The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-02-06

UP, lHOusSH lllt DldlblC oDto WGiC lAN
best that money could buy. Beside
them were homemade dressing cases,
a washstand with a pail for a pitcher,
az gourd for a dipper and a shining
brass basin. Nails adroitly disposed
utilized every angle for hanging
clothes.
Stella gave Sally b. no time to re-
ply, hut went on firmly: you need a
capable g%overness for her, one who
can prepare her to meet life. OF
that | am as ignorant as a little child.
I'm quite satisfied with the dining
room work. Mrs. Bernard"
Don't Mrs me; / amt used to 1t.
AS for knowledge, you know a heap
sight more'n Viola; an anyway, |
var her to be with you. | might
the right kind. There's more'n arth-
metic an fancy readin' a girl will
learn from her teacher"
Stella's voice was grateful. But
Mrs.-but-"
Call me Sally b., like the rest
does
mo, I'll call you Mrs. Sally. l
shan't earn my living, Mrs. Sally"
Sally BIS black eyes snapped. IF
you don't you'll be the first ever took
Sally BIS money without givin' value
received"
Stella smiled. She had already seen
that there was no nook in Sally BIS
house where strikers could hide; yet
If one were i'll or unfortunate, no other
good Samaritan than Sally BIS self
was needed.
"Tll send to Auburn an git the
same books they use in the schools
there. You can put vi through from
8 to II. help me in the dinin' room on
busy days, an keep school agin from
two to four. Here in grandma'am's
room a be the place. An I'll double
you wages. How'll that SUITE"
Its not a question of how it will
suit me; it's all on my side. Let me
make the beds and sweep Saturdays
and 1t will be nearer fair"
Sweep? Have Viola's teacher
sweep? No, stree! An | wouldn't
let o go in that corral for six bits a
minute!"
Viola entered, small, childish in fig
ure, old of face, yet lovely in coloring.
Between her dark mother and grand
mother, the latter the bent, weakened
origina! of her daughter, the fair,
hazel-eyed child seemed of another
face. AS foreign to them, too, were
her air of delicate refinement, her
soft voice and her gentle movements,
inheritances from a father bred out
of his proper environment. She held
wild buttercups and ~violets, which she
carried to her grandmother.
The old face flooded with a sudden
glory. She took the flowers in both
hands, gently pressed them to lip and
cheek, drew long whiffs of their
fragrance, turned them from side to
side, peered questioningly into their
sun.filled hearts-it was pitiful the
ecstasy a flower could bring to this
shut-in soul.
"Where'd you git EN-, honey?" she
asked in the thick voice of the deaf.
Instantly Viola caught up her grand
mothers crutch, bent back her foot,
and, for a step or two, initiated Alvin
Carter.
The ~telegrafter's boy?" the old
woman asked, with an odd light in her
eye.
Viola nodded.
Here they be, child. You mustn't
give away yer s~weetheart's posy gift
Viola's cheek tint deepened; but
she laughed, pushing back the old
hand that offered the blossoms.
Git a tumbler of water, wi, SOS
they won't wilt" her mother COM
manded.
As soon as Viola vanished, Sally B.
began the most remarkable gesture
speech Stella had ever seen, 1t was
meaningless to her, yet the old dame
evidently understood it.
mo s~weethearts? That pretty gal?"
The old eyes cleaned young again.
Another series of gyrations.
Too young ter marry? She's older'n
you was; though / do low she's pow
erful little"
Sally BIS movements were more en-
pha$ic.
"Sho, Sally; she mustn't marry that
leetle cripple, to be shore. But
where there's honey there'll be more,n
one fly; and all feilers is s~weethearts
at 49,
Viola came in with the water and
pushed up a "lightstand," leaving
grandma'am with her flowers.
DO tell me, Mrs. Sally, how YOU
make her understand. It's wonderful"
Yes; folks thinks It's right peart.
Poor grandma'am. she can't read."
Sally r. paused and gazed sorrowfully
at the old woman. They want no
chance o. learnin' to read in Oregon in
the twenties. So when she got stun deaf
| was pesky cut up. 1t came after
paw died. l laid awake o. nights study
in how / could talk with her like the
deaf an dumb does. One day she
asked me how Bill-that's my hus-
band-come by a scar on his hand;
an drew a picture of a horse kickin'
a man
Il wish you'd seer grandma'am's