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


work.
Every night at six the anxious little
woman. flushed from biscuit-baking
and chicken-broiling and almost sick
with fatigue, got out the black silk
gown and the white lace collar and
put them on with trembling hands.
Thus robed in state she descended to
the supper-table, there to confront
her husband still more miserable in
the stiff collar and black coat
Nor yet was this all. Neither the
work nor the black silk dress con-
tanned for Mrs. Kelsey quite the pos
sibilities of soul torture that were to
be found in the words that fell from
her lips. AS the days passed, the
task the little woman had set for her
self became more and more hopeless.
until she scarcely could bring herself
to speak at all, SO stumbling and halt
ing were her sentences.
At the end of the eighth day came
the elimination of il all Alma, her
nose shifting the air, ran into the kit
chen that night to find no one in the
room, and the biscuits burning in the
oven. She removed the biscuits, threw
wide the doors and windows, then
hurried upstairs to her mothers room.
why. mother!"
Mrs. Kelsey stood before the glass,
deep flush on her cheeks and tears
rolling down her face. Two trem-
bling hands struggled with the lace
at her throat until the sharp point
Of a pin found her thumb and left a
tiny crimson stain on the spotless-
ness of the collar. 1t was then that
Mrs. Kelsey covered her face with
her hands and sank into the low chair
by the bed.
"Why, mother" cried Alma again,
hurrying' across the room and drop
ping on her knees at her mothers
side.
II can't, Alma, can't" moaned
the woman. I've tried an tried; but
I've got ter give up. I've got ter give
up"
Cant what, dearie?-give up
what?" demanded Alma.
Mrs. Kelsey shook her head. Then
she dropped her hands and looked
| fearfully into her daughters face.
"An' yer father, too, Alma-he's
tired, an he can't" she choked.
"Tired what? What do you mean?"
With her eyes on Alma's troubled,
amazed face, Mrs. Kelsey made one
last effort to gain her lost position.
! She raised shaking hands to her throat
and fumbled for the pin and the col
lar.
There, there, dear, don't yer fret"
she stammered. Il didn't think what
/ was sayin' 1t amt nothin'-I mean
! it aren't nothin-it am not-oh-h!"
she sobbed; there, We see, Alma, /
can't, We see, Alma, ! can't, can't.
1t amt no more use ter try" Down
went the gray head on Alma's strong
young shoulder.
There, there, dear, cry away" COM
forted Alma, with loving pats. 1T will
do you good; then we'll hear what
this is all about, from the very be-
ginning"
Aud Mrs. Kelsey told her-and from
| the very beginning. When the tell
ing was over. and the little woman, a
bit breathess and frightened, sat wait
ing what Alma would say, there came
long silence.
! Alma's lips were close shut. Alma
was not quite sure, if she opened
them, whether there would come a
laugh or a sob. The laugh was upper
most and almost parted the firm-set
lips, when a glance at the quivering
face of the little woman in the big
chair turned the laugh into half
stified sob. Then Alma spoke.
Mother, listen. dear. Do you
think a silk dress or a stiff collar can
make you and father any dearer to
me? Do you think an amt of a
hain't' can make me love either of
you any less? Do you suppose / ex-
pect you, after so years service for
others, to be as careful in your ways
and words as if you had spent those
so years in training yourself instead
of in training six children? Why,
mother, dear, do you suppose that
don't know that for 20 of those years
you have had no thoughts, no prayer,
save for me?-that / have been the
very apple of your eye? Well, it's
my turn, now, and you are the apple
of my eye-you and father. Why.
dearie, you have no idea of the plans
have for you. There's a good strong
woman coming next week for the
kitchen work. Oh, it's all right" as
sured Alma, quickly, in response to
the look on her mothers face. why,
I'm rich! Only think of those orders
And then you shall dress in silk or
velvet, or calico-anything you like.
so long as it doesn't scratch nor
prick" she added merrily, bending
forward and fastening the lace col
lar. And you shall"
Nary" 1t was Nathan at the
foot of the back stairway.
Yes, Nathan."s
"Aint IL most supper timer"
BLESS my soul" cried Mrs. Kel.
sey, springing to her feet.
AN Mary"
yes"