Mexico Missouri message., 1909-02-11

Where did you address your let
teri" Hartley asks, after n little.
Liverpool. care OF her usual hotel.
She'll get Il all right-always pro-
vided she hasn't already organized n
settlement colony Of small HoolIgans
In the Liverpool slums. But therei
Let's forget morals and matrimony.
Heighoi Wonder what's doing In the
| Street? Not that care a red"
They seemed to have forgot me alto
| gether. But was interested In their
talk all the same, and I've tried to put
It down Just as heard II. Twas queer
talk, but they was queer folks. and l
was learning how the big.bugs done
their counting. From what I'd heard
so far liked the wellmouth way full
as well.
The front gate clicked. Van Brunt
looked up. Great Scott" says he, ITS
the photograph"
Twas Hannah Jane Purvis coming
home from the next house with dish
pan full Of peas. Hannah was q kind
Of scant patterned critter without
much canvas on her poles and her
sleeves most generally rolled up. She
had brindled hair clewed back SO tight
OF her forehead that her eyes wouldn't
shut good. and the impression you got
from the first look at her was that she
was all square coTners-not a round
one In the lot.
Well" says she, coming up into
the wind In front OF the piazza and
looking at me hard. II do believe it's
Solomon Pratt. Why, what a Btran-
ger you be! I amt seen you for /
don't know when"
didn't know when either and /
didn't try to remember. Sufficient
unto the day is the trouble belonging
to II" the Scriptures say. II recollect
II right, and twas enough for me that
she'd seen me this time. She comes
over, dishpan and all, and planks her.
self down on the steps right in front
OF Van Brunt's chair. There amt
nothing shy or unfriendly about Han
nah Jane; she's the most folksy fe-
male l ever come across, and always
was.
MY sakes!" says she, turning round
to Van. II see Mr.. Pratt come in here
and | couldn't make out who twas.
Thinks /: They've got company and
l must get there quick So back
put, and don't know as I've got full
measure OF peas cause II seemed to
me that some OF 'em spilled of the
top when Cap'n Poundberry was
emptyin' 'em in. hope not, cause
, peas is high now. Not that It makes
any difference TO well-or folks like
you, Mr.. Van Brunt. but"
; Hadn't you better go back and
pick 'em up?" asks Van. solemn as an
, owl.
} "oh. land OF love! no. There
want enough for that. Besides want
TO see Mr.. Pratt. Well, Mr.. Pratt"
says she. Il suppose you're surprised
enough to find me working out. Dear!
, dear! don't know what Jehiel-he
that was my first husband-would
} have said; nor my second one neither.
| But there! We can't none OF us never
| tell what's in store for us In this
world. can we?"
. made some sort OF answer; don't
matter what She went ahead lament.
| Auh bNtA NhaN n tOAht-hpNh TWAS AhL
her to work out. You'd think she'd
been used to marble halls to hear her.
She settles the dishpan between her
knees and starts In Smelling peas.
talking a blue streak all the time. She
was n whole sewing circle In herself.
that woman.
'Jehiel was such a quiet man." she
1 a9tar N ANAL sfIIa unaRaalNy
talked" Didn't have a chance, thinks
to myself) when he died-did
ever tell you how Cap'n Samuels-my
, first husband as was-come to die, Mr..
Hartley?" says she.
Hartley had took up the Natural
Life book and was trying TO read II.
Now he looked up and says, mournful
but resigned: "No. Mrs. Purvis. l be-
lieve we have never had the pleasure"
THE pleasure was wholly the
Cap'n's," says Van Brunt under his
, breath. II Hannah Jan heard him she
didn't let 1t worry her.
We'll" she says. twas this way:
Cap'n Jehiel-him that was my FIRST
husband-was the most regular man
, In his habits that ever was, guess.
Every Saturday night all the time we
was maFried-and We vas married
eleven year, not counting the two after
he was took sick--he always had baked
beans for supper. used to say 10
him: 'Jehiel.' used to say. amt you
tired OF baked beans? l should think
you'd turn into beans, you're so fond
Of EN- But he never did and"
; She stopped for a second to get her
breath. Van cut In quick.
That wasn't the cause OF his death.
then2" he asks. very grave.
"who--what2"
Turning into beans2 or course
D not. believe you said he didn't
{ turn."