The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-14
BY KATE M. cLURY.
A WARM WELCOME.

@& w &AANA'A w &S<~
 Lorena Silver was down on her knees before the bush of Towering almond. She was loosening the mould around the roots, and looking with admiration at the long, slender green twigs which were already rosy with innumerdDle tiny blooms
 Mis- Silvar." shriled voice. 'oh -say--Mis'1 Silver"
 Ms. Silver pushed back her sun bornet and looked around. Her face had the soft curves and dimpleS of chi!d's. Her hazel eyes were as crys- ta.-clear as a forest brook, and just nov, from the warmth Of the day and tiie exertion of her work. her cheeks were as pink as the almond blossoms before her.
 "Well?" she called. What you want Elihu Skinner?"
 E.ihu skinner was typlcal product of the little prairie town. He was spindling lad, shock headed and rec k.cd. Just now his eyes were bulgins with excitement.
 Say, there's gypSics come to town. Sure, there is! I seen the two wagons down by Dry Creek. They were putin up tents. Three women have struck put 10 tell fortunes. Two of tho men Is down by the pump nov talkin hoss traces. Another one Is goin' to every house iE town, Givin' gold rings for old clothes. Say. thought you'd want to know. seein' how they done you up last time You don't want no more gypsies."
 "Gypsies" cried Mrs. Silver. She said 1t very much a. David Copper fields aunt said "DonkeyS!" She had risen to her feet, anl was gripping her tr3weI as though il were weapon of assault You bet ! | mt want any Sypses around here. .fnd if that gold riHE man comes to my door. nell he sorry"
 Now Mrs. Silver was only B when her husband had been called to n better world. They had not been congeI3al, and if she didn't weep much for him 1t was hardly in nature to he expected she would. And in the three years since then r,ure than one well-off in- dividual had begged Mrs. Silver per mission to change her name to one that less luminously suggestive would he more to the content of the person making the proposal. But. knowing she had made a mistake once, Mrs. Silver was not to be lightly beguiled into a second. So she lived alone save for a maid servant in her pretty. but isolated little home. And she would have been fairly well satisfied if it wero not for her constant terror of tramps and gypsies. On their last ap- pearance in the place her hen house had been rohhed. her barn broken into. and everything portable around the grounds had disappeared. Say, what you g2in' to do if they come?" demanded Elihu. He was fair | ly glowing with anticipation. "Goin' to | shuOt?"
 | A sudden resolution struck Mrs. Sill yer.
 | <E;liha, she went forward. a plump and comedy figure in her coquetish house gown of blue woolen and lace, and set the gate wide. You stay and watch for tkem. Let me know quick | as you see one come towards this place. I'll make 1t worth your while. | I'll give you all the gingerbread you can eat, and a quarter beside" | "Gee!' cried Elihu. His lank lege I shot out in an ecstatic dance. "Id l stay just for the fun of the scrap, Gee!"
 Now. I'm going to get Martha Steb- pins to-Land!" She paused in con- sternaticn. If l haven't forgotten she went to Timothy Hill this morning and won't be home till late" | Hadn't I better bring in tine things that's lying aroundY' asked Elihu.
 No" said Lorena grimly. They won't take anything in broad daylight and if oFe comes te call he'll get that which will make him warn the others to keep away!"
 She retreated to make preparations for her expected visitors, although not | on hospitaDle thoughts intent. The only evidence that masculine pres ence had ever disecrateG the peaceful and charming interior, was gun. Lor- eoa surveyed it doubtfully. It was loaded Would she be able to fire fl? Sho didn't want to kill or even in- ture any one of course, but just tt scare them. Yes-she would try. Then a bright thought struck her. Martha | Stebbins had been about to paper the lean-to pantry when messenger had called her to Timothy Hall. There was that bucket of paste all ready for the operation. An hour of the bright day passed. Elihu was proving around | the house in the most approved dime novel manner, and keeping wary eye on all approaches. Another hour wore
 Saturday, THE BAND LIED.