The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-07-20
81. ( 49, ,,- 49, :, i ,; i :. IT,.
/ A HORSE T
| CHESTNUT E
By GARRETT KNOWLTON
NORTHUMBERLAND
: Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

The door of the Dennyman's house
opened, and Miss Selma, sitting at
her sewing in the window of the cot
tage opposite, pushed back her spec
tacles and leaned forward to look
across the street.
Punctually 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
little before he went away, some
times speaking, oftener not. Speech
was hardly necessary between the
two, who had lived side by side for
so years. When the honeysuckle was
in blossom, she pulled 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
couple had been a pair of young
lovers. Sometimes she felt the tears
in her eyes as she watched Miss
Selinas 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 sign of her any
| where! What can be the matter?"
Josey, the small assistant, ran to
the window in much excitement
$50 he is! And-oh, Miss Selma!
never thought to tell you, butt do
wonder if it could be that! 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 it in his pocket,
and she was just scandalized, Sarah
says-declared it was all foolishness
and superstition and wickedness, and
she didn't see how a Christian man
limo ND 1o0
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 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.
II don't know" sighed Miss Selma
"But I 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
mo-" said Josey, peering. They're
open, and the pillows are airing on a
chair"
"Then she's we'll, and it amt that
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 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 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, Il came across il
to-day, and I thought I'd bring it right
| over"
They went into the little sunny par
| lor and sat down, but Miss Selma die
not stay very long. She thought Mrs
Dennyman seemed stiff and a tritle
absent-minded. They talked about
apple-jelly and the prospect of mile
| winter and the price of coal, and the1
she said goodbye, and battered gently
home again and sat down to her sew
Ing with tranquil, though somewhat
expectant look.
She had not been seated many min
utes. before the doorbell rang, with q
tinkle which made her jump.
tSit still, Josey," she, said indul
gently. It'll CO."
'sWhy, Mis-, Dennyman!" she cried
a minute later, opening the door to lei
the old lady in. ri didn't expect
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