The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-16
'"- oF ANTICIPATION.
BY May Bolton Peck.

BY May Bolton Peck.
The Misses Peppard standing at their
kitchen window watched the boy from
Rice & Aust.n's, who had taken the or
ders for groceries and left the budget Of
news. as he strutted slowly down the
elm shaded walk. The enthusiastic well
come accorded him that morning by ev-
cry housekeeper in the village had 80
ffattered his self-esteem that his habitual
whistle was silenced by a compiacent
smirk; he felt we'll repaid for the effort
he had made to get an early start and q
scoop on the other news bulletin, the
butchers boy.
The two ladies watched until the syringa
bush in the corner of the yard shut off
the view of his dignihed march, then they
turned to stare each into the others face.
do you suppose" Miss E1nice began
breathlessly.
But Miss Esther interrupted: "rs the
first time since we were little girls that
a house in Ware village has been broken
into. ! wonder they choose the post
Office when there's a dozen places In
town where more money Ii kept TO say
nothing of silverware"
and Deacon Rogers is married"
so NJ seems" said her sister. mo doubt
he expects to live on fruit cake and honey
for the rest Of his days. The Deacon
IS pretty fond of his victusls. but hes
wonderfully mistaken II he looks to have
his appetite coaxed by Mis- Norton. She's
as good cook as there Is In the county
and ! don't deny 1t, but she's close, terri
BILE close, and the Deacon ought to know
II as well as do. He may be thankful
II she wastes -four and eggs in painful
OF plain doughnuts once fortnight. But
there. II we aren't gossiping in the morn
ing. breaking rules like couple OF school
girlsi Which would you ratehr do, Eu-
nice wash up the breakfast dishes or
sweep the sitting roomY
"It isn't me that's doing the gossip
ingr' Miss Eunice retorted, q sharp edge
on her usually mild voice. Il suppose,
though, we had better put off talking
things over till after dinner. but seems
10 be with a wedding and burglary In
town the same day we might have dinner
a little early"
She was ashamed of her impatience,
and to punish herself she chose the DISH
washing as a part OF her forenoon's work
Miss Esther pulled a blue cambria
sweeping cap over the gray hair, smooth
ed into a hard little lump ON the top OF
nor head, and with broom In hand walked
resolutely into the next room and closed
the door DeDlnu ttIs
Miss Eunice sorted the dishes heaped
on the kitchen table dnto neat piles, and
made a foamIng suds In the dish pan.
She was so absorbed in thought that
when the sitting room door opened a
crack and her sisters voice broke into
her reverfe she gave a startled cry and
thunpped two teacups together with
alarming clatter.
"It's lucky we bought those stamps
Yesterday. Like as not IL will be q fort
night before they get any more from
Washington. How many did the thieves
| get. did the boy say2'
about Ave dollars worth"
Lets see, that would be two hundred
ana Atty two-cent stamps. What in the
world could anybody want with such a
sight Of themF
In the interest OF her mathematical cal
ctylations Miss Esther pushed the door
vide open ard stood on the threshold. A
/ breeze from the sitting room windows
brought through 10 the kitchen a thin
| mist OF grey dust snd carpet mt. Miss
Eunicss eyes were bright with excite
m.ut; she dropped the dish cloth and
took a step towards her sister.
They we're after money, Of course, and
when they couldn't find any they took
the stamps. I should watch the factory
/ folks over a. the Mills 20 see n sons
/ 81 them didn't Try 20 buy things at the
stores with stamps. N u Was mo was 70.
sponsibls for hnding the buFRian"
Miss Euniee Eiosved with pleasure. Cor
shs felt that genuine detective strgJ