The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1907-03-27
When Annie Played
GOOSeberry
BY Ethel Darlington
Copyright, 1905. by Homer sprague

Blackberries hedged the road on
either side as 1t wound higher and
higher toward the Berkshires. Here
and there some belated Strawberries,
tiny specks of crimson in the grass,
joined their fragrance to the invigor-
ating breath of the pines. From an
implanted barn came the persistent
click-clack, thud-thud of loom, where
Miss Lettice was weaving yards of
carpet from little balls of colored rag.
A voice sharp enough to the verge of
displeasure startled her.
"Will you finish tomorrow, sisterT
Tit doesn't hardly seem possible'-
Twas promised. Pears to me
you're uncommon slow. Surely you're
not such a fool as to be thinking o.
William Henderson and such nonsense
at your age"
Miss Lettice's hand involuntarily
sought the fastening of har bodice, but
the faint crackle of the secreted paper
was too imperceptible to reach Mrs.
Aliens ears.
1.-The letter was delayed. He's going
away tomorrow
''Lettice Howard, he's no man for
YOU We settled that years ago. I'm
ashamed for you-that you so much as
think on him now"
Hes free AGAIN. Miss Lettuce
spoke deprecatingly.
Free. is it? If he wasn't good
enough for you when he was young,
a widower with three children certain
ly amt no gain" With a toss of the
head Mrs. Allen recrossed the road to
her cottage.
Miss Lettice sat miserably uncer-
tain, her hands idle in her lap. She
forgot the loom and Mrs. Harris. who
was counting on the finished carpet.
Her thoughts were with the curly head
ed lad from whom her sister had sep
arated her because he failed to settle
In the town where he was born, but.
dering, apparently gathering little
this worlds goods. Now he had re-
turned and wanted to see her. 1t
seemed a cruel prank of fate to have
Joined forces with her sister and in
the form of delayed mail prevent their
meeting. A tear gathered beneath her
lashes, but before it fell a pair of
warm arms wound themselves around
her neck.
"Aunt Lettice, you're in love, in love!
Don't ask me how | know, because
you are. You don't listen to what
folks are saying, and as to the car
pet
Yes, dear. the carpet" Miss Lettuce
seized the shuttle and sent it flying
through the shed Of warp threads. Her
feet mechanically worked the treadle
shifting the heddles; then with the bat
ten she bent the wool of rag into
place again and again.
1--WE can't talk through that noise"
she remarked plaintively.
my dear, there is nothing
There is. you darling. Come. Tess
up. I'm not to be put off. It's fellow
sympathy" The crimson deepened in
the laughing face, and with soft vince
ding she gained the desired confidence,
and Miss Lettuce surrendered her let
ter.
1t was in no sense love letter, yet
1t was the nearest approach that thu
spinster had ever received. Possibly
she read between the lines:
Dear Lettice-I am visiting my brother
Joe till Wednesday. 1 want so much to
see you. If I'd be welcome send me word
Yours. as ever. WILLIAM.
81 only got it last night
Its too late to write now," her
niece hurried on, but you must go to
Chatham to see him. Make believe
you're shopping. Jennie's going tomor-
row. I'll have Rob ask her to stop for
you"
SISTER would never listen. Besides.
it's not the carriers day."
"She's making a special trip for
Rob's mother. Just to think"-the girl
rose excitedly-"it must be ten years.
Twelve"
And you've cared all this time! Oh,
Aunt Lettuce, how could you bear it?
Mothers good as she can be, only she's
had so much trouble it's made her a
little hard. Do as / say and I'll play
gooseberry for you. After breakfast
come over here, as usual. About 10
walk down the road till the carrier
overtakes you, then to Chatham with
her and to Joe Henderson's, ask for
William and you'll have hours togeth-
er. Jennie will pick you up on her
homeward trip. You'll be back to sup
per. Mother need never know unless
you choose to tell her."
But the carpet! If she doesn't hear
the loom she'll come over to find out
what's wrong"
Leave that to me. I've got to think.
but I'll tx it somehow"
During supper Mrs. Allen glanced
anxiously at her sisters flushed cheeks
and untouched plate. With the NOR
row William would be gone, then Let
tice would return to her normal self.
Later, when Annie wandered down
the road with Rob, the moonlight show
ed their heads very close together.
while now and again the girl broke
into ripple of mischievous laughter.
Watching, the mother felt a pang OF
jealousy. Rob was a good match, yet
she dreaded the day she must yield her
daughter to another, and tonight the
time seemed very near. She went sew
eral times to her room for forgotten
trides, and each time there showed q
line of light beneath her sisters door.
Seems to me you're long time
getting to bed" she admonished.
'I-Pm most ready" came the re-
ply. If Miss Lettice's voice sounded
less even than usual Mrs. Allen was
not herself sufficiently calm to notice.
AS was customary in the morning.
Miss Lettuce betook herself to the barn,
and the working of the loom broke
Familiarity on the quiet air. Shortly
after 10 Mrs. Allen, attracted by the
rumble of wheels on the road, saw that
the carrier was making an extra trip.
She spoke of it to Annie. who came in