Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-07-03

night. It's so hot-Im considerable
tired-I was thinking peIhap:-could
have the team ?" Her sallow cheeks
Redeemed anxiously.
Mrs. Tooker held her spoon suspend
ed in helpless dismay. Was Mary
crazy? There was nothing further
said until "father" had cleared his
plate and drained his last saucerful of
tea. Then he showed back his chair
with a rasping noise and said decided
ly: "The mares got to rest up tor
tomorrer. I guess you can foot 1t all
right"
Mrs. Tooker's spoon fell gathering
to her plate. There was almost re-
lief in her face. The red flush in Ma
rvs face fickered, died out, then woke
again. The shadow of Independence
day touched her once more.
"But, father" she said, subduing
the quaver in her voice with unusual
success, ard like some money"
Adam Tooker sat down suddenly
in chair by the door-so suddenly
and so heavily that the chair, unduly
weak in constitution, succumbed to
his weight.
1t was unfortunate for poor Mary.
Money!" he exclaimed, getting
himself together stifay. "You'n and
your mother are always an everlast-
in'ly wantin' money. l amt made OF
money. Where's the dollar | give
you last week?"
"Last month";" Mary quietly cor
rected him. Mother had to get a
new milk pail with most of that and
a butter mold with the rest. l want
this money to spend for us-mother
and me.
"Then l guess you'll have to turn
to and earn it.
Adam Tooker was not q brutal
man. There was even secret core
of unused rusty tenderness beneath
the husk of sel6shness, but just now
his shins twinged with rheumatic pain
from his fall and his temper had bim
in hand.
"Oh, Mary" Lavinia ToOker re-
monstrated querulously over the dish
washing, "how'd you dare to vex your
father SO? He feels the heat dread
fully and don't knows he feels real
we'll besides. l wieh you hadn't done
it"
Mother Mary Tooker stood up
straight and impressive. even majestic.
Her old young, spiritless face shown
with a new light. The grace of hon.
est indignation transformed it.
Mother, look at me I'm going
on 80. Do l look as if | ever'd spent
a cent of fathers money on myself,
as other girls do? Do l look pretty
and tasty and young? Did | ever
look so? And he says I'd better earn
some money T.
The scathing of her voice burned
into her mothers heart. She spread
out both her calloused, unlovely hands
and let them speak with wordless elo-
ouence for her. The REDEEMED skin
and worn nails bore pitiful evidence
of rough work.
where's the money l have earned? !?
Where's the money you've earned all
this time, mother, while you've been
growing old and stoopy and feeble !?
Where's our new dresses we We earned
and laces and ribbons like other wom-
ems? Have you ever had nice
dress in your life-ever? Have |
either? Where's the celebrations
we've ever been TOP Where's
anything beautiful or easy or CON-
Portable we've ever had or done?
Mrs. Tooker's helpless tears fell.
Was poor Mary crazy?
"Hush, hush, dearie j. she said
soOthingly. You're tuckered out
what with the heat and working SO
stiddy. You don't know what you're
saying. You go get on your hat
it'll sort of settle your feelings to walk
down to the store. Law l guess L
can make out with this little mess of
of dishes-go wayl"
At Orr's Mills the Fourth of July
dawned hotter and more breathless
still-the kind of Fourth of July we
have been bred to expect if all goes
well.
Adam Tooker got an early start 10
Stratford. The women folks were
left with most of the morning chores
to do to that end. 1t was long before
they were done. Then Mary disap-
peared in her own room.
When she came out, half an hour or
moro later. her mother fairly gasped