The Sauk Centre herald., 1907-11-28


her copper colored face deepeneG 80
the day of her abasement drew ne"
She had nursed Faith through all the
vicissitudes of infancy and childhood.
thereby earning the inalienable rig;
to badger her for the natural term of
her adult existence. Faith had just
been going over the threadbare reasons
for her violent departure from all the
traditions of the Bateses. Aunt Creecy
refused to see any extenuating circum-
stances in the situation.
Its nOthin' short of a affrOnt to
them which is dead an gone. It's
advertisin' of the fac that the Briars
can't get along no longer on it's own
hook; that's what it is," she summed
sullenly.
The Briars had always been looked
upon as one of the solvent estates in
an almost universally insolvent neigh
borhood, and Aunt Creecy groaned in
spirit at this making public of the
sorry makeshifts they really were put
to. The mistress of the Briars sat
meekly on low hassock, with her
hands clasped about her knees. She
was scarcely more than child il
years or In appearance, but her slen-
der shoulders had borne the burden OF
leadership for several years now. Her
nerves were getting on edge. She
spoke fretfully.
"If you would only sit or stand still
for half a second, Aunt Creecy, l might
get myself in hand again-at least get
over this paroXysm.""
"PariXosms indeed! Eff yo' is feelin'
Of parixosms comm on this early in
the action, yo' will have regular 'vul-
sions befo' the winter is OUT
''Oh, | suppose l will get used to
them-these people | mean, not the
commissions. If l don't, and they real
ly do throw me into fits, Aunt Creecy,
you will have to treat me as you used
to when | was cutting my teeth
Tooth cuttin's bad enough. an 20
shO1y did cut yourn by the hardest
but tooth cuttin' Is diSpensation OF
Providence, an what is ordained from
above is got to he submitted to. YO'l
fin tooth cuttin' were a frolic to what
this is goin to be-. =.
Miss Bates of the Briars, as the girl
on the hassock was locally referred to,
experienced Il growing sense of resent
ment at Aunt Creecy's hostile attitude.
TRY to look the situation square
ly In the face" she went on with ris-
ing heat. "Here we are house full
of stupid, helpless girls"
Stupid! No sech of thing" Aunt
Creecy angrily interpolated.
"Neppie, almost sixteen. with no edu-
cation beyond what l have given her,
and those terrible twins just coming
to an age when a stronger hand than
mine is needed to hold them in
"What grantee yO' got that strong
er hand is comm"
mo guarantee Faith admitted
wearily, "but you know how her ad-
vertisement read"
81 disremembers the exact wordin'."
"Oh, the exact wording counts for
nothing. She is teacher of some
years experience who wishes to get
away from the rigors Of northern
winter to recuperate and. in conSidera-
ton of home for herself and her
mother, is willing to give years serv~
ice. Think Of what a chance 1T is for
the girls. Aunt Creecyw
Creecy had made her way to front
window, attracted by the mingled
sound Of girlish laughter and yelping
dogs.
"Them twins does suttinly need
somethin' done to 'em. Thar they both
go c'reerin' BAREBACK on that colt Corey
pintedly tol' 'em to keep way from
He's JUS broke. The beast amt never
felt the touch of petticoat befo'."
Faith reached her side just in time
to catch the last flutter Of flying skirts
and shining curls. She stood there alb
stractedly gazing out on a landscape
serene enough to have won her back to
smiles if she had not looked upon it
with the Indifference born of famil-
iarity.
'It will all look lovely to their New
England eyes, expect. Who Knows"
she added wistfully. 1--WE may gather
figs from this thistle grapes from this
torn
(Which is askin' for Scripture to be
reversed for yo' special benefit. Yo'
always was toploftical in your eXpecta
TONS
Faith glanced over the room she had
prepared for the strangers with a
tightening about her throat. Il hate to
give them mothers room, but she
writes that she must have plenty of
sunshine"
EFF plenty Of sunshine is all she
wants, we kin supply her demand
easy, but it strikes me that young
woman which puts as many musts in
one letter as she put in hern is goin'
to give trouble of some sort er other
sooner er later"
"Aunt Creecy, don't persist in looking
on the dark side. Who knows, W"
may be entertaining an angel un-
awares."
1--WE may and then ag'in we may not.
Leastways Creecy don't expect no an
gul wings to keep her from doin' al
sight of trottin' for the comm wom-
an
''If we find that it is going to give
you much running about to do, I can
hire girl from the quarters"
At which Creecy's ready Jealousy
famed high.
"You'n hire nuthin' nor nobody till
,Creecy gives her consent, an she'll no
tify yo' Of the time"