Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1902-03-28
At The End of The Road


III t.unless they ,miStrust. It's to be
real surprise" said Lou Harlow.
poising herself, like one about to take
flight, in the doorway of Mrs. Green's
kitchen You must come Mis- Green.
II will do you good to get out. You're
too much shut up. Sarell will miss you
If you don't come. She'll want to see
her near neighbors. If nobody else Is
there. Get 'Rastus to bring you
down"
Mrs. Green set the teapot farther
back on the stove and murmured an
indefinite Min" The milk house door
opened with rattle of pals Louis
eyes turned slightly in that direction
as she talked on persistently.
Brother Ed was going to stop ysster-
day and invite you. but he had To go
another way so stopped in now. It's
rather late to be giving invitations,
know; but It's all been planned in such
hurry that We are out and out flus-
tered. | thought, too, that | might stir
you up TO coming better than Ed could.
1t does seem too bad not to have Il lot
of folks ut tin wedding surprise par
ty. Eyerybody's to bring something
besides refreshments, you know. I've
the cutest little oatmeal cooker that l
got at the scent store in the city, and
| shall take that. Well, | won't hinder
you any longer from your supper. Good
by. Now do come If you can. Good
by"
The kitchen door timed Its closing
with mathematical accuracy to the is
suing of u young man from the milk
house. Through the window Mrs.
Green saw Louis. innocently surprised
start and cordial bow, but the bit of
talk that followed was inaudible to her.
She felt certain, however, that 1t was
about the surprise party
IF those Harlows ant managin'i"
was her mental comment. But it'll
take more'n pretty putin on to make
Lou one mite engagin' to 'Rastus, |
guess"
'Rastus came in presently, and, after
washing at the sink, sat down to sup
per He was thin and not over tall,
with a vivid boyish complexion and
chin like his mothers, marked by de-
cision that almost severe coldness of
gray blue eyes accentuated. 1t was
only when 'Rastus smiled that one
knew how winning his face could be.
Lou Harlow stopped in to ask us to
tin weddin' surprise at her brother
! Duo hal. .lxv q f.
you,' said Mrs. Green, as she poured
the tea. Il shall have to carry some
thin In the shape of tin. wonder II
the dipper | got Of that peddler last
week won't do. l took it for rags.
| They do pay so little for rags now, l
declare It's hardly worth savln' 'em.
IL 1t hadn't been for them old over
alls of yours | shouldn't made out
enough to get this dipper."
Likely they won't have more'n seven
dIppers," said 'Rastus, helping himself
to second dish of apple sauce.
Mrs Green looked disturbed.
well, dippers is handy. Every house
keeper needs two, and they use up
quick. Dippers nowadays amt what
dippers used to be. There's hardly one
solderin't | don't know what's more
provokin' than to have a dipperful of
water come splashin' ON to the floor
and leave nothin' but handle In your
fingers"
The quick, bright smile flashed over
'Rastus' face
Better carry a pan or something of
that kind"
His mother took the suggestion as
profoundly serious.
Il haven't one could spare. Can't
we stop for the Blake girls. 'Rastus?
They like to get out, and it's rather far
for 'em to walk now they're fallin'. |
declare 1t goes to my heart to see poor
Miss Betsey 50 meechin' lately. She
doesn't seem to know whether her
things is on straight or not. Last Sun
day twas all | could do to keep my
mind on the sermon for wantin' to
gtraighten her false front. Twas twist
ed so the partln was over one eye.
| And it's real pathetic to see Miss Har-
riet hoverin' about her sister and fuss
In to make her comfortable, when all
the time Miss Harriet's the Oldest Miss
Betsey amt but 6S. | shouldn't won
der II 'twould chick 'em up consid' able
to go to theosurprlse party this even
! In" "a
"Well, you can take 'em; I'll walk.
'Twould be too crowding in the buggy
/ for us all, and don't want to get out
the business wagon. There's spoke
/ loose"
Mrs. Green looked narrowly at him;
the repose of his face indicated moth
Ing.
But, 'Rastus, l can't hitch old Nell
/ You know how she acts the minute we
get out-a caperin' and pullln'."
'I'll be on hand to look out for you"
/ Rastus pushed away his chair, and
the door closed after him.
/ 'Rastus was not long in finishing the
+, chores. When he had harnessed old