The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-27
The Story Of a Homely PeAcemaker.

berry and finally disappear IN the house.
with not one look back.
As he mounted his horse and rode home
ward. confusion and dismay in his mind
that cold Mr.. Fairchiid' Of hers ranked.
1t was the first time she had ever said
anything but "Jim." He could remember
that once she could not say even that, and
had lisped "Dfmmie'' when he had taken
her riding on his sled all the way to the
barn, around TO the front gate, under the
cedars and up TO the side porch. a long and
delightful Journey to the little Sallie. A
lump came in Jim's throat as he thought
o. it-and here was little SaIlie saying Mr..
Fafrchild" to himi Jim did not know that
she was already regretting her flash Of tenn
per and longing for him to come back to
her.
Lovers quarrels are often foolish thinc
that is. foolish to every one but them
selves-and perhaps sallie Armstrong had
been wrong. but she would not admit #
and that. again. is woman's way.
The Sunday after the encounter ut tho
gate Sallie was at church In ell the bravery
OF her new fnery, purchased that fall and
will an eye to pleasing Jim. She was hope
ful that she might see Jim; that he would
apologize humbly and beg to be taken back
into her good graces. Even IL she had been
In the wronS. had he not been stubborn.
too7
Jim was timid and uncertain what to do
When the service was over the people
poured out OF the big wooden building and
stood about under the leahess trees. ex-
changing greetings. the men untying horses
and driving to the edge Of the walk in
buggies and wagons, and the women all
talking at once. Sallie kept close to her
mother. but Jim was not afraid of Mrs.
Armstrong. He came up awkwardly. took
on bis hat looked bsseechingly at Salue
and then talked crops with John ARM
strong. who had q well-grounded liking for
his daughters sutton.
Two months had passed. Here It was tho
middle Of January. and putting I'D ice time,
and their foolish lovers Quarrels not yet
made up Sallis felt that q reconciliation
was impossible. Jim could not have cared
much for her, she thought or he would
not have been rebuffed 50 easily. He ought
to have known that she didn't mean It. He
had taken her At her word. and no woman
likes to have . man do that She prefers
to have him overruIe her In spite of her
self. So Il was that Sallie had got herself
to believe that she had . real grievance
against Jim.
1t would take three dayS hard work TO
MI tho Armstrong icehouse. and Jim knew
It He was hopeful that he might get a
word with Saflie some time In the three
days. Perhaps Jim was wiser than the girl
thought him He had waited untfl she was
quito repentent
Sallis and her mother were very busy that
FIRST morning. They had to get dinner, for
seven men besides their own family, and
they had inefficient help In tho kitchen.
Potatoes. cabbage. hominy. crisp celery,
grown in their own garden. all this was to
be prepared, along with chicken pie and
roast pork. For dessert there was to be
sliced sweet potato pie with sauce and
peach preserves.
Don't you think we'd better have
sausage, tooT" asked Mrs Armstrong. "Its
awful cold. The men'n be hungry"
Salhe's pale cheeks had famed at the
thought OF serving sage-seasoned sausage
to Jim. but she brought the sausage jar
without a word and began to dig at the
frozen contents with a big knife. Jim would
like the sausage. she was sure Of that.
Dinner time came. and it was a flushed
and heated sallie who invited the icework-
ers to the dining-room and served them so
swiftly to all the good things. She had
been so busy and so interested in the din
ner that she had had no time to harbor
grudges against Jim or any one else.
Jim's coffee had the necessary supply Of
sugar in the bottom Of the cup. Jim no.
ticed It. and the sign of saliie's thoughtful
ness warmed him quite as much as the
steaming coffee.
The odor Of sage saluted his nostrils.
Sailie was coming with a dish Of sausage.
As she approached him he put out his hand
toward her. For one moment they looked
into each others eyes over the steaming
dish and smiled.
That evening Jim told Sister Emma"
that he was engaged TO Sallie.
n. L. D.