The Cairo bulletin., 1908-01-14
TheEEI11 OF
Her visit


=
and looked back It him over her Shout
der, timidly.
Il suppose 1t 10, Josiah" she spoke
hesitatingly, and her face clouded. III
you say the word III send her an invi-
tation at once"
Mr.. Penny was driving nail into
one Of the kitchen chairs which had
for some time needed repairing. "'T
seems to me, Phoebe. said he, "as II
there never was time when it's real
convenient for mother to come"
Mrs. Penny sighed. X know II.
JOSH she replied; i've been awful
mean about that visit, but soon's the
milk's attended to Ill set right down
and ask her to come; and-~-and---Ill
give her the best room and golfer
the piller cases a purpose. i cant do
no more?"
mo-" Mr.. Penny stammered, run
ming his fingers through his long. red
dish hair In q daxed kind OF way.
Mothers q, little peculiar, likes pow
erful well to have her own way You'll
humor her, Phoebee"
Mrs. Penny was hidden from sight
behind the door as she answered,
Eyes. Josh" 4
Josiah. with his hands buried deep
In his pockets, went slowly down the
lane leading to the barn.
Phoebe watched him. shading her
eyes with one hand from the setting
sun, and then reentering the house be-
gan to prepare their early supper. III
A knock at the door caused her 70
start. and, as II caught In q SIN, she
wiped away from her flushed cheeks
the last traces Of tears, then called
out cheerfully. Come in!"
why, Mrs Wigger." exclaimed she.
Frightening as the door opened to ad-
init an elderly woman. Her shrewd
black eyes were full of keen intelli.
gence.
III amt glad to see you!" cried
Phoebe. "A talk with you always
chirks me up when I'm blue, II seems
to me as II you was kind Of mother
to me- s
What pears to be the matter with
you. my dear?"
Mrs, Penny hesitated. Mothers
comm to pay US visit" said she at
last, a little irreleyantly, as 1t might
appear.
Mrs. Wigger started, and leaning
forward with hand on each arm Of
the rocker, looked scrutinizingly ut
her companion.
you don't mean Josiah's mother.
ole Mis- Penny"
yes, ! do replied Phoebe Imply.
The elder woman relaxed her hold
on the arms OF the chair and. throwing
her head back against the padded Pill
low began TO rock violently,
',.My lands" she exclaimed. "You
let me know when she's gone home.
and III come along and take up what's
left OF you on q dilstpan. know Ann
Eliza Penny well there Amt one thing
about her ain't pizen well acquaint-
ed with, and she's one OF the cantan.
keringest. interferingest, all round, all.
Hreddest old woman ever"
(. Hush exclaimed Phoebe, with her
finger on her HIPS. Ths sound OF her
husbands approaching footsteps upon
the gravel path had REACHED her ears.
Mrs. wisger mads Along visit. she
took tea with Mr.. Penny and his wife,
but no further opportunity for conf
Dental talk occurred between the two
women until, as she babe Phoebe
goodnight at the door. she managed.
IN squeezing her hand. to whisper:
Il dunno as you'll set any great
store by my teliin' you OF II. Phoebe.
but caraway seeds In cake always
brings on sick spell In Mis- Penny.
] know It., because I've heard her say
them was the only times she ever had
= ''ious attack. and when she had one
Of them she's very partik'lar about
bein' home" \
II was the end Of the second week
Of Mrs. Penny's visit, and the effects
of II were already visible upon the
face OF her daughter,in.law. whose
worst fears we're verified Things
might easily have been better. but
they could not have been much worse
without an open declaration of'war be-
tween the two women.
Ungracious In manner, angular In
appearance. she sat bolt upright In the
cane rocker from early morning till
bedtime. criticising and interfering
with Phoebe. or nagging at Josiah.
who was showing wonderful agility
n disappearing immediately after
neais r
On this particular morning Mrs.
Penny had ,tasted everything on the |
seatiy.spread breakfast table with az
Tressive disapproval. |
The old woman took up her knit
ing and sat down by the dining room
vindow. Phoebe saw that she was
settled. then left the
'oom. carrying with her . pile Of |
seary dishes.
The tears triekled through Phoe.
So ,nnsers and dropped In q tiny
AIT lake on the kitchen table. Sud-