Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-06-10


day. Mary" cut in Nathan. excitedly.
Nathan, you didn't. nowl oh. I'm
so glad! An Wen do 'em, won't We?
Jest to please herr"
course we will"
you see it's four years since she
was here, Nathan, what with her
teachin' summers"
Sugar, now! Is it? 1t haint
seemed so long"
Nathan" interposed Mrs. Kelsey.
anxiously, 81 think that 'haint' amt
i mean aren't right. think you'd
orter say. 1t haven't seemed SO
long"
The man frowned, and made an i'm
patient gesture.
Yes, yes. know" soothed his
wife; "but-well. we might jest as
well begin now an git used to it.
Mis- Hopkins said that them two
words, 'haint' an amt was what
Katy hated most of anythin'."
Yes; Jim mentioned EN-, too" ack-
nowledged Nathan. gloomily. But he
said that even them want half SO bad
as his riggin' up nights. He said that
Katy said that after the toll of the
day they must don fresh garments
an come ter the evenin' meal with
minds an bodies refreshed"
yes; an, Nathan. amt my black
silk"
"Ahem! I'm a-thinkin it want me
that said amt that time," interposed
Nathan, dryly.
Dear, dear, Nathan!-did /? o,
dear, what will Alma say?"
1T don't make no difference what
Alma says, Mary. Don't We fret" re-
turned the man with sudden sharp
ness, as he rose to his feet. * guess
Alma1l have ter take us bout as we
be-'bout as we be-"
Yet ii was Nathan who asked, just
as his wife was dropping off to sleep
that night:
MARY, is it three o. them collars
I've got, or four?-b'iled ones,
mean"
At five o'clock the next afternoon
Mrs. Kelsey put on the treasured
black silk dress, sacred for dozen
years to church, weddings, and funer-
'als. Nathan, warm and uncomfort-
able in his Sunday suit and stiff col
lar, had long since driven to the sta
ton for Alma. The house, brushed
and scrubbed into state Of speckless
order, was thrown wide open to well
come the returning daughter. At a
quarter before six she came.
Mother, you darling!" cried a
voice, and Mrs. Kelsey found herself
in the clasp of strong arms, and gaz-
ing into a flushed, eager face. Don't
you look good! And doesn't every
thing look good" finished the girl.
Does It'll mean, do it?" quavered
the little woman. excitedly. "Oh, AL
ma, | am glad ter see ye."
Behind Alma's back Nathan flicked
instant he raised furtive hand and
gave his collar and neckband a saw
age pull.
At the supper-table that night ten
minutes of eager questioning on the
part of Alma had gone by before Mrs.
Kelsey realized that thus far their
conversation had been of nothing
more important than Nathan's rheu-
matism, her own health, and the well
fare of Rover, Tabby, and the mare
Topsy. Commensurate with the hap
piness that had been hers during
those ten minutes came now her re-
morse. She fastened to make
amends.
There, there, Alma, beg your par
don, I'm sure. / hain't-er-I haven't
meant ter keep We talkin on such tri-
fin things, dear. Now talk ter us yer
self. Tell us about things-anythin
-anythin' on the table or in the
ROOM" she said feverishly.
For a moment the merry-faced girl
stared in frank amazement at her
mother; then she laughed gleefully.
"On the table? In the room?" she
retorted. "Well, it's the dearest room
ever, and looks so good to mel AS
for the table-the rolls are feathers,
the coffee is nectar, and the straw
berries-well, the strawberries are
just trawberries-they couldn't be
nicer"
"Oh, Alma, but ] didn't mean"
Tut, tut, TUT" interrupted Alma,
laughingly. Just as If the cook didn't
like her handiwork praised! Why.
when / draw a picture-oh, and
haven't told you!" she broke off ex-
citedly The next instant she was on
her feet. alma Mead Kelsey, Illus
traitor; at your service" she an
nounced, with low bow. Then she
dropped into her seat again and went
on speaking.
"You see, I've been doing this sort
of thing for some time, she explained,
land have had some success in selling.
My teacher has always encouraged
me, and, acting on his advice. stayed
over in New York week with friend
and took some of my work to the big
publishing houses. That's why didn't
get here as soon as Kate Hopkins did
hated to put off my coming; but
now I'm so glad / did. Only think!
sold every single thing, and / have
orders and orders ahead"