Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-07-01

Henrietta, cleaned over the edge 81
them like a star. my Lord" He
felt his way across to the little table
and lit the lamp.
Not long after Mrs Martin came
home. she looked solemn and tired
Il amt needed" she said; I'm to &c
over there tomorrow. Had your sup
/ PERI"
Yes"
Its cold out"
It's breeding rain" said her hus
band.
She drew chair close to the stove
and sat down. ITS cold,' she said,
again. clasping and unclasping her
hands to the warmth. Suddenly she
held herself erect and spoke with q
certain slow rigidity she died at
three o'clock this evening"
Il guess that was when saw Pas
tor Myers come out"
1T was him made them make up.
He said he wouldn't give her the sac
rament unless she did. You know
them Lutherans are awful strict. Then
she said: Pastor Myers, it was all my
fault, and he said Tell him that
yourself, So she did, and Andy Shafer
he said: No. Henrietty, | was to
blame, too"
Adam Martin knocked the ashes out
OF his pipe against the side of the
stove.
How long We we been living here,
ADAM"
I'll be IL years next April"
Yes. so IL will, said Clarissa Mar
TIN. The lilacs were blooming. And
was at the gate when Henrietty came
down the road with John in her arms.
He had just had the Group, and she
stopped and told me about it. / guess
ne was three years old then. She was
pretty thing. | can remember the
very dress she had on. 1t was one of
them purple calicoes with a curly
white figure in it, and it was made
with two ruffies as wide as my hand"
she spoke musingly. 1t doesn't seem
more'n yesterday"
Adam broke out from behind cloud
OF tobacco smoke: Yes, Henrietty
was certainly good-looking."
They were on the outs then" said
Mrs. Martin. 1T was curious the way
they'd act. 1t seemd as if they both
wanted to keep away from each other
And when they were apart. Henri
ettyd never mention Andy. and
Andy'd never mention her. I've beat
my brain out many time wondering
what it was about"
Adam leaned heavily towards her.
John was here tonight"
Then he told her.
Mrs. Martin sat up straight in her
chair. 1T must have been worse than
people ever knew, Adam"
The Lombardy poplar rocked past
the barred door The house shook.
Little, lean, crying noises went dimly
up and down the room.
Adam, what was it, anyway"
Il don't know, Clarissy." A con.
fused look came into his heavy face.
He took the pipe out of his mouth
and held it stiffiy before him.
Didn't you tell me something once
about Henrietty having beau, and
her jilting him, and his calling back
after she was married, and Andy be-
ing jealous?"
Il guess / did
Mrs. Martins eager profile project |
I'd itself into the clouds of tobacco |
smoke that lowered about the stove.
Ihen that was it-that was II. as |
sure as you're alive. Men don't for |
get such things in a hurry" She |
urned on him suddenly: "Whatd he |
ook like, Adam?"
He was tall and young-more like
boy than man. | only saw him
'nce, when / come over to see ANDY |
Ibout some chickens"
A long moment. The man nut the
'ipe back into his mouth and smoked
m In fumbling fashion. The WON
ms eyes grew tragic Youth, love.
Ieath, tugged and tore at her. She
cit as if she must rise up and cry
ut
Where's he now, ADAM"
"Who?"
You know-Henriettys beau"
Dead" he said, simply.
And she's dead, too" She sighed
little.
Yes, poor Henrietty Shaferu never
o to market and stand behind that
tall any more"
Mrs. Martin stood up and sat down
gain. A culver ran through her
ne little body. She flung out a pas
Tomato hand: IF / were John Shafer
d get to the bottom Of that bust.
ess. Id do it if it killed Me-"
The room was SO deep in dusk that I
he two men sitting there seemed like
No figures set in a paler cloud of
loom. Each piece Of the simple :
itchen furniture, seen through the
ray dimness, which was but a con.
of the grayer one gathering J
Inside, suggested possibilities of rich
d carving The CLINT of the pans
ong the wall was like that of rim. =
ing water. :