The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-05-07

hair up in the crimping pins, and
without pausing to consider the ac-
ton, hurried to bed.
But as she lay between the home
made flannel sheets, sleep would not
come. How would the crimps look
and how would her mother like them?
If her mother would only go away
and visit over Sunday, she could. ex-
pertinent with those crimps. But no
her mother never went away. She
was always there to oversee every
thing.
Oh! was it, after all, such a crime
to be SO attractive that a gentleman
desired her society! Then common
sense whispered to her that she was
not attractive. With these and many
other painful reflections she fell
asleep.
Next morning Mrs. Brown did not
seem to notice that her daughters
temples were bound in a red and
green kerchief and treated that
daughter with unusual kindness.
Her excessive %amiability continued,
though Lavinia certainly was dazed
and did foolish things; fed cream to
a calf in place of skimmilk, and
passed her saucer for coffee at break
fast.
Her mother sweetly overlooked
these little mistakes. She also
maintained her composure when La
vinia came from her room after the
late dinner had been cleared away,
with her best black flannel gown on
and a wavy fluff of steel gray hair
over each temple.
The two women sat down before
the kitchen fire in their high-backed
rockers. Mrs. Brown was indus
~trious'r reading her large printed
psalm book and Lavinia had the Bible
open on her lap, but made no pre-
tense of reading. Her mind dwelt
on the great event that had come
into her life. She no longer had any
fear of her mother in connection with
Mr.. Smiths visit. Her mind dwelt on
other matters now.
She had done the barn chores fully
two hours earlier than she had ever
done them before, and now she sat
thinking that the fire in the 'ssettin'-
room stove vas all ready to ''touch
off," and tried to calculate the time
it would take it to get "het up" after
he came. That he would come she
did not doubt, and when he came
what would he say? What would he
say?
That question filled her poor dazed
brain and hummed in her ears until
she could not by any means put il
from her.
She knew that giving him per
mission to come was as good as &C
cepting him, and he knew it as wei
as she.
1t is sad to relate that Lavinis
never had "~Sundav-night company
and she had a hazy idea that this was
a deplorable state of affairs.
She was aroused from something
very like sleep by the clock striking
out the hour of seven. At the same
time she heard the noise of wheels
and presently some one was saying
"Whoa!" very emphatically in the
back yard. Her mother remarked
sweetly:
81 guess we're goin' to have com
pany, Lavinia. Run and light tn
settin'-room fire, while I go to tn
| door,"
While she was thus employed SHE
heard Mr.. Smiths voice in the shed
and did not even wonder to hear he1
mother warmly asking him in ant
hoping he felt himself tolerably well
Mr.. Smith shook hands with thu
two women with a great show O.
robust cheerfulness, hoped they were
well and thought as he was passing
he'd drop in an be sociable, as i
must be pesky lonesome for two
women livin' alone like that.
Mrs. Brown replied with man,
smiles that it was rather lonesom,
sometimes and that she was awfu
glad to have him come and, of course
he would stay the evening.
OF course he would, and then h,
had to go out and stand his horse il
the barn, as it. was apt to ge
mighty uneasy hitched to the wagon
When he returned he unwound
long, stringy muffler from about hi
neck, and Lavinia hung it with hi
hat on a nail beside her own working
hat and coat. Then he began t,
wrestle with his outer coat, and i
was not until Lavinia came to hi
assistance that he was able to ri,
himself Of the strengthening gar
ment, which was very narrow acros
the shoulders and at least fou:
inches shorter than the under coat.
Though Lavinia was not fastidious
she would have wished to see her ad
mirer's coats agree better with eacl
other, but glancing at the voluminou
and lengthy skirts of that "Sunda,
coat" hanging on the STOPPING form
Of Mr.. Smith, she did not wonde.
that he could not easily get an over
coat to cover it.
By and by they went into the par
lor, but presently Mrs. Brown re
membered that she had to go and SCI
a neighbours sick child, and departed
smiling graciously on the odd pair.
After she had gone, Lavinia triet
her best to be entertaining, bu
found it an awful task. She wished
her mother had STAYED, She coult