Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-12-21
down to her house. She's got somethin


to tell YOU
Very well. I'm comm"
The chill of the last weeks snowfall
was stiil i'll the air. The ragged snow lay
like tufts Of wool under the ashen apple
trees. A spout was dripping somewhere.
1t had been sunless day, smitten by
gusts. but now down the west few pale
yellow clouds were floating. Adelaide
closed the door and found herself face to
face with Margaret Ellen. An accusing
spirit shone out of the girls tear-stained
eyes; she looked tall in the fading light.
II don't see how yo' can go down TO
Mis- Hunts an not to Aunt Sara's,
mother. Mis- Hunt amt anythin' to yo'.
It seems to me that if people were dyin'
I'd forgive them anythin' they'd ever
done to me-.
II can't" Adelaide was putting on
her hood and shawl She left as if made
of iron.
We'll, mother maybe yo'll be sorry
for it,
Wait till yo' go through what I have
this eighteen year. Yo'll talk different"
II think if yo' forgive people it shows
yo'r better'n they are. ="
Adelaide turned back for a last word
Marg ret Ellen. yo' don't know what
yo'r talkin' about
As she went along the road afterward.
gray figure in the gray-white land
scape, she had a feeling that she had
come to the end of the story A sense al
most of triumph possessed her. Isabel
Hunt-for she did not doubt it was Isa-
bel-had sent for her The suspicious of
years would be established as facts; she
would have an added right to her rigid
treatment of job.
An express wagon loaded up to its can
vas caves came numbering along to the
village. The ruddy driver hailed the
lone woman on the nike
ris?''
Yes, an befo' night"
He pointed with his whip backward
over his shoulder. 4 cnld's toy sled,
painted a vivid orange. tiangIed from one
Of the poles. Christmas is comm. Ms
Norris
Adelaide answered him vaguely. She
| had forgotten all about the holidays
Now she remembered in sort of alien
way as il she We're outside of them all
She said to herself that she must not for
get to give Margaret Ellen her usual
presents. She was half afraid she woui
| forget. She began to wonder ut herself.
| The chimneys of the Hunt house began
to rise out of hollow of the road 4
| thread Of violet smoke curled upward in
| the gray air.
An old woman waited at the front
door. She had anxious eyes, the color
of her daughter IsabeI's. She let AIDE
! laide in without word. The only Tight
/ in the sick womans room came from
! that pale. last CLEAN in the west. The
| dark was already settling in the corners.
/ Adelaide sat down stiiify in Il chair and
| looked straight before her. Her tongue
| felt like stone in her mouth. 49,
TIN goin', Adlaide Norris. The
voice, mellow yet. broke. and then went
on. "I've heard yo'r bIamin' job on ae-
count o me"
Adelaide sat motioniess,
| We'll, yo' needn't. He had nothin' TO
do with my goin' away"
AN who was it, then, Isabel Hunt 2"
"Yo' don't believe me. I know yo'
don't believe me" The words came in
gasps. But I'm teIlin' the truth. job
Norris had nothin' to do with my goin'
away. -to-GodF'
The room seemed to grow darker.
Who was it. Isabel Hunt?"
Il don't-want-to tell You.
1T seems ii I'd die if didn't know.
The room was almost dark now. The
voice kept on, mellow and painting. 1t
was-y o'r-father."
One thought surged foremost in Ade-
laidc Norris mind as she trudged viii
ageward little after. She had been
unjust to job: she must make repara-
ton. She would bring him home and
care for him until the end.
1t had started TO snow in fine, sleety
flakes that stung like needles She
wished she could lie down in it and
die. She drew near her gate. Like Il
row OF ghosts ner apple trees lifted in the
whirlng storm. Her father had plant
cd those trees: she gave a little cry.
Farther along the eXpressman was UNI
loading his packages ut the grocery store.
lie drew cut horn and blew on it IN
holiday fashion.
Where yo goin' this time o day,
Mis- NorrjS?'
Adelaide stopped in the snow She
felt as il she must make confession.