The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-06-28
A HORSE |
CHESTNUT
By GARRETT KNOWLTON

Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)

opeIeu, dHu MISS oellud, slLLlS a.
her sewing in the window of the cot
tage opposite, pushed back her spec
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
was hardly necessary between the
two, who had lived side by side for
60 years. When the h~oneysuckle 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 as ten
der an interest as if the faithful old
lovers. Sometimes she felt the tears
in her eyes as she watched. Miss
Selina's own hair vas 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.
$50 he is! And-oh, Miss Selma!
I 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
ulo SOuI. Dlu Sou ONOl hCol VI SuSA
a thing? She found 1t in his pocket,
and she was just scandalized, Sarah
| s~ays-declared it was all foolishness
and superstition and w~ickedness, 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 it vas 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.
Il don't know!' sighed Miss Selma.
But l thank the Lord" she added,
| piously, that I'm not one to be curl
Gus about my ~neighbors' 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"
"No," said Josey, peering. They're
open, and the pillows are arlington a
chair"
Then she's we'll, and it 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"
"No'm," said Josey, meekly.
The day was 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 pOtato!"
After dinner she put on a pair Of
Congress CATERS instead of her soft
old slippers, tied a worsted cloud over
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 it
to-day, aud 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.
Dennyman seemed stiff and a trihe
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 a
tinkle which made her jump.
"sit still, Josey," she, said indul-
gently. "Ill CO."
why. Mis- Dennyman!" she cried,
q minute later. opening the door to let
the old lady In. 9" 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 over