Mower County transcript., 1908-06-03
There's one piece Of work they le.

There's one piece Of work they let
me run my own way, an like 1t;
that's looking after the poor. Some
way, can understand them folks;
tell whether it's grub or a boost O the
sperit they need most. s'pose we're
right smart happier with folks that
needs us. That's why I ain't-well,
not exactly hilarious with the big
bugs; they don't need nothin' I GOT
except my daughter"
Esther sighed. Did any one in all
the world need her? How does Mr..
Bernard like the new home?" she
asked, stepping across the room for
another view of the beautiful grounds.
,""Oh, like me, bang up. Yet what
you're raised to don't git out of the
blood in a minute. An: I know Bill
dreams at night of the mountains an
the mines. cause he hollers out in
his sleep about EN-"
She was busy bringing from hook
and shelf and drawer a billowy flood
of heterogeneous finery. Her tongue
voiced a new mood and Esther, not
without sympathy for the big bugs"
recognized Sally BIS company man
ner.
This here is made by Worth of
Paree. l hope it will be worth as
much to me as it was to him. Amt
it orfay? And here's one that's just
magnif. brought them all over my
self-wore 'em all first to save duty.
MY! But maybe you think t want no
lob 10 lop around a hotel parlor in
new dress four times a day! Whew!
It makes me sweat now to think of it!
Amt that red just"
"Rcga!!" Esther finished, as Sally
B., for G WONDER paused for word.
Like it?" Sally B. displayed with
rride the scarlet satin robe, spangled
from hem to throat, and finished with
costly gold lace. That's my own
design, an my favorite of all l got.
Worth told me never to tell it was his
make. Wouldn't put his tag on it.
Didn't want to steal my thunder, l
s'pose. Clever Of him, want it? Say!
With my diamonds-they're In the
bank or I'd show 'em to you'll look"
We've used the only word, Mrs.
Sally-regal." Esther laughed, think
ing of her at fancy dress ball as the
Queen of Sheba.
"Oh, what pretty thing this Isl"
she said, lifting . pale gray gown from
the filmy heap.
"Yes, 1 s'pose the toot onsembel OF
that's good. But them pale colors
don't 1T me; an the work on that
won't stand the eyes Of a con-
Missioner"
II suppose Mr.. Bernard has lot
of things, too" Esther said as soon as
she could control her face.
"You bet! Only mems things amt
interestin' like women's. I wish men
wore lace an things, like they did
when that picture was Took She
glanced up at an exquisite engraving
of a scene at the court of Louis XIV.
II presume Mr.. Bernard would
rather wear the dress of 1862
yes An I'd rather he would. His
manners don't somehow fit what he's
got now. I never noticed that Bill
was short on manners when he was
wearin' a blue shirt, an punchin'
mules, or huntin' lead. But in this
fine house, him a pushin' victuals with
a silver knife, an eatin' soup audible,
while people sets round an tries not
to laugh; an the flowers and the pic
lures someway shamin' him-why
good feller as he is, wish he'd go
back to his blue shirt an mules, or
else buy some manners. An the worst
of it is, know got just as bad a case
of not fittin' here myself; only I'm
that stuck on myself, l can't see it.
Ive-been going back right now on all
my polish for q coon's age"
Esther ventured no reply, and the
! other woman began to put away her
wardrobe. "Ain't it too bad nav had
to die fore got chance to wear half
these here new things? Blacks 50 un-
becoming! An can't even wear
white ruches; them's for widders."
Ether was startled. No wonder con-
ventional people could not understand
Sally b. Esther knew that no more
devoted daughter had ever lived than
Sally 3. had been; yet who, that knew
nothing of this would believe 1t in the
face of her last remark? -..> -... $50.
Bet she had good time," the other
went on. I'VE took her all over Yer
rup; an she lived two months after
we come home. I bought her more
clo'es than she'd had in all her life
before; she could put on different
dress every day in the month! We
took her riding in the victoria, took
her to the theater, the Cliff, an every
where! She didn't suffer none; I
thank God for that" She went in and
out of the closet once or twice with
out speaking, and Esther waited.
Her sentences had been tossed by
gusts Of emotion; now speech was
entirely wrecked. While she strug-
gled for calmness Viola entered.
| "Oh, Stella! Esther!" Viola's arms
went round the other girl impulsively
| che h11r int foo