The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-22
THE ASSEvERATION OF
 HESTER.
A Thanksgiving silhouette.

BY HORACE SEYMOUR KELLER. lCopyright, 1904. By Daily Story Pub.
 Col
 On this gloomy, chill November eve ming. while the wind mows the clut- toring leaves from the branches and cuts wide swaths through the swal grass in the lowlands Henry Henni- pen walks slowly from the barn to the lone house on the hillside overlooking the valley. He reaches the back door leading into the kitchen. pauses with one bony hand pressed to his breast, and mutters angrily in an undertone with his eyes fixed upon the lone star glimmering above the tall poplar tree standing like a gnost in the pasture below.
 There's curse on the place. To- morrow's Thanksgiying--bah I have small occasion to give thanks for what has been my store of things-all bad, all bad. curse the luck"
 A noise from within interrupts his words and stays him. The door opens and a woman with a tallow dip held high above her head appears and says:
 ''wns 1t you talking, or only the wind Henry?'
 GO back. Hester. Go back to the fire. where a woman belongs. Go back. I say"
 You are bothered about something, Henry Tell me what is the matter. Perhaps I can help"
 ..You help! Bah! Go in, say. Go 10 the hell--I mean the fire. The fire hat burns as hot as hades. am sold, chilly freezing. I think never shall be warm again."
 Then come right in by the fire. It is warm in here. warm and nice. You are always bothered about things when the rest of folks are trying to be glad and happy, Henry"
 shut your mouth, fool! Women are fools and idiots. Go in and do not bother a man who has trouble enough without your fool words"
 The frail creature with the shrunk- en shoulders. cravenous eyes, high nips and flattened breast slunk back rom the other. entered the gloomy kitchen, and tipped the tallow dip in lie sink where 1t sizzled and ex- pirsd.
 Well, make a light, fool-any time tonight will do, Don't hurry; take gour time--an hour d week, month or year" came from tho darkness nan felt for matches. She lighted tho lip and placed It on the corner of tho link and said as she stood leaning igainst the pump:
 Henry there Is something the mat Ter. Tell me-"
 .'Nothing's the matter with me rhe matter Is with this place and Beauty as you named the colt"
 Yes. know there Is something th' matter with this place-there alway: But about Beauty, the pretty solt9"
 Stumbled through a hole in tn, barn floor. Broke her fool neck That's a thing for giving thanks, eh' -ut out your cant and church wo nan sermons I nate all of it, all o Hr.
 Don't say that. Henry-not a his time. Tomorrow's the day W, Are going to give up thanks"
 Well, say something In your churcl ibout Beauty curse"
 Hush Man, hold your cruel tongue it's too bad about Beauty"
 No worse than about all the res If the bad luck, The hops blasted ln the poles; before that the lambi .ook hoof-rot and lay like leavet through the pasture land-all dead III dead to the last one of the bes locks in these parts The farm ii inder curse, an evil spell hangs ovel t and all on It.
 While he gave vent to his vehem sntly uttered words the frail wo. nan sunk on a stool and leaned hel lead against the sink. An. the sad 3espairing deariness of 1t all The iunken eyes closed and looked at thu past, away, away back She saw ter side down the church aisle whil,