The Cairo bulletin., 1906-08-26
|. AT the Poor
house Door
BY N A CY II AZLIP
Copyright, 1905. by Ruby Douglas


she'd grow up so prim ana high headet
and hateful no man in his senses 4
ever want 10 marry her, and, land
knows. women that don't marry have 4
sons meek widow.
Mrs. Cole answered little tremu
lousy. But. mother. they do want 10
marry her. Jessy might "A had four
proposals last year, if only she'd "a
GoAe and let the men speal, out
And who We're The men, Id like to
know Grandma pnffed. her throat
swelling visibly "Niddcrwers with
nine children, or else one foot ia the
| grave, or cranky old bachelors. or may
be even preachers. Besides, how can
4 you know even Il preacher wants to
/ marry you unless he ups aud says SO?
! meyer did hold with this way Of
/ house or even rode past 1t had Il notion
| of goin' there courtin'."
| Size paused IN GREATNESS triumph. II
1 Mrs. Lem Cole had been wise she
would have held her peace. Grandma
bore controverting very Ill indeed, ana
70 prove her i'll the wrong was to risk
everything. Mrs Lem knew that very
well. but a eoaded woman is often a
desperate one. Therefore she burst
out: We'll. Three Of the men and
they weren't Widowers nor preachers,
but real good chances asked me TO
ask Jessy ii she'd listen to 'em. And
the other one
There wasn't any other one. Maria.
don't believe one word you're
rayin'," Grandma broke out furilusly
-Four proposals indeed why, Ann
Liza didn't have but three in the whole
of last year and the beaus around her
all the time like bees around Aoaey
pot"
- he other one was Jimmy Wakefield. !
And he wouldn't be stopped. Just up /
and asked Jessy like man." Mrs. Lem
said, not meekly, but with such red I
spots in her checks she looked almost
rs young as her daughter.
Get out of here you!' Grandma
painted. Jimmy Wakefield, indeed.
Why he's never had Il notion to any
body but Ann Liza And she's goil' to
take him, too, when she gets good and
ready. Don't you dare talk of him
wantin' that stick of a Jessy. II
thought there was any truth in what
you've said Ia send you straight out Of
the house"
Then wen 90 without waiting TO
be sent" Jessy burst out from the
doorway. She had been standing just
outside. feeling somehow that her dear
patient mother might need her help and
countenance. Il don't like TO tell to
say such things" she went on, "but
NANNY told the truth nothing but the
truth. And she shan't stay here to be
insuted. Unless you ask her pardon
wen 90 away"
Where? To the county poorhouse?
/ don't know any other chance for We"
Grandma said, white faced, her eyes
flashing
She was an imperious old lady. nobly
partial T. her namcsake and favoritc
Ann Eliza Wicks partly
because Ann Eliza was pretty and tax
Ing and Impairment, partly also be-
cause she had money enough of her |
own TO be entirely independent |
Grandfather Cole had left everything {
10 his wife. She held on to it with I
grip Of iron All her five children had 4
except lucklcss Lcmuel. He t
lad left wife and daughter little except d
lis i'll luck. Ii had followed them so Il
throughout the three years since his
leath they had at last been forced to s
lccept the shelter Grandma had grudg- n
ngly offered. Il
Teach school, You know | won't h
ave that" grandma had said TO Jes- Il
Us plan. mo, missy. I'll marry you Ii
fl in year. Then you can take your Il
bother home with you Remember n
eggars mustn't be choosers. You
int quite a beggar You'll get some 81
ling when / die, of course. But I n
int going 10 see my husbands money 81
'asted as long as | can help 1t, even D.
] had any TO spare, which | haven't W
costs such lot to do things. Why, 4,
ist even half Twin nearly Dankrupts
ie. Ann Liza has to have things :.
he's got a delicate appetite. and so st
She can afford 10 be- be- Ia
luse she can keep on havin' what she te
ants when she comes to spendin' her
yn money. You've got no money TO
,end, so you'd better learn economy
'ery way to
Jessy had been for going away then, vc
II her mothers timorous fears had ",
evailed on her 10 stay. Jessy was Ga
It strictly pretty. Her eyes were too m,
rious, her lips too severe. She had Sc
good chin. fine and clean cut. and -
vely neck below it. Her hair was 81
ken, her eyes a water blue.
Ann Eliza had black eyes and hair OLD
d very high color. Grandma though; irr
r the prettiest creature In the world be
e likewise thought Jessica hardly ms
ssable. But now as she faced her an
andchild she saw a Jessica new and lit
'ange. one whose checks were dam bu
roses. can
The change startled her. She turned II.
If about. saying in a grumbllng AM
Ice: Maria. you oughtn't to pro- Hi
ke me 50. Go out in the garden. $40