Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-10-09
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~ vhS. " RIAAGIS SIT uOWll ueuNlly
M in a low rocking chair and,
SW@ took her darning basket on
~ her lap. She drew rather
large black stocking up over her arm,
thrusting. her hand well down into the
foot and spreading her fingers far
apart. She examined 1t carefully with
her head on one side and little near
sighted sQuint in her eyes.
Then she threaded a needle and
dropped glass ointment jar, over
which she always darned, into the
stocking.
The doorbell rang.
ooh, mercy on us!" said Mrs. Frazer.
She jumped up stihly, but so suddenly
that the darning things rolled all over
the floor. Gust because I'd set out to
darn! could embroider on them pill
lowshams u month and not soul
would set foot in this house. l wonder
who it tsp
She lifted one edge of the shade and
peered out cautiously. ooh, my! It's
Mis- Dean. I'd almost rather it had
been the minister"
She gathered up the darning imple-
ments and the red canton flannel stock
ing bag and hurried into the bedroom.
She returned in moment, and with a
triumphant air laid partly embroid-
cred pillowsham carelessly on the
table, thrust needle into it, and set
her thimble beside it. Then she opened
the door.
"Why, Mis- Dean! You don't mean
it! Really, now! Well, I'm amazed. l
thought you never was comm. Come
right in. Don't mind your rubbers. My
carpet amt silk warp henrietty. new
er take my rubbers off anywheres. It's
too much trouble. If folks don't like
my rubbers, they needn't like me;
that's all. Love me, love my rubbers,"
she added. with comfortable laugh,
preceding her guest into the sitting
room.
Mrs. Dean sank into a low chair. She
was a small. colorless woman, with
cold eyes and stubborn mouth.
"Such hill as you live onw she said
in an injured tone. "What possessed
you to buy way up here?
ooh. just to give folks somethin to
wonder about" replied Mrs. Frazer,
with her mellow, eXasperating laugh.
"Folks are bound to ask questions, you
know. If they don't ask what made us
build way up here, they ask why we
didn't put porch clear round or a bay
window in the bathroom or why we
didn't run our pipes on the outside in
| std of the inside"
eyes," said Mrs. Dean coldly. Her
pale eyes We're commencing to let out
little unsupported fire. She had many
nervous movements. Her veil was too
short, and she kept putting up care
lessly gloved hand to draw it down
over her thin chin. Each time it sprang
back like piece d rubber and curved
IN to her lips with every breath.
you maxim shams?"
Eyes; was just workin on 'em."
The doorbell rang.
"WellV' said Mrs Frazer. She got up
more slowly this time. She was q large
woman; she moved stiffly. ut never
rains but it pours."
Sublimely unconscious of her rude
ness, she went to the door.
II ooh, Mis- Hostetter You, is III
Well Pm right glad you come. SteI
in. l guess you know Mis- Dean?" sh,
added humorously.
"oh, my, yes!" said Mrs. Hostetter
sitting on the edge of chair. She wal
tall and thin. She stopped slightly.
81 was afraid it might be the minis
ter" Mrs. Frazer resumed her place.
"Well, tallkin about the minister
said Mrs. Dean, lowering her voice, +"
just want that you should notice how
often he goes to Miss Huntley's. Nv
seen him go there time and ag'in. He'