The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1902-03-27
|c)Gunt Judas
Good Time

dressed in a faded blue calico gown
and a checked apron, and wore home.
made sunbonnet upon her gray head.
At her right was the roadway leading
from the barn to the turnpike III front
of the house. A few feet TO the left
was her back doorstep. 1t was warm
afternoon, and the shade OF the tree
had tempted her from the hot kitchen,
as It often did.
Aunt Hulda's medItations were not
worthy of record. She was simple
old body, living a simple. circumseribed
life and thinking simple. unlmportant
things. For Instance, she was about to
make applesauce. and she knew her
sauce was highly praised by the farm
ers' wives who now and then dropped
in for a visit and some tea. These
were memorable occasions with her.
She reflected upon the evident enjoy
ment Mrs Worrell had displayed only
last week, when she ate two full sau-
GERS of Aunt Hulda's applesauee. From
the same tree, too. 1t was good
tree; she had used its fruit In sauce
for many years; thlrty-maybe forty.
II was hard to remember the exact
time. Probably IL would keep on bear
Ing these rosy-cheeked apples as long
as her days lasted. and then
Then she looked up and saw the
boy. He had just ridden up the turn
pike on his bicycle. and glancing over
the fence perceived Aunt Hulda seat
ed under her tree.
He could not have said what made
him pause. dismount and regard the
homely picture thoughtfully as lie lean
ed upon his wheel. When he saw that
! she observed him he took off his cap
and bowed to her. and she returned
the salutatlon composedly. Then, af-
ter hesitatlng glance up the road. he
trundled his wheel through the open
was sitting
Good afternoon" ne said. pleasant
ly. "Will you let me lie here and rest
a bit?"
She nodded. She liked boys; and this
one was fresh and manly and good to
look upon. He wore modest gray suit
and cap. and stockings Of brown worst
ed. There was nothing "fiashy" In his
appearance, which could not be truth
fully said OF all the beyelers Aunt
Hulda had seen spinning along the
smooth turnpike.
The boy leaned his wheel against the
tree. recllned gracefully upon the
grass, and resting his head upon his
elbow. watched the deft fingers that
busily continued to pare and quarter
the apples.
'Tiredi" she asked. In motherly
tone. She had never been blessed with
children. but had all mothers tender
ness for youth still fresh In her old
heart.
mot very" he answered: but II
looked cool and pleasant here. and
and | thought I'd like to talk with
you"
She nodded again.
you see, | am not limited as &c
time" he continued. lazlly stroking the
kitten that had crept to his side, "foi
l am taking cross-eountry trip on my
wheel as part of my vacation. never
know where shall stop at night; that
is one of the delights Of the trip When
dark overtakes me. or grow tired.
stop at the nearest village"
1.-THE highest place to here Is Mil.
bank" remarked Aunt Hulda. There's
circus there today"
"a circus? Why, that's jollyl There's
nothing | love better than TO attend n
country circus, Not for the sake of the
bareback riders and clowns, you un.
derstand; but to watch the people and
enjoy their enjoyment"
Martin is there now.' she said.
MARTINI
MY man. It's his year. We take
turns, you know; he goes one year. and
l go the next Martin went early this
afternoon, so as to see the animals fed,
but he won't see the show till the even.
Ing performance. It's always better
evenings. He took his supper In his
pocket"
But why don't you go togetherr
asked the boy, sitting up.
1T costs too much" she ronl,oa
frankly. I'VE really can't afford II at
all, now times are so hard; but we're
TWO old folks, living all by ourselves
ana we thought as we'd divide up, and
take In the circus every year. When
go, tell Martin all about II: and
when he goes he tells me. 1t gives us
something to talk about when we're
alone In the evenings, and it's almost
as good as going yourself to hear Mar.
tin describe It,"
The boy lay back and looked at her
curously. He did not laugh. 1t seem.
ed to him he was nearer tears than
laughter, although he could see well
enough the comedy of 1t.
How far Is the town. he asked.
1.-TWO miles"
Have you horse?"
YES, indeed. Old Piebald Is In the
barn now. Martin never takes him
to the circus; no more do |. We walk.
Plebald gets scarf at the steam piano.
and 1t costs n quarter to put him up
In the hotel barn"
Lets CO." said the boy, suddenly.
"Where?' demanded Aunt Hulda.
dropping her knife In amazement.
10 the circus. Be my guest. I've
plenty Of money--more than | shall
know how to spend on my trip, and
I'D like to take you to the circus. Well
see II all-sideshows and everything
and well have real jolly timer