listen to
them at all or quite forgot to an
swer
cts lucky for bert she seems to
take to Electry So Mrs. Barker So
lloquizod as size descen'ied the cellar
stairs. ''She'd be mortal lonesome it
she didn't. AS a central thing she
amt no he''cr'il a mute at a funeral
wi en- ] try to talk with her; here
they twoll travel off together, day in
an day out, like a pair O. lambs"
a moment later Electra came back,
her steps unhurried now, her whole
small person radiating serenity. An
ancient-looking bag of Java canvas
hung upon her arm, the faded splen-
dor of its embroidery brought into
bold relief by significantly bullying
outlines. 1t sent forth a tempting or
chard fragrance at close range; and
before the front gate had fairly click
ed behind them Electra drew from it
a mellow, richly-tinted apple, streaked
here and there with vivid crimson by
the August sun.
"AIother says vittles cheaper'n doc
tors any day." she announced with
serious wisdom, as she tasted it; the
regularity with which one rapid
mouthful followed another demon
strating her hearty concurrence in
her mothers opinion. For perhaps
five minutes after this she trudged
along the narrow country road at
Miss Wagner's side in contented 81
lence, her feet raising clouds of yell
low dust that obscured at intervals
10 r1~ 1,fNv lcIv Al
openwork stockings. AT the end of
that time she launched briskly into
conversation.
''See that brown house over acrost
the field, Miss Dorothy? Miss Nc
Daniel lives over there. Father called
her blamed fool once. | guess you'd
like to hear about that" her gray
eyes following the closely bitten frag-
ment of apple core that was just de-
scribing prolonged curve over the
fence.
.'She came over to stay with me one
time soft mother could go down't the
Centre with father; he'd got to have
wisdom tooth hauled Well, they
hadn't been gone no time before her
daughter Liz-beth's husban's come
after her. He said they'd got COM
pany t home, an she must go right
back with him, at any rate. So she
got ready in norfe hurry. an took
me along with her. But she looked
out to put away mothers silver
spoons, all six of 'em. in the parlor
stove before we started. An she just
wrote out in great big letters'-ba
cling herself on her toes here and
speaking with dramatic fervor-'N.
B.-I'ye put the silver in the stove
an'she pinned it right up outside the
window. She did that, she said, soft
mother shouldn't worry one mite
about the spoons; an when father saw
it he called her a blame FOOL
A little red squirrel glided past on
the stone wall and darted up into a
chestnut tree with the mysterious
grace which nature has bestowed upon
her woodland creatures. Electra
watched him eagerly. She made a
low chirruping sound which the SOUR
rel apparently saw fit to regard as
threatening; there was a swift scurry
among the branches. sudden swirl
and fiutter of the leaves and then per-
feet silence.