The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-30
Chill Sauce.

Chill Sauce,
THE household art is the only dover
can bring save myself to him 1 wed,
Can you find the roof and earn the -four?
Then I can make home and sweet white
breadI'
Har2ers.
The last scarlet bar of the gorgeous
autumn sunset was fading out behind the
tail poplars along Turkey Creek when
Barstow Browns creaking old farm
J wagon turned the corner Of the road
which led to his lonely and ill-kept hon1A.
There's the light Albumin already in
Mis- Elviry Richards window" he COM
mented. 1T does git dark awful early
nights now. Seems like harms the
cleanest KEEP an the cheerfulest lamp in
the hull township.
And indeed it did seem to illuminate
with its friendly radiance the little one
story house by the roadside. 1t looked
like q beacon-a star. 1t made Farmer
Brown think in admiring but nnformu-
lated fashion Of a steadfast love-pure,
! unwayering, brilliant. II attracted him.
1t drew him-the worn and harassed body
ana soul of him. Unconsciously he tight
ened the reins. But it was not until tbs
plodding horses stood still in response
that he wondered whether he might ven
for his visit.
Suddenly he lifted his head and shifted
once, twice. Then he hurriedly twisted
the reins from the whipstoek and clam
bered down from the high seat. Swiftly,
soundlessly, excuse and encouragement
had come to HMM the guise of an odor
at that.
Chill sauce! If she amt a-makiu'
Chill sauce!" He was hurrying up the
short path to the front door, at which
he knocked. "PH tell her want the re-
ceipt for Susie Reilly to make some by.
That's the ticket, O-howdy. Mis- Rich
ards. I was goin' home from mill an
the incest smell come a-doatin' down
the roadl Seemed IS if 1 was back at
mothers again, an she was putin up
Chill sauce He sighed, and moistened
his lips at the recollection. so
thought I'd come in an find how you
make it. Our ripe tomatoes amt all gone
yet. Maybe Susie Reilly could make
quart or soi''
Forty placid and benignant summers
had passed over tho brown head of Elvira
Richards, but where was the girl along
Turkey Creek who carried herself with
more grace and dignity, and what ma
tron could boast such a fresh complex
ion and bright eyes as she?
ITO be sure!" she cried, heartily. you
come right in, Mr.. Brown" She drew
forward the best rocking-chair with the
Battenberg tides on the entreating red
plush arms.
"'Tisn't much I need make, living
alone as I do, but a. good storeroom is
a fine thing to fall back on. You'd need
a lot in your house, Pm thinking. I'll give
you the receipt with pleasure-and a jar
to take home for Susie to taste by. How
does she get on, mfr. Brown
Barstow Brown looked around the
bright little room, at the shining glass
lamp with the red flannel wick, which
stood behind the row of freshly-potted
geranium slips in the recessed window,
then back at the plump, white-aproned
figure opposite.
Not too well. Mis- Richards. She's
kind of shiftless. It comes natural to
some folks to be shiftless. Seems like
the work allus keeps bit ahead of her.
Seems like she can no more catch up
with it than-than she could with cot
ton-tail. But she means well. Most
shiftless folks allus means well. I got
to be movin'." He rose reluctantly.
1.-The young ones-they'I be a-missin'
me-"
Land sake, now, an you couldn't wait
till I make you a cup Of coffee? No?
That's too bad. Wait till 1 get you the
Chill sauce, anyhow. What's that?
Could you come out to the tchen
while I am a-gettin' 1t? Why, of course,
Mr.. Brown
Twittering, and stepping briskly, Miss
Elvira tripped ahead, and Barstow
Brown plodded after. He was aghast
at his own temerity, but the appetizing
smell Of the Chill sauce drew him to the
kitchen. as the white brilliance of the
lamp had drawn him to the parlor.
N.Y. he breathed, and stopped short.
'This-beats-' He was looking around
the gayest,l coolest, most immaculate
little kitchen he had ever beheld. From
the black mirror of stove, with its
golden grin through the opened draft,
to the shining plates on the dresser,
the row of cTimson-flled jars on the Ia
BILE. the dishpan that glittered like silver.
and the cat asleep on the braided mat,
all things bespoke industry, energy, COM
fort.
Something in his attitude Of timidity,
in his look of wonder that was almost
one OF awe, in his neglected personal an
pearance, went straight to the woman's
warm heart of Miss Elvira Richards.
He had been such a spruce. good-looking
fellow fifteen years agol Her glance,
that was keen If kindly, noted all things
the shirt with the band all but gone,
the coat with holes at the elbows, more
than all the hollows at his temples and
in his cheeks. Those-and the weak
tears that came into his eyes! She
busted herself writing out the recipe
and talking.
at amt any too easy, I guess, with
only Susie. She never was a hand to
look after children-and there's three to
your place. I expect it amt been Ike
home since-slnce Cyrilla went away"
Barstow Brown was silent. 1t had not
been a happy home before Cyrilla died
But he could not tell Miss Richards that
no. nor any one else. Only he had
meant-had honestly meant-to ask FL
vira to marry him, before the pretty.
painted, fiippant little city girl had come
down to the country town and taken HIS
tickle heart captive.
Here's the receipt-and here's the lar
Yes, you must take the big one; and
why-Barstowr
For there was a look in his eyes she
had not seen since those happy days be-
fore Cyrila aired her city graces on Tur-
key Creek.
I'm a good deal Of a failure. Elvirv.''
said Barstow Brown. II don't know but
s-ou'n turn ne out when you hear what
I been wantin' to say ever stree Il would
be right and proper to talk that way.
But the farms 4 good one an the house
could De made the best hereabouts II t
was fixed up right. an the Children
They're dear chiIdrenr" declared Miss
EIviry-and she meant It.
We'll. they Ike you awfuIIy well You
allus was a one TO git around young
sters. I-T'-hs dropped his eyes-'I
guess you know what I mean. Eiviry-
what ! WANT
of course I do she cried. cordially
you want the receipt-and the Chill
sauce"
Now, Elviry, You know I want
you.
wei. you got to take them II you