The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-06-27
A HORSE
CHESTNUT
By GARRET kNOWLTON

Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

N~o NPPSSANNt P
tacles and leaned forward to look
across the street.
Principally at nine o'clock, every
morning in the year, Mr.. and Mrs,
Dennyman came out on the porch to
gether, he coated and hated, ready
to start on his daily trip downtown,
she with her white head unprotected
from sun or wind, to see him off. In
pleasant weather they stood there for
a little before he went away, some
times speaking, oftener not. Speech
vas hardly necessary between the
two, who had lived side by side for
go years. When the honeysuckle was
in blossom, she pulled a spray and
put it in his buttonhole. She picked
a thread from his sleeve or brushed
his ~coat-collar as he fingered; and
when he went, plodding slowly and
painfully down the street, she watched
his white head out of sight. Then she
went in and shut the door.
And every morning of the year Miss
Selma Haskins looked over and OBJ
served this little episode with a. ten
der an interest as If the faithful old
couple had been a pair of young
lovers. Sometimes she felt the tears
in her eyes as she watched. Miss
Selina's own hair was white, and
there was a rumor that she had once
expected to be married.
The Dennyman's door shut again.
MY soul!" cried Miss Selma,
staring. Hes coming out alone!
He's-Josey, he's going down the
street, and not a sign of her any
where! What a be the matter?"
Josey, the small assistant, ran to
the window in much excitement.
80 he is! And-oh, Miss Selma!
l never thought to tell you, butt do
wonder If it could be thatl Sarah
Bean was over here yes'd'y, and said
that when she was washing the dishes
she heard Mis- Dennyman talking to
him and just giving it to him because
he was carrying round a potato-a
potato, Miss Selina!-to cure him of
his govt. Did you ever hear of such
a thing? She found 1t in his pocket,
and she was just scandaliZed, Sarah
says-declared it was ali fooiishness
and superstition and wickedness, and
she didn't see how a Christian man
could do such a thing, and she
wouldn't have anybody know it for
the world, she'd be so mortified, and
he said he didn't care-he kinder
thought 1t was helping him, and he
was going to keep on carrying it, and
oh, Miss Selma, do you suppose it
could be that?"
Josey's blue eyes were round as
saucers.
81 don't know" sighed Miss Selma.
"But / thank the Lord" she added,
piously, that I'm not one to be curl.
Gus about my neigEbors' affairs!
Never, Josey, never pry into what
Can you see whether the second,
story front windows are open, child?
If they are shut, maybe she's sick"
mo" said Josey, peering. They're
open, and the pillows are airing on a
chair"
Then she's well, and 1t amt that,
I do wonder whether-Josey, if you've
finished that seam, here's another
basted, ready for you to sew. And you
needn't look out of the window any
more"
Nom" said Josey, meekly.
The day vas crisp and cool. A
spray of belated blossom shone white
on the honeysuckle vine across the
street. Miss Selma, looking up from
her sewing from time to time, watched
it waver and toss in the wind.
How it must hurt!" she said, ir
%relevantly, to herself, a sudden dim
ness gathering behind her spectacles
"How it must hurt! Sixty years, and
then-a p%otato!"
After dinner she put on a pair OF
Congress CATERS instead of her soft
old slippers, tied a worsted cloud ovei
her head, and battered gently across
the street to Mrs. Dennyman's.
THAT recipe you were asking for
she explained, when the old lady
opened the door. II came across II
to-day, and l thought I'd bring it right
over"
They went into the little sunny par
lor and sat down, but Miss Selma did
not stay very long. She thought Mrs
Oennyman seemed stir and a triie
absent-minded. They talked about
~apple-jelly and the prospect Of a mild
winter and the price of coal. and then
she said goodbye, and battered gently
home again and sat down to her sew
ing with a tranquil, though somewhat
expectant look.
She had not been seated many min
utes before the doorbell rang. with
tinkle which made her jump.
"Sit still, Josey." she. said indul
gently. 'Tll 60"
why, Mis- Dennyman!" she cried
q minute later, opening the door to lei
the old lady in. II didn't expect
you'd return my call SO soon!"
Mrs. Dennyman did not smile in
answer. She stood, trembling, on the
braided doormat, with her shawl ovel
her head. like a little brown leaf
blown In by the wind.
"This-is this yours?" she asked
with al effort. holding out a small
dark object on the palm of her hand
"Mine!" said Miss Selma, peerine
at It through her spectacles with mild
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