The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1901-05-23

all gone yet. Maybe Susie Reilly could
make quart or SOL!
Forty placid and benignant summers
had passed over the brown head of
Elvira Richards, but where was the
girl along Turkey creek who carried
herself with more grace and dignity,
and what matron could boast such a
fresh complexion and bright eyes as
she!
ITO be surev' she cried heartily.
"You come right in, Mr.. Brown" She
drew forward the best rocking chair.
with the Battenberg tides on the en-
treating red plush arms.
"'Tisn't much | need make, Twin
alone as do but good storeroom is
a fine thing to fall back on. You'd need
a lot in your house, Pm thinkin. Ill
give you the receipt with pleasure, an
a Jar to take home for Susie to taste
by. How does she get on, Mr.. Browns?
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. 1t comes natural to
some folks to be shiftless. Seems like
the work allus keeps a bit ahead Of
her. Seems like she can no more catch
up with 1t than-than she could with
q cottontail. But she means WELL Most
shiftless folks allus means well. l got
to be movin." He rose reluctantly.
1.-THE young ones. they'll be a-missin
me'
Lands sake, now, an you couldn't
wait till l make you a cup of coffee
No? That's too bad. Wait till get
you the chilli sauce. anyhow. What's
that? Could you come out to the kitch-
en- while Pm a-gettin it? Why, of
course, Mr.. Brown ......
Twittering and stepping briskly,
Miss Elvira tripped ahead. and Bar
stow Brown plodded after. He was
aghast at his own temerity, but the
appetizing smell of the chilli sauce
drew him to the kitchen as the white
brilliance of the lamp had drawn him
to the parlor.
"Myw He breathed and stopped
short. "This BEATS He was looking
around the gayest, coolest, most i'm
maculate little kitchen he had ever be-
held. From the black mirror Of a
stove, with its golden grin through the
opened draft, to the shining plates on
the dresser, the row of crimson filed
glass Jars on the table. the dishpan
sill fI,n
asleep on the braided mat. all things
bespoke industry. energy, comfort.
Something in his attitude of timidi-
ty. In bis look Of wonder, that was al
most one of awe; in his neglected per-
sonal appearance, went straight to the
woman's warm heart Of Miss Elvira
Richards. He had been such spruce.
good looking fellow 10 years ago! Her
glance, that was keen If kindly, noted
all things--th the shirt, with the band all
gone; the coat, with holes at the ell
bows; 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, l guess, with
only Susie. She never was a hand to
look after children. an there's three
to your place. l expect it amt been
like home since-since Cyrilla went
away"
BarstOW Brown was silent. 1t had
not been a happy home before Cyrilla
died. But he could not tell Miss Rich
ards that. No, nor any one else. Only
he had nieant-had honorably meant
to ask Elvira to marry him before the
pretty, painted, flippant little city girl
had come down to the country town
and taken his tickle heart captive.
Here's the receipt, an here's the
jar. Yes, you must take the big one,
an-why-Barstoww
For there was look in his eyes she
had not seen since those happy days
before Cyrilla aired her city graces on
Turkey creek.
''I'm a good deal of failure, Elvi-
ry," said Barstow Brown. II don't
know but you'll turn me out when you
hear what l been wantin to say ever
since it would be right an proper to
talk that way. But the farms a good
best hereabouts if twas fixed up right,
an the children
'"They're dear childrenw declared
Miss Elvira. and she meant it.
"Well, they like you awful well. You
allus was one to git around young
sters. I-T"-he dropped his eyes-"I
guess you know what l mean, Elviry-
what l wantv'
"Of course dor she cried cordially.
"You want the receipt an the chilli
sauce"
''Now, Elviry! You know 1 want
your
''Well, you got to take them If you
take me!' Her tone was delightfully."-
coquettish. II got one in each handw
He stared at her. eager, half incredu-
lous.
do you mean it-really? There's
been others
There's been Others" Miss Elvira
agreed complacently, "but-1 haven't
took any of 'em-have 1? There-now,
Barstow Brown! Do behave! l reck-
on l might git ready In three weeks,
but-your team will be clean froze
waitin. Oh. Barstow, l didn't think
twas in you to act so dreadfully silly!
Lands sake. look out! Let me set down
this jar of chilli sauce anyways! There
-now-go! It'll be all of 9 o'clock
when you get home-Barstow Brownv'
Chicago Tribune.
Fought For His Life.