The Press., 1903-07-09

bows on her knees and her chin In her
palms. She had swept the gravel walk
running like a lava scorched strip of
barrenness to the front gate, through
the soothing green OF the uncut lawn.
Her broom leaned on the steps beside
her.
So the little yellow horse drawing
the weather banded buggy passed un-
der her eyes as 1t made a great show
Of hurrying by the house and turned
without guiding rein into the road
leading near to the kitchen door. AT
the well the horse stopped and plunged
Its nose greedily into the trough of
water.
A sparely made woman climbed from
the buggy and stood the egg basket
curb. She looked at Nam wrapped in
the sound proof mantle of her reverie
and led the horse away.
Presently she returned, slung the
heavy basket on her arm with the in
cense of coffee and green tea rising
about her, placed her burden upon the
step beside the silent woman and said:
"well, Man," .rs##
ELS Ann, you home" Queried Nam.
turning her head slowly.
"What're you thinkin' about Mann
Els Ann asked, untying the strings Of
her broad brimmed hat and swinging
It at her side.
Her mother was silent.
"You know it's a bad sign in you
when you think, Man," Els Ann said
anxiously. You amt goin' to git
down with the malarial or flanders,
air your
"D'you git any mall Els Ann?'
Nam asked eyasiyely.
Els Ann put her hand on Mans
shoulder and looked into her face,
wrinkled and brown as tobacco leaf.
mo use o. you tryin' to put me of,
Man," she said. What air you think
in about this time, MamT
Nam turned her back to her persist
ent Questioner, raised her eyes to the
dim rim of the horizon again and an
swered with a CULVER of remorse and
regret in her voice:
"Its organette this time, Els Ann"
"a organetter' gasped Els Ann, with
q spasmodic intake of breath. Then
she dropped down to the step. The
shadow of the house stretched down
the gravel path and drew the gate
posts into its refreshing embrace.
After awhile Nam sat down beside
her. Neither spoke.
So 1t was an organette this time.
The last time Nam had a 'thinkin'
spell'' 1t had been induced by the visit
Of a portrait agent to whom she gave
81 for an enlarged picture Of her dead
husband. Seven dollars was a heap
for a picture, even life size and Of
ones father, when one knew Dave
Croker. the grocer at Monticello, gave
one Just like 1t with $40 worth of
goods.
At length Els Ann arose. Where Is
It at, Mam?" she asked.
an yander on the table," answered
Nam, with the guilty feeling of pen
tent robber disclosing the hiding place
Of his spoils.
Els Ann went in and sat down at
the table beside the little vanished
box. Nam followed and stood beside
her. Els Ann felt the shining surface
with her calloused, toll toughened
hand, traced the gold trimming around |
the top and the gold lettering, "Or-
and asked:
How much did you give the Teller |
for 1t, MamT
Mans face frightened. "Only leyen |
she answered, "an' the Teller |
he said 1t plays a hundred tunes. |
That's a heap more'n your cousin Nan |
ME can play on her'n with all her |
bans an feet, an you jess set down |
an turn that little han'le an the |
music fiows-that's what the Teller he |
said"
"You paid him leven dollars outen |
shows calfY'
"Yes, Els Ann, but he said it was |
worth ten times the money. He said |
7ou'd have to pay SIS to git into the |
,peray an hear only part o. them |
unes played, an here you can sit right |
n your own parlor an have 'em at any
lime. day or night. without extra cost
Els Ann sat motionless a long time.
Che chickens went to roost, and Nam
gain took up her pensive vigil on the
ront steps.
The gloom deepened in the room
where Els Ann remained alone. She
vas overwhelmed by the debris of all
he plans she had built on the $12
dam had so foolishly spent for the
worthless box with a roll Of perfo-
,A4 /
arried the money with her when she
vent to Monticello instead Of leaving
in the bureau drawer and telling
lam to watch out that tramp didn't
neak in and get it. Seemed like them
here agents always waited till she
vent away to flock in on Nam. Must
II know about her. Orto be some
o get money for that new winter jack
t now? Butter'n eggs didn't fetch
ny more than would buy groceries an
hoes, with a dress for Nam now an
gin. She'd been wearin' that old
acket for years an years. Let's see,
ow long was it? Well, hard to tell
xactly. but ever since the winter Thea
u ooohCAu OCSuh W hCCP "1LA /
er-for at least seven years comm
wict a week. Winsd'ys an Sat'd'ys,
. reg'lar as prayer meetin', an never
word about gittin' married. Course
eepin' other fellers away. Everybody
bought they'd marry-had been think
I so for six years-at least everybody
ept Els Ann"
NJ |
yander," she heard Nam say from
er perch on the steps. Then Thea's
lg boots dumped across the porch,
lie screen door creaked and he sat
own I'm chair a respectable distance
ehind Els Ann.
whats a you got in that box, Els
mp" he asked.
1T amt no box" she replied listless-
:; Its a organette."
"Gee-mo-neep' said Thea "Play No