The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-02-03

several unnecessary stitches, 'if
had been going with girl two years
and never mentioned anything about
being engaged, should expect her TO
think my attentions didn't mean any
thing and she was free TO 80 home
with anybody she liked Shouldn't
your
The young man biushed, u
guess I've been something of fool,
Miss Percival he said. with an EN-.
barlassed laugh I've been expect
Ing folks to be mnd-readers; Thank
you for doing up my wrist"
Phoebe watched him as he went
down the path 4 knew Nellie was
feeling bad about something the last
time she was here, she mused; but
| had other company and so she didn't
say anything It's queer what trifies
will come between two people who
really think the world Of each other,
and Phoebe sighed as she recalled the
one romance Of her own life.
The cutting out of Freddie Westails
clothes was done. ana Phoebe was at
her stitching machine. when Mrs
Gaines, her next neighbor hurst in at
the door and sank into a chair, DO
YOU know how to put in a stove linz
/ ing2" she asked. breathless.y. John
took mine out and then was called
away and won't be home till noon;
and just before he went he remem-
bered to give me letter he took ont
Of the post office week ago-and it's
from my sister, and she's coming here
to-day on the half-past ten train, ans.
going off in the afternoon on her way
home from the mountains, and her
son and his wife are with her-and
I've been canning tomatoes all the
week and let everything else so-and
I've been working every minute since
got the letter cleaning things UP. ana
forgot all about the stove"
"In go right back with you"
Phoebe said promptly and the two
left the house together.
Phoebe was possessed of "gump-
ton, and the stove lining was put in
as quickly and as wei as John could
have done It.
Now. Laura, she commanded, you
just run and change your dress and
get ready for your company-tis most
II oclock-and leave the dinner to
me. I'll have it all on the table BY
H. and run over afterward and wash
up the dishes"
"Oh. ii is TOO much"
NO. il isn't" Phoebe interrupted
her. What are neighbors for if not
to be neighborly?'
So with a deep breath of relief Mrs.
Gaines obeyed, and Phoebe set TO
work on the dinner
Everything went off well. and at
half-past one the dishes were washed
and put away, and Phoebe was back
at her machine
Her next caller was deaf old man,
who came limpng in with cane. lie
sat down with a sigh in the easy chair
Phoebe pulled up for him, and seemed
to be very low spirited But Phoebe
asked him about his rheumatism and
talked politics at the top of her voice.
and laughed at his feeble jokes, and
brought out big peach the only one
borne on her one little peach tree that
year, and cut it up for him with
sprinkling of sugar. so that when he
went away he was wonderfully cheer
full and stepped quite briskly.
II don't suppose his folks have much
patience with him. thought Phoebe.
He must be kind O. wearing; but he
can't help it, poor SOUL
Just before supper Mrs. Gaines ran
over for a minute to tell Phoebe how
grateful she was. My company had
to 20 away at three o'clock. she said
"and If it hadn't been for you
should have had to stay in the kitch-
en- most of the time and hardly seen
my sister at ALL
Phoebe hurried her sewing after
supper, so that by halfpast eight she
was On her way down the road with
Freddie WestalIs completed garments
over her arm.
Mrs Westall gave a relieved sigh
at sight of her I'm so glad they're
finished" she exclaimed Some Of
the other children dared Freddie to go
through a thicket Of rse-briers and
blackberry vines this afternoon down
in the pasture, and his only pair of
knickerbockers was torn to tatters.
You couldn't stay and spend the even
ing, could your" she asked wistfully as
Phoebe rose to go. Il can't blame
folks for not coming to see me, when
] never get to see them; but / do get
80 lonesome-and my husband is away
this evening. too
why. I'll be glad TO-" asserted
Phoebe, and the two sat and rocked
and chatted till Mr.. Westall came
home al ten O'Clock
After Phoebe was home again and
had locked up for the night. there
came quick knock at the door.
Somebody must have been taken
suddenly sick and sent for me" she
thought as she drew the bolt and
opened the door
Good evening, Miss Percival," said
a voice which she instantly recognized
as that of the groceryman.
Il was going by home" the young
,,,ar cold and eaur vo,r 1fabf ,..,,