Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-07-04

| bottom chairs ranged themselves In
straight line along the wall. In the
corner farthest from the fireplace
stood the four-poster, and the trundle
bed was drawn out. with its furnish
ings piled up to air.
On the bed lay form, covered,
despite the heat of the day. clear to
the chin, with heavy homespun
blanket, and on top of that gay green
and yellow patchwork quilt.
Buried deep In the chintE-covered
pillow was head incased In q red
flannel night-cap. with the face turned
to the wall. The knees were drawn al
most to the chin and the hands were
hidden beneath the covers.
On peg, at the head Of the bed,
hung homespun dress, and beneath
1t, on the floor. stood pair of suff,
solid-looking slippers.
Nowhere in the room was there
piece Of furniture large enough to con-
ceal a man.
Apparently satisfied, they turned
and filed out, and Granny slept on. AS
they came down the path, the girl
clumsily advanced to meet them and
conducted them along the path to the
lef'," to spring that trickled out OF
the mountain side and formed a pool
in natural basin that had fashioned
itself among the rocks, half hidden
by the grass. STOPPING at one side
she CROPPED about bit in the shallow
water, and brought forth a good-sized
jug, securely fastened to the handle
Of which was gourd dipper. Placing
the jug on the grass she united the
dipper, rendered it to the nearest man
and said: Hep yerself."
After each had held communion
with the dipper a couple of times, she
said to one of them: "Jes' hold the
gourd while l pour out some fer that
ar critter, what's holdin' them
bosses. Wouldn't do to slight 'em,
cause Dad says slightin' amt hosper-
taaity, and knows as how Dad would
do II eff he wuz here"
She filled the gourd to the brim,
then shuff1ed back to the gap In the
road.
flyer" was all she said as she pre-
scented the drink, "hyer's some Of
Dads hospertality."
The soldiers, trooping along behind
her, snickered at her crude
manner, and the courteous bow
with which the gourd was received
made her shy, and she fell to her way
of smashing the little mud heaps with
her foot, and watching the soft clay
as it oozed up between her stubby
toes. The empty dipper thrust into
her hands made no impression on her,
so intent did she seem in her pleasing
occupation, but a loud "Good-by"
brought her to a recognition that they
were going.
"Good-by," she called; "if you-alls
should meet Dad er Dan, tell 'em me
and Grannys so and so, and tell Dad
l 'stended Their hospertality."
She stood gazing after them, and
something drifted back to her like a
wonder II Dad wouldn't be riled when
he heard she had stended the hosper.
tality to lot of bluecoats.
For long time she gazed down the
road, till the last sound Of hoof-beat
died away. Then she fastened to the
house, and with glad Dan, they're
gone" broke into low, gurgling
laugh.
Talk about your bake ovens!"
came from the four-poster, and Gran
ny piled out of that bed in hurry.
But what a grandmother! Six feet
In her stockings! And when the WOOL
| rf0 nfP
vealed three days growth of beard.
Next off came the night-gown, and
It's wearer put 1t to an unwonted use
in hopping away the perspiration
from his neck and arms.
From a drawer in the cupboard the
girl produced a mans coat, hat and
shoes, and with a Hurry, DAM"
passed them to him.
There, bless you, grill" He was al
ready at the door.
"You say they went up the Clayton
road? That's good. just as we planned.
| Now, I'll cut through by the mill, meet
Granny with the horse, and tomorrow
morning will see me safe back to the
lines. It's early yet, and II I hurry.
|
before dark"
She followed him down to the gap
in the road, and, as his form disap-
peared through the bushes opposite.
took her former seat on the ledge of
the rock. Every now and then her
eyes swept the road In the direction
whence the soldiers had vanished. Still
she sat on, and when the last streak
of sunlight had disappeared and the
shadows deepened so that vision could
no longer penetrate the distance, she
strained her ears to catch the slight
est sound.
Finally, amid the bird calls. the
soughing of the wind, and other IA
miliar sounds of nature, she detected
the snap of twigs like some one com.
"a