The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-03-18

ed that bis grcat-granGfathe was an
Indian and that he himself never for
gave an injury. He had wanted Molly
to marry Peer Andrews and had
therefore considered himself hopeless
II injured y hen she insisted on loving
and marrying Richard Burns. though
l:- had 10 real objection to Richard in
himself. L.oIiy was as stubborn as he,
and there had been no visiting be-
tween the tWo households by his own
command He was master in his own
house. and ma obeyed, though under
protest, for their two sons were out
west, and Molly was all she had. She
had long since ceased TO argue with
pa about il. and. though she did not
so to Molly's house. she made the
most of any chance meetings with her
or the small Jimmy. She had not been
in her daughters house since the time
Jimmy was born. Pa had not tried to
stop her then.
And now it was the day before the
new year began. Ma went Oh with
her pies. big and rich and thick with
her best mince meat. and she did now
as she had always done since Molly
had been 4 tiny girl-madc one pie In
a little yellow -Molly's little
pie Each year she continued to do
this, her husbands contempt notwith-
standing. This time she did it osten-
tatiously, holding it high on her hand
as she trimmed the crust off around
the edge She intended to attract his
attention.
He had removed his mittenS and had
taken down his old gun from the rack.
He sat cleaning the gun. with Iis rect
on the hearth and his teern set. He
was In torture from rheumatism and
so weak he could scarcely get through
with what work must be done out of
doors. but he carefully hid his condi-
ton from his wife Ma would put him
to bed and dose him and tell him he
had to forgive Molly and have Richard
over to relieve him of the heavy work.
Richard wanted to do this too. Ma
would be scared and say he was too
old to be alone and too old to be I'M
forgiving. He was only sixty. and he
never had forgiven any one. and he
did not intend TO begin now. and he
had said he would never see Molly's
baby, and he never would either.
Then he looked up and saw Molly's
little pie balanced on her mother
hand. 1t was the last straw.
MA" he said. you're worse idiot
every year. Quit maxim that little
fool pie, Molly II never come over
here to eat it. and you can make up
your mind to that You've had time
enough. And | forbid you to be ever
lastinly meetin' her and Burns Ike |
know Won do. T'il-I'll lock you M. old
as you DE. If you can't have any sense
| don't want 10 have TO say this az ID
next year You throw that pie into
the slop bucket this minute or I'll come
over there and do it myself" He rose,
but his rheumatism made him pause.
And then ma did what she had not
dcne once before I'm the forty years OF
their marriage She faced him with
blazing eyes and dared him to touch
her or the pie. and he stood speeches.
beneath the torrent Of her words. He
had not seen ma reused before.
John Davis" she finished after she
had talked awhile. the Lord can take
down your wicked pride If | can't. You
know Molly had right To- marry Rich
ard. You know you're rs wild 10 see
your only grandson as / am too. I'm
goin' over there after this just when
please. I'm goin' to take this pie over
when it's baked I've sent IL on the sly
too long I'm tired OF sneakin'. I've
knuckIed under TO your within as long
as ever | intend TO. You're too old 20
be so hard You better just stop
temptin' Providence with the hard
ness OF your heart and go and fetch
home Molly and Richard and Jimmy.
I'm cookin' the best I'm the land. like
always do. You do what say and see
how good il feels TO be decent once
This viii be New Years eve and q
good time to begin. This Is the last
word I'm goln' 10 say about It" She
closed her mouth and slammed the
oven door on the pie.
Pa stood In the m..fdle OF the room.