Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-04-13
MANS HUNDRED
TUNE ORGAN
BY C. W. OGDEN
copErieht. laa, 1y 7. {. Meclare


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 I'M
der her eyes as it 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.
sparely made woman climbed from
the buggy and stood the egg basket
with its load of groceries beside the
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."
ELS Ann. you homer" queried Nam.
turning her head slowly.
"What're you thinkiu' about Mam?"
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 bad sign in you
when you think. MAN." Els Ann said
anxiously. You amt gotn to git
down with the malarial or flanders.
air you?"
"D'you git any mail, Els AnnT
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, Nam"
Nam turned her back to her persist
ent questioner. raised her eyes to the
dim rim of the horizon again and an
swered with culver of remorse and
regret in her voice:
Its organette this time. Els Ann"
"a organette" gasped Els Ann, with
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'
spelf' ii 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
t.f,1 81 N
ones father, when one knew Dave
Croker, the grocer at Monticello, gave
one just like it with $40 worth of
goods.
AT length Els Ann arose. where Is
1t at. Mann" she asked.
an yander on the table" answered
Nam, with the guilty feeling of pen
itent 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
gazette" and asked:
HOW uiu you riNt TIC ANA'Si
for X. Mann"
Mans face frightened. "Only 'leven
dollars" she answered. IAN the feller
he said it plays a hundred tunes.
That's heap more'n your cousin Nan
ME can play on her'n with all her
hans an feet, an you jess set down
an turn that little hanle an the
music flows-that's what the Teller he
said"
"You paid him 'leven dollars outen
the twelve Tweddle gave me for old
Shows calf!'
Yes, Els Ann, but he said it was
worth ten times the money. He said
you'd have to pay IS TO git into the
operay 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 motionless q long time.
The chickens went to roost, and Nam
again took up her pensive 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 S12
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
it in the bureau drawer and telling
Nam to watch out that tramp didn't
sneak In and get it. Seemed like them
there agents always waited till she
went away to flock in on Man, Must
all know about her. Orto be some
law agin 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 dress for Nam now an
cu,fr Shosa 49,.