Middletown transcript., 1905-12-16

of aroused suspicion.
MADAM said Conningsby, patiently,
.syou ought to comprehend what ! mean
when I say that am post-ofiice lnspec-
tor II is the habit Of the government to
send out"
claws O. massy," interrupted Minervy
reAectiyely, II reckon | DO understand
ve now. rec'lect | heerd Ole Man
Drawood tell how ever now an then
SIGH a feller would come nosin' round his
orfice-jest like pessum in daylight
kinder uncertain but terrible meddle-
some. But you done come fer out'n the
way, Young feller. This is Sand Noun
tain, Alabam', all right; but Drawood he
lives ten mile furder on. An he's busy
a-getherin' in his crap. lie wont want
to be bothered, an you"
"Madam," interrupted Conningsby IN
his turn, Il have not come to inspect hls
post-office, but yours. This is I'll ded
Grove, isn't it r.
stYou come to inspect my oriice q,
The widows bright blue eyes shot lire.
The lines OF her face tightened a. sislbiy
as lax violin-strings under tile tuning
process. The chords OF her wrath rolled
out superbly, as she pushed back her an-
ple sun-bonnet and then stood with arms
akin,bo on her narrow hips, facing Il
half-amused, half-wearied New Yorker.
"You mean to say some er my neigh
bors been writin' scandal to the COVER
ment bout me? | let You know, young
feller, that my character il Jest as g"od
as What's that you say? Amt no
body been slanderin' me? Then what
YOU doin' here at Gilded Grover
Because all offices are inspected at GER
tain seasons" explained Connngsby,
gently. 'Is the Office in the next roon'P'
The suspicion and wrath in Minervy's
eyes changed to defiant sullenness. For
a moment she made no answer, but stood
staring unwayeringly at ConMngsby.
Then she pointed to the high four-poster
bed with its gorgeous "sunburst" qnilt,
and said, slowly:
'It's under there"
"The post office? Under the bed?'
inquired Conningsby, surprised into open
astonishment, although as inspector OF
fourth class offices his varied and strange
experiences had led him to expect almost
anything.
Eyes. | keep it in soap box. The
carrier he only gets here twiet a week,
an it don't never seem worth while to
litter up the room with keepin' the orfice
anywhere's else. If you air bound to see
it, I don't keerr'
Suppose you bring it out now p sug-
gested Conningby, laying hissoft crush
hat on the table and drawing off lis
riding-gloves.
Mineryy. in sudden acquiescence, drop
ped on her knees by the bed, after tossing
her bonnet on the pillows above.
Rays from the setting sun struggled
through the window and touched the red
glory OF her hair-hair whose glorious
Titan might have redeemed the woman's
plainness, had she dreemed that it was
lovely. But the beauty Of any possession
is really determined by public opinion
And public opinion in Gilded Grove pitied
those whose heads the sun kissed into his
own semblance. As Conningsby watched
her, the widow suffered AN almost COM
plete eclipse, by diving under the bed
and leaving only the draggled drapery Of
the inevitable calico skirt, and pair
of most substantial feet, visible.
She reappeared almost as promptly,
dragged with her wide pine box, filled
with miscellaneous collection Of govern
mental supplies, on top Of which a great
whitish-yellow cat lay reposefully, re-
fusing to be disturbed by this unexpected
slide into daylight. 1t blinked round
eyes questioningly at Conningsby, but
never moved.
The widow lifted hel carefully to the
bed.
Il kain't keep that plagued cat out'n
the orfce," she explained. "An' she
alters will sleep Directly on the stamps.
II amt good fer EN-"
IT should think not, said the inspec-
tor, dryly.
1T makes 'em stick together and then
folks grumble when they have to steam
'em apart. But it's Henrietty's cat-s!ie
is the teacher an she boards with us-so
l never have liked to coilplain about it.
One Of the boys girsit to her-one Of her
scholards she can manage boys beautiful.
When she 1rst come here, says to her,
'Henrietty, if you spec to handle them
Purser young ones, you'll jest p'intedly
have to take hickory an frai 'em out.
But, Lor' she's got way with her"
She suddenly recalled her anger against
the newcomer and broke off abruptly.
"But you come here to inspec' the
orfice. Well-take that cheer over agin
the box, an Ill take this un, an We uns
will 60 plumb through it, You won't
find nothin' wrong with my arrange
ments, let me tell ye!''
Henrietta passed through tile gloom Of
the western pines near tile schoollouse
and came out into the naples Of GiIded
Grove. The place was not inaptly named
for the whole grove swan i'll hazy golden
atmosphere produced bv the naples Won
derful hues. Nowhere else on Sand Noun
tain could such grove be found. She
often trusted to its varied loveliness to
bring her new strength when the remem.
brance OF the long, harassing day was
worse than the actual experience had
been.
But this evening its splendor failed her.
The pebbles along the rough trail bit at
the arched insteps, the branches OF too
familiar shrubs scratched the rose-pink
Of her cheeks into fuslles OF yexation.
She was SO deadly tired OF it all II
needs the power Of preserving undaunt
edly ones illusions if one is TO enjoy earn.
ing few dollars, above ones board III