The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-14
/ BY WALTER E. JACKSON.

1tOWuN, fodIIN. IIONQy ldoPS0
Miss Smanthy, appearing in the door
way like a bilious deaths head and IL
Illuminating the surroundings with her
saffron smile.
II was meanly furnished room into
which she looked, and it had a faded,
broken-down air, which it seemed to
have borrowed from its occupant,
slender young woman bending Wearily
over her sewing.
In this respect only. however. did
the room resemble her; for though 1t
was at its best it was yet best that
offended the eyes and hurt the heart;
while she, though looking her worst,
was undeniably pretty.
Aye, more than pretty. Nothing
could hide that fact. Not the lll-flt-
ting dress she wore, giving glimpse
of a milk-White arm through rent IN
one of the sleeves; not the careless
way in which her ripping brown hair
was bundled up at the back of her head
not the sickly pallor of her thin cheek;
not the bitter droOp of her pathetlc
lips: not even the liYid hollows be-
meath eyes that had grown hopeless in
looking out through the long winter Of
her sad young life for the coming of
its laggard spring.
Greeting her visitor with a tired
smile she was about to rise when Miss
Smanthy checked her.
NAV tain't wuth while. I'll hep
muhse'f to a cheer Wal. Sairy, how's
ALP"
"Jim's as usual, thank you; but I'm
ruther poorly. How're you, Miss
Smanthy?"
Miss Smanthy shook a doleful head,
thrusting one pumpkin-colored claw
into the pocket of her whitey-green
gown. and bringing to light after brief
exploration a microscopic snuff-boX.
"Only toler'ble Sairy-only toler'-
BILE touhday Wonder wher muh
ole breshs got to. Thought I'd take
uh dip while l was settin here. :.
Aw. here's din bresh," drawing a twig
of black-gum from her pocket, thrust
ing the mop into her mouth, and tap
ping the box with her thumb-nail
preparatory to indulging in the luxury
of the dip aforesaid. dl,
Sairy.' filling her mouth with the vel
lowish brown powder, busy iz ever
see
Biting off the end of thread Sara
nodded a tired assent
Yes, it's a hurried job or I'd put it
by. But you won't mind, as | en- talk
and work too, you know"
Mine? ? Co'se not. But Laws-a-mas-
sy gal, L wouldn't slave n scuftfe liz
you does fur no man on top OF dis
green yeth. F'us N youse knows
you'll kill yo'se'f dead, n din groun
won't be more'n atop on you TO Jim
Sheppd II be maxim sleeps eyes at
some other oman"
A little bitter smile stirred Sarah's
mouth.
What does it matter? When I'm
dead I'm sure L shain't object"
HUH Tain't Wuth While fur you to
be in sich a takin tuh git intuh yo'
grave, even if you won't. Sho' thing |
'spise to see anybody imposed on lax
dis jest nataily do"
''Wno's imposing on me, Miss Sman-
thy?"
why. dat great. strappin' husban'
uh, yourn, gal. l heard say he amt hit
uh lick uh work in din las fo'
mont's.'
A red flame fickered into sara's
white cheeks.
He amt had it to do she said.
'Twuz is own fau't den," pausing
to take a second generous dip" IF
he'd quit drinkin' m frolickin' roun'
he'd git plenty to do, I'll ashore yih"
You think SOP" Sara's small hands
had begun to tremble, and she had
some difficulty i'm theading her needle.
Yes" she murmured, bending a pale,
panied face over the work, I'm afaid
Jim is ruther wild"
'Wile!" snorted Miss Smanthy.
''When uh man, Std uh tryin' to yearn
sumpum 'isse'f, takes evy cent is wife
en- rake n scrape m spens hit on
liquor n cyards. hits wussen vile
hits low, 'oman-iow.'
A flash of lightning leaped from
Sara's large eyes.
'Who told yo." she said in a sup
pressed voice, that Jim'd been doing
that?"
"Evbody," rasped Miss Smanthy.
You neenter deny hit nuther, Sairy.
Their CANT be so much smoke thout
some fahr"
81 don't know that I care to deny it.
Miss Smanthy. What's the use of pes
tering your head over the swapping of
every little puppy that runs out of it's
way to bark at you. If folks d only
mind their own affairs, they'd be bet
ter off. | reckon"
''ZacIy what I've alters said. But
dey won't do it, Sairy-uh-u -uh! not dey.
Die id dey couldn't meddle-would
sho'. Why, jest tub show yin" here
she planted both elbows on her knees,
took out her "bresh,' and screwed her
greedy, gimlet eyes into the young
wife's now flushed and quivering face
''do you know dat only las night /
hyeard say dat Jim Shepp'd when he's
in liquor actily beats and kicks yih."
Sara's work dropped into her lap.
Very quietly, though her lips were
dangerously, she rose to her feet.
It's false 2" she said in a low,
hoarse voice. Nobody would We told
you anything so mean and cruel
Whatye you got to do with me and
my husband anyway? If you cain't
keep your Venomous old tongue out of
our affairs, you'd better go home and
stay there. Do you hear?"
Miss Smanthy's lean visage gathered
a mellower shade of saffron. She
pocketed her "bresh" and dashed the
back of one bony claw across her
mouth, streaking her cheek with
brown saliva from lip to ear, and rose
precip1rately.
Mean hit?" painted she.
81 certainly do, Miss Smanthy."
Sara's gleamino dark eyes and the
glimmering mockery of her smile were
more eloquent of meaning than her
words.
"All right" spluttered her visitor
viciously. She attempted to say more,
but her rising bile choked her. She
flounced across the room, giving her
whitey-green skirts at flirt of disdain.
'sYih1I nuvver git din chaince to in