The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-07-10
IN The
OF KATY
By Eleanor II. Porter

Only Alma had lived-Alma, the
last born. The other five, n after
another, had slipped from loving.
c~linging arms into the great Silence,
leaving worse than a silence behind
them: and neither Nathan Kelsey mol
lis wife. Mary. could have told you
which hurt the most-the saying of
a last good-by to a stalwarL grown
lad Of 20, OF the folding of tiny, waxen
hands over a heart hat had not count
ed a year OF beating. Yet both had
ialien TO their lot.
AS for Alma-Alma carried in her
dainty self all the love, hopes, tender
ness, ambitions, and prayers that 9TH
arwise would have been bestowed up
On six, And Alma was coming home.
Mary" said Nathan n June
evening, as he and his wife sal on the
back porch, Il saw Jim Hopkins ter
day. Katy's got home"
Hmm, the low rocker swayed
gently to and fro,-"Katy's been ter
college, same as Alma, ye know"
Yes; an'-an' that's what Jim was
talkin' bout. He was feelin' bad
powerful bad"
"Bad!"-the rocker stopped abrupt
ly. Why. Nathan"
Eyes; he" there was a pause, then
the words came with the rush of des-
peration. He said home want like
home no more. That Katy was a good
girl, an they was proud Of her; but
she was turrible upsettin'. Jim has
ter rig up nights now ter eat supper
put on his coat an billed collar; an
he says he's got so he don't da'st ter
open his head. They're all so, too
Mis- Hopkins. an Sue, N Aunt Jane
don't none OF EN- da'st ter speak"
e why, Nathan!-why not?"
I cause of-Katy. Jim says there
2 don't nothin' they say suit Katy-'bout
a its wordin'. l mean, She changes it
e an tells EN- what they'd orter said"
n why, the saucy little baggage!"-
the rocker resumed its swaying, and
Mary Kelsey's foot came down on the
porch floor with decided, rhythmic
pats.
a The man stirred restlessly.
But she amt sassy, Mary" he de
p i INJURED. Yin says Katy's that sweet
Sc an pleasant about 1t that ye can
I, do nothin'. She tells 'em she's ker
rectin' EN- fur their own good, an
that they need culturin'. An Jim say
she spends all o. meal-time tellin
bout the things on the table-salt, an
il where folks git it. an pepper, an
} tumblers, an how folks make EN-. He
A. says at first twas kind O. nice an
he liked ter hear It; but now, seems
as II he hain't got no appetite left
ev'ry time he sets down ter the table
o He don't relish eatin' such big words
an queer names
AN that amt all" resumed Ma
than, after a pause for breath. "Jin
can't go hoein' nor diggin' but shell
foller him an tell bout the bugs an
worms he turns up-how many leg
they've got, an all that. An tn,
moon amt Jest a moon no more, an
the stars amt stars. They're sp'ere
an planets with heathenish an
rings an orbits. Jim feels bad-pov
erful bad-bout 1t, an he says h
Ter cant see no way out Of it. He know
- n they hain't had much schoolin', an
sh Of EN-, only Katy, an he says tina
sometimes be most wishes that-tha
she hadn't. neither"
IN Nathan Kelsey's voice had sunk a
lty most TO a whisper. and with the las
word his eyes sem a furtive glanc
IN toward the stoop-shouldered littl
figure in the low rocker. The cha
ht- was motionless now, and its occupaT
y, sat picking at a loose thread in th
md Bingham apron.
81 IL wouldn't "a spoke Of 1t
OF stammered the man, with painful he
" itation, eonly-well, ye see, I-you-
he stopped hslplsssly.
of 81 know" faltered the little wor
an. you was thinkin' of-Alma."
"She wouldn't do it-Alma woul
e n'tl" retorted the man, sharply.
most before his wife had ceased spea
ing.
NO, no, Of course not: but-N
and than, ye don't think Alma'd ever be-
tSSa y ashamed Of US. do YET"
ply "'Course not A" asserted Nathan, b.
his voice shook. Don't ye worr
Jun Mary" he comforted. Alma amt
me goin' ter do no kerrectin' of u.s."
Nathan, IL think that's 'co-reC
i'm suggested the woman, a lit
breathlessly.
= The man turned and gazsd at b
wife without speaking. Then bis ia
fell.
OF well. by sugar. Mary You air
a-goin' ter begin it; be yet" he d
Jug manded.
15ssIs why, no, course mott" she laughl
Of c~onfussdly. Come. it's time ter SD
Jug up the house"
The date Of Alma's expected ar
val wan yet a week ahead. AS Il
- days passed, there came a curio
~restlessness to the movements Of DO
Nathan and his wife. 1t wal on {
/, A1 OF last night Of that week Of waiting th
un- Mrs. Kelsey spoke.
Nathan" she began. with fore
courage, i've been over to Mis- He
,,o s1e k~ins's--an' asked her what spec
""IH