Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-04-01

e Is
sat down at her side and semeed con-
tent to remain there. ="
Il don't know what I shall do" said
Mrs. Marsh, anxiously. addressing her
husband from the window where she
sat watching the group under the
trees, IF Burt goes to making a fool
of himself with that girl. What kind
of a farmers wife would she make:
She couldn't lift finger. She'd set
down and curl up her hands and want
maid to wait on her"
Mrs. Marsh was almost in tears as
she finished she was quite in tears
when she went to Burt in his room
later, and repeated her warnings.
Il told her she needn't worry" said
Burt. when he reported this interview
to Bradley Harwood next day. 81
know what I'm about as we'll as the
next one, | hope. OF course. they're
pretty girls, and bright. and ladylike.
and all that, but they wouldn't do for
plain fellows like us, with our livings
to make-even if they'd have u.s."
"No. of course not" said Bradley,
promptly.
But he came over that night and sat
under the naples with Della again.
with Burt and Cora not far away; and
he brought his new two-seated buggy
around the next afternoon, and the
four went off for a long drive through
the leafy country roads.
Della and Cora were quite carried
away with enjoyment of their beauti
tut surroundings, and Burt and Brad
ley were guiltily happy in being with
them.
1t was on the third day after her
boarders arrived that Mrs. Marsh came
down with a sharp attack of rheuma-
tism. rheumatism was what the doc
tor pronounced it; but Mrs. Marsh was
firmly convinced that it was the fore
runner Of Drain fever, brought on by
worry of mind.
1T was too much for me-" she said
to her husband, who stood over her
bed in helpless distress, ito see that
boy getting more and more took up
with that good-for-nothing, helpless
little critter! l couldn't stand it. What
with the extra work and all, it's
brought me to thisl If l die" she
went on, solemnly, promise me you'll
do your best to keep him from marry
ing that girl, that would make his
life a burden to him! / could die
happy if was easy about that"
Mr.. Marsh promised
"Well, Them said his wife. coming
back to practical subjects more cheer
fully, ''tell Burt to harness the horse
this minute, and see if he can get a
girl to come and stay a week or two,
till I'm over this. The work can't be
let so. with them here.'
Only those unfortunates who have
Travelled and retraveled sparsely settled
rural districts in search of a hired
girl" can appreciate the miseries Burt
endured that day.
Suffice to say that he returned. to-
ward night. thoroughly tired out and
ravenously hungry-and alone, having
raped at the doors of score or so
of houses which had been supposed to
contain rare treasures in the domestic
line, only to find that they had already
been secured, or had concluded not to
work OUT this summer
He put the horse into the barn and
went into the house rather slowly.
What would his mother say? And
how would they get along? It was
very unfortunate.
A Whit of boiling coffee and broil-
ing ham fioated out to him asl he
neared the kitchen; and a vision of
his father laboring over the stove and
spelling the supper, brought smile
to his face.
A moment more, and he stood in the
kitchen doorway, staring in bewilder-
ment at the scene before him.
Cora, with her blue lawn replaced
by darker gown, which was half
covered BY one of Mrs Marsh's checked
aprons, was turning the broiler over
the Goals with one hand. while she
lifted of the potato kettle with the
other. her fair cheeks becoming red
dened by the heat
The table was carefully set: the nile
of dirty dishes which had been waiting
for the hired girl had disappeared: the
floor had been swept, and tie stove
had been polished.
Mr.. Marsh sat in corner. surveying
the irreproachable kitchen, and the
little person who had transformed it,
with quiet satisfaction.
He chuckled at the sight of his sons
open-mouthed astonishment
1--WE was little mistaken that time
Burt" he observed. approaching ana
speaking in an undertone-"your ma
and all Of us. If ever there was two
more capable, go-ahead girls than
them"
The inner door opened gently, and
Della tiptoed in. There was an odor
of camphor and liniment about her.
"She's asleepr' she announced, tri-
umphantly. 81 knew could get her to
sleep, rubbing her head. and I did.
think she's better.
Slippers ready said Cora. calmly,
putting the last potato into the dish
It might have been because Burt
was 40 hungry. or it might have been
because Cora was the cook. that he
though the supper By far the best he
had ever eaten.
/ But as Mr.. Marsh. comparing notes
afterward. expressed the same opinion,
there must have been some foundation
for it.
A year or more of experience with
the little gas stove at home had taught
Cora good many things worth know
ing.
Il never was SO beat. I declarer'
said Mrs. Marsh. when her husband