Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-08-22
AT the Poor
house Door
By N A N CY H. ZLIP
Copyright. 1905. by Ruby DOUGLAS
Copyright, 1906, by Ruby Dougla.


girl child Jessica-you might "a known
shed grow up so prim and high heade,
and hateful no man in his senses ,,
ever want TO marry her. and, Ian,
knows, women that don't marry have {
hard time" Grandma Cole said to he,
sons meek widow.
Mrs. Cole answered n little tremu
lousy. But, mother, they do want tc
marry her Jessy might "a had four
proposals last year, If only she'd "a
gone ana let the men speak out"
"And who were the men. I'd like Ia
KNOW Grandma pulled, her throat
swelling visibly. "Widderwers with
nine children, or else one foot in the
grave, or cranky old bachelors. or NAV
be even preachers. Besides, how can
you know even a preacher wants to
marry you unless he ups and says so?
l never did hold with this way of
maxim out every man that went to q
house or even rode past it had notion
OF goin' there courtin'."
She paused in breathless triumph. If
Mrs. Lem Cole had been wise she
would have held her peace. Grandma
bore controverting very i'll indeed. and
to prove her in the wrong was TO risk
everything. Mrs. Lem knew that very
well, but a goaded woman is often n
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 if she'd listen to 'em. And
the other one
There wasn't any other one. Maria.
l don't believe one word you're
sayin'," Grandma broke out furiously.
-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 honey
pot"
The other one was Jimmy Wakefield.
And he wouldn't be stopped Just up
and asked Jessy like a man." Mrs. Lem
said, not meekly, but with such red
spots in her cheeks she looked almost
as young as her daughter.
"Ger out of here, your Grandma
painted Jimmy Wakefield, indeed!
Why he's never had a notion to any
body but Ann Liza. And she's goin' to
take him, too, when she gets good and
ready. Don't you dare talk of him
Hantin that stick of a Jessy. If |
houSht there was any truth in what
you've said I'd send you straight out of
he house."
Then Wen go without waiting to
'e sent JeSsy burst out from the [
doorway. She had been standing Just !
outside, feeling somehow that her dear {
atient mother might need her help and
ountenance. Il don't like to tell, to |
ay such things" she went on. "but :
lammy told the truth, nothing but the 6
ruth. And sire shan't stay here to be !
lsulted. Unless you ask her pardon L
'e'll go away" :
Where? To the county poorhouse? q
don't know any other chance for We" =
randma said, white faced, her eyes :
ashing.
She was an imperious old lady, nobly :,
artial to her namesake and favorite !,
Ann Eliza Wicks, partly =,
scause Ann Eliza was pretty and tax =,
g and impertinent, partly also be- =.
use she had money enough of her ~
yn to be entirely independent. ~
Grandfather Cole had left everything ia
his wife. She held on to 1t with a "
Up OF iron. All her five children had VI
ospered except luckless Lemuel. He w
d left wife and daughter little except w y.
III luck. 1t had followed them so Vi
roughout the three years since his an
ath they had at last been forced TO
cept the shelter Grandma had grudg- SIP
ely offered. an
Teach school! You know l won't tu
re that" grandma had said to Jes- no
5 plan. No, missy, I'll marry you up
III year. Then you can take your ne
Their home with you Remember the
'gars mustn't be choosers. You me
t quite n beggar. You'll get some j
~ when | die, of course. But | spe
t going to see my husbands money at
sted as long as ! can help it. even Il
had any TO spare, which l haven't. poo
'osts such a lot to do things. Why, vii
even half Twin nearly bankrupts do
Ann Liza has to have things. g
IS got delicate appetite, and so sai'
onate. She can afford to be. be- strC
Sc she can keep on havin' what she lasl
ITS when she comes to spendin' her tea
money. You've got no money TO
Id, so you'd better learn economy
Y way" II
ssy had been for going away then, to
her mothers timorous fears had volt
allied on her to stay Jessy was wor
strictly pretty. Her eyes were too Cap
'us, her lips too severe. She had man
cd chin, fine and clean cut, and a Som
y neck below it. Her hair was 1914
N, her eyes water blue. BOG
N Eliza had black eyes and hair AZ
very high color. Grandma thought old !
he prettiest creature I'm the world irrel
likewise thought Jessica hardly bells
able. But now as she faced her mat
dchild she saw Jessica new and and
ge, one whose cheeks were dam little
roses. but
, cbon~.o oop M.