Amador ledger., 1901-02-01
CHILL SAUCE
HOW BARSTOW BROWN
AND ELVIRY RICHARDS
CANE TOGETHER.
lo~oAo%o%o%o%%o%o%o%c
The household art is the only dover

-Harper's.
The last scarlet bar of the gorgeous
autumn sunset was fading out behind
the tall poplars along Turkey creek
when Barstow Browns creaking old
farm wagon turned the corner of the
road which led to his lonely and Ill
kept home.
There's the light Albumin already
In Mis- Elviry Richards window" he
commented. ut does git dark awful
early nights now. Seems like hern's
the cleanest KEEP an the cheerfulest
lamp in the hull township"
And indeed 1t did seem to illuminate
with its friendly radiance the little one
story house by the roadside. 1t looked
like beacon-a star 1t made Farmer
Brown think Ia admiring but unformu-
lated fashion of steadfast love-pure,
unwavering, brilliant. 1t attracted
him. 1t drew him-the worn and
harassed body and soul of him. Uncon-
sciously he frightened the reins. But it
was not until the plodding horses
stood still in response that he won
dered whether he might venture in
and what excuse he could give for his
visit.
Suddenly he lifted his head and
sniffed-once, twice. Then he hurried
ly twisted the reins around the whip
stock and clambered down from the
high seat. Swiftly, soundlessly, ex-
cuse and encouragement had come to
him-in the guise of an odor at that
"Chili sauce! If she amt a-makin
chill sauce" He was hurrying up the
short path to the front door, at which
he knocked. "I'll tell her want the re-
ceipt for Susie Reilly to make some
by. That's the ticket! Oh, howdy, Mis-
Richards! l was goin home from mill
an the incest smell come a-foatin
down the road! Seemed IS if | was
back In mothers again, an she was
putin up chill sauce" He sighed and
moistened his lips at the recollection.
$50 l thought I'd come in an find how
you make it. Our ripe tomatoes amt
all gone yet. Maybe Susie Reilly could
make quart or sol"
Forty placid and benignant summers
had passed over the brown head of
1I1h Dul WueTe was Tie
girl along Turkey creek who carried
herself with more grace and dignity,
and what matron could boast such
fresh complexion and bright eyes as
she?
"To be sure" 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 l need make. livin
alone as l do, but good storeroom Is
fine thing to fall back on. You'd need
lot in your house, Pm thinkin. I'll
give you the receipt with pleasure. all
a jar to take home for Susie to taste
by. How does she get on, Mr.. Brown
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.
mot 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 it than-than she could with
a cottontaiL But she means we'll Most
shiftless folks allus means well. | got
to be movin." He rose reluctantly.
"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 l 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 chill sauce
drew him to the kitchen as the white
brilliance Of the lamp had drawn him
to the parlor.
"My" 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
that glittered like silver and the cat
asleep on the braided mat, all things
bespoke industry, energy, comfort.
Something in his attitude of timidi-
-, IN, hi oF mt oil
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 a spruce,
good looking fellow Is years agoi Her
glance, that was keen If kindly, noted
all things-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
eyesl She busted herself writing out
the recipe-and talking.
TT amt any too easy, 1 guess, with
only Susie. She never was a hand to
look after children, an there's three
to your place. 1 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 meant-had honorably meant
to ask Elvira to marry him before the
pretty, painted, dippant little city girl
had come down to the country town
and taken his tickle heart captive.
"Herp'S the recefnt an here's the