Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-05-21
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: NlM'S HUNDRED
I TUNE ORGAN
Cop right. les, by 7. c. Mcclure
BY G. w. OGDEN


Nam sat OH the bottom step of the
three leading into the house, her ell
bows on her knees and her chin in her
palms Size had swept the gravel walk
running IKE 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 it made Il 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
tie buggy and stood the egg basket
with its load of groceries beside the
curb. She looked ut 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
ccllsc Ol tpltt anu SiSch va i'7'A'S
about her placed her burden upon the
step beside the silent woman and said:
well, Nam"
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
II at her side.
Her mother was silent.
You know it's a bad sign in you
when you think. Mann Els Ann said
anxiously. You ain'ts goin' to git
down with the maiarial or flanders.
air you:"
"D'you git any mail, Els Ann"
Nam asked evasively.
Els Ann put her hand on Mans
shoulder and looked into her face
wrinkIed and brown as a tobacco leaf.
"No use o. you tryin' to put me off,
Mann" she said. what air you think
in about this time, MamF'
Nam turned her back to her persist
ent duestioner, raised her eyes to the
dim rim of the horizon again and an
swered with a quiver of remorse and
regret in her voice:
Its a organette this time, Els Ann"
"a organetter' gasped Els Ann, with
a 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 II was an organette this time
The last time Nam had a 'thinkin'
spell'' it had been induced by the visit
OF portrait agent to whom she gave
81 for an enlarged picture Of her dead
husband. Seven dollars was a heap
for picture, even life size and OF
cne's 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, Mann she asked.
'In yander on the table answered
Nam, with the guilty feeling Of Il pen
itent robber disclosing the hiding place
of his spoils.
Els Ann went In and sat down ut
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-
ganette," and asked:
How much did you give the feller
for 1t, Mamf
Mam's face frightened. "Only 'leven
dollars" she answered, "an' the feller
he said 1t plays hundred tunes
That's Il heap more'n your cousin Nan
ME can play on her'n with all her
hams an feet, an you jess set down
an turn that little han'le an the
music nows-that's what the feller he
said"
you paid him 'leyen dollars outen
the twelve Tweddle gave me for old
Shows calfY'
Eyes, Els Ann, but he said 1t was
worth ten times the money. He said
you'd have to pay s. to git into the
opcray an hear only part o them
tunes played, an here you can sit right
in your own parlor an have 'em at any
time, day or night, without extra cost
whatsoever"
Els Ann sat motlonless a long time.
The chickens went to roost, and Nam
again took up her pensiye vigil on the
front steps.
The gloom deepened in the room
where Els Ann remained alone. She
was overwhelmed by the debris OF all
the plans she had built on the $l2
Nam had so foolishly spent for the
worthless box with roll Of perfo-
rated paper inside. She should have
carried the money with her when she
went to Monticello instead of leaving
II In the bureau drawer and telling
Nam TO watch out that n tramp didn't
sneak in and get IT, Seemed like them
there agents always waited till she
went away to flock In on Nam. Must
all know about her. Orto be some
law ag'in agents. An where was she
to get money for that new winter jack
ct now? Butter'n eggs didn't fetch
any more than would buy groceries an
shoes. with n dress for Nam now an
az .Il. soue VI DNtll Wtdiih shhl Oih
Jacket for years an years. Let's see,
how long was It? Well, hard TO tell
exactly but ever since the winter Thea
Brasstcld begun to keep comp'ny with
hcr-for at least seven years comm
twict n week, Winsd'ys an Satd'ys,
M reg lar as prayer meetin', an never
word about gIttln' married Course
kccpln' other felers away. Everybody
thought they'd marry-had been think
IN go for six years at least everybody
copt Els Ann"
90 right In, Thea. Els Ann, she's
la yandcr" she heard Nam say from
hcr perch on the steps. Then Thea's
big boots dumped across the porch,
the screen door creaked and he sat
down In chair respectable distance
behind Els Ann.
whats n you got In that box, Els
AnnI" Ire asked.
cit amt no box" she replied listless.
ly; ITS II organettc."
"Gce.mo-necw said Thea. "Play us
n choon." Els Ann moved the little
crank. There was chuckling sound,
Il preliminary note or two; then IL be-
ban to play Nearer, My God, to
Thee" "Suwancc River" Yankee
Doodle" annie Laurie Jigs. waltzes,
operate airs. all In the same spirltless.
sleepy tome, came from the organette