The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-07-10

beforehand. an could do EN-, an"
That's jest what ! asked Jim ter
day. Mary" cut in Nathan, excitedly
Nathan. you didn't. now! oh. I'm
so glad, An wen do EN-. won't Wet
Jest to please herr"
"'course We Will"
You see it's four years since she
Wa here. Nathan. what with her
tsachin' summers"
Sugar. now! Is It? II haint
seemed so long"
Nathan" interposed Mrs. Kelsey,
~anxiously, Il think that fhain't' amt
i mean aren't right. think you'd
ortsr say, 1t haven't seemed so
long"
The man frowned. and made an i'm
patient gesture.
Yes. yes, l 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
a n 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 l? o,
dear, what will Alma say?"
1T don't make no difference what
Alma says, Mary. Don't ye fret" re.
turned the man with sudden sharp
ness, as he rose TO his feet. Il guess
Alma1l have ter take US bout as we
be-bout as We be-"
Yet it was Nathan who asked, just
as his wife was dropping OF to sleeE
that night;
MARY, is it three O. them collars
I've got. or four?-bTled ones.
mean"
, At FIVE o'clock the next Afternoon
+ Mrs. Kelsey put on the treasured
2 black silk dress, sacred for a dozeI
/ years to church, weddings, and funer
I ais. 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, brushes
r and scrubbed into a state Of speckles
order, was thrown wide open to wei
g come the returning daughter. At
quarter before six she came.
Mother, you d~arling!" cried
q voice, and Mrs. Kelsey found hersel
it in the clasp Of strong arms, and gai
it ing into a flushed, eager face. Don
!" you look good And doesn't ever!
- thing look good" finished the girl.
ID Does It'll mean, do it," quavere
.e the little woman, excitedly. ooh, A
ic ma, l am glad ter see ye!"
Behind Alma's back Nathan hicke
a bit Of dust from his coat. The ne,
instant he raised a furtive hand ar
=, gave his collar and neckband a So
~ age pull.
At the supper-table that night Il
minutes of eager questioning on Il
part Of Alma had gone by before MI
Kelsey realized that thus far the
conversation had been Of nothil
n, more important than Nathan's rhe
matism, her own health, and the WI
fare of Rover. Tabby, and the ma
Topsy. Commensurate with the ha
~ piness that had been hers durir
- those ten minutes came now her
AZ morse. She fastened to ma
amends.
To-. There. there, Alma, I beg your pa
I'm don, I'm sure. l hain't-er-l haveI
IN meant ter keep we talkin' on such t
m, fin things, dear. Now talk ter US y
as self. Tell us about things-anythi
he -anythin' on the table or in t
m, ROOM" she said feverishly.
'es For a moment the merry-faced g
an stared in frank amazement at b
W. mother; then she laughed gleefully.
he ION the tablet In the room?" S
VS. retorted. well. it's the dearest roc
ny ever, and looks so good to mel
lat for the table-the rolls are feathe
nat the coffee is nectar, and the stra
berries-well, the strawberries
al. inst strawberries-they couldn't
asst nicer" - -'"'
ice "oh, Alma, but | didn't mean
tie "Tut, tut, TUT" interrupted Air
air ~laughingly. Just as II the cook did
ant like her handiwork praised! w
the when I draw a picture-oh. and
haven't told you!" she broke of
It" citedly. The next instant she was
les her feet. "Alms Mead Kelsey. III
traitor; at your service" she
nounced. with a low bow. Then
dropped into her seat again and W
on speaking.
lid "You see, I've been doing this s
al Of thing for some time, she explain
land have had some succes In SELF
My teacher has always encouraI
me, and, acting on his advice, l sta,
over in New York a week with a fri
and took some OF my work to the
but publishing houses. That's why l die
ny, get here as soon as Kate Hopkins
a. hated to put OF my coming;
now I'm SO glad | did. Only thil