The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-31
AN
ALMSHOUSE
STORY

She made ? pathetic little figure, as she
bent over tF old we'll.
Her hair vas silver-white. and though II
was meanfto be combed straight back nm
der her rim white cap. nature rebelled
against rimness in her, and had clustered
together various little tendrils, till they
made right waves along the line that
divided the cap from the face; they soft
ened. 90, the square corners of the deli
cate. bIue-veined skin that showed ON
Tans's temples. Her fellow-almsmen and
aImwomen said that Mrs. Smiths briebt
hai- must have gone white before it's time
Noione knew her age; she was bright and
cheerful. and her dark eyes sparkIed when
SIZE said. No one need ever grow Old
The College, as the almshouses were
cilled, had been built about two hundred
years ago by a rich old lord for twelve
deserving townsmen and -townswomen of
Nynstone.' The gray walls were charm
ing with their drapery of ivy; Virginia
Geeper. too, had travelled with stealthv
little green feet from turret to gable. and
fIpm gable to clustered chimney-stack
The College occupied four sides of the
wsll-kept grassed quadrangle; in its center
was the quaint well. its mouth fringed
with hart's-tongue fern; in one corner of
eh( tbbIAL I'll CudDcl,
opposite "the Warden's Lodgings" was
carved on the beam above the entrance.
within this was the hall, grand with dark
wood carving on the walls and furniture.
whis the windows showed good old painted
glass.
Each inmate of the college was required
to be sixty years old. an inhabitant of the
toF1 or It's neighborhood, and so strict a
search was said to be made into the char
aeter OF each candidate for election that
"a be chosen a member of the little COM
munity was in itself a warrant of resrecta-
bility.
Tansy Smith had been admitted only a
year ago; no one except the
knew anything about her; she had been
born In Wynstone parish, that was all, but
IL was plain that she had no acquaintance
now living in the clean. picturesque little
town.
A tail. stalwart man. who had lost a leg,
sat beside a meager. dark-faced woman on
the stone bench outside the chapel. His
eyes were fixed On the bending white
haired woman at the well.
You don't like me TO say it, Betty. but
] must say it again. there must ha' been a
time when yon poor soul was as handsome
a little body as a man need clap eyes on"
Betty's eyes were fixed on the fagstones
81 her feet, but her skinny fingers pinched
viciously at her blue apron. She considered
that Benjamin Shrubsole ''sort of belonged"
to her; she mended his linen, darned his
stockings, and If he wanted a turn done
In his lodging she was the one 10 do it.
Ben had mo CALL" Betty thought, to ok
kipy his mind with strangers, nor their
LOOKS neither"
Betty Griggs was the ugliest, and in all
ways the homeliest of the almswomen; she
now answered by a grunt. and fixed her
eyes on a closed door at the opposite cor
ner of the quad.
"Have you seen the new man?' she asked
81 hear he came in last night; maybe he
won't show up afOre Sunday. II 'twern';
for that chapel service one might never
set eyes on some neighbours"
"Ay, L saw him right enough, and he's
not much; a long thin chap, with a bent
back and hair as white as snow. He's no,
fit to hold a candle TO Mrs. Smith; see
what bits of hands she has; they was
never made to carry pals. And then, look
at her feet; she's always neat shod; plair
as her clothes is. she knows how to put EN-
on. She's a neat. comedy body, and I'll:
pleasant to look at her"
<AAAONtCA . A4Nf cld AHo OOAADdllOn sun
denly rose. Ben recollected himself, anc
also recollected that this week his hose
needed extra darning.
"'Tis always q pleasure to me to watci
anything a woman does; they've always go
such a way with EN-" Betty was lookin.
back and he gave her a tender glance
To himself he added. THAT there Mrs
Smith amt quite what she gives out TO be
Look at t'other three of the sect; there
Betty Griggs. and Nance Dawson, and Tab
itha Simmons. Lordi their noses is al
shapes. and SOS their lips"
His eyes went back TO the straight bu
rounded figure at the well.
See her eyes; they're large an brigh
yet. Her nose is straight as a line, her lip
is red like a girls. S'welp mel I'd Xix
10 know the rights about her. Not that sh
takes notice of me, beyond a civil Goo
day t'ye, neighbour"
While he unused about her Mrs. Smith ha
lifted her pail and carried IL slowly towar
her lodging, which stood next 10 that of las
nights newcomer. As she passed his doc
the sound of whistling came from it. Tan
sy started and spilled some of the water sh
carried; her face grew white; she was look
ing at the door, not into the quad, but thes
signs were hidden from her observant ad
mirer. Ben Shrubsole. Tansy hurriedl
caught up her pail and went into her lods
ing.