Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-14


ing the supper. She would laugh Ia
her facet
There was the sound Of low knock
at the kitchen door. and Ann strobe
swiftly across the floor and threw tho
door wide open. There stood Della
with her milk pitcher IN one hand and
the black cat curling about her skirts
Good evening"" hesItated Della. with
one look at AIMS face.
Good evening" snapped Mrs Bart.
with questioning brows
"May come in for few minutesf"
asked Della. II want to say something
to you. Mrs. Bart"
Come In" said Ann ungraciously.
leading the way into the dining room
and pulling forward stiff rocker.
"Sit down."
But Della stood. tall and slender and
very pale. her pitcher held In the curve
of her long arm. The black cat still
arched its back against her sIlken
skirt.
Ann watched her and waited fierce.
~ expectant Of the accusation. She
imagined thu Della had seen her dew
astated supper table through the win
dow, or she may have observed Ann
in the very act of dcspoiling the tn.
bic.
II want you TO come TO my supper
party" blurted forth Della nj last. II
know I've never been very friendly to
you. Mrs. Bart, but / mean TO do bet
ter. and I've put or asking you every
day because thought maybe you'd
resent It. Now, at the very last mo.
mcnt. I Just made up my mind TO rush
In and have It out! I've got place
all laid for you, and l expect well all
have real good time together. VIII
you conner"
Delia's blue eyes were lifted for an
instant to the crayon portrait of james
Bart on tho wall over the mantel-
piece; then her glance fell on the
strangely working features OF Ann
Bart.
II can't come" said Ann in n chok-
ing voice.
"WhyT asked Della gently.
You'll know why-whcn you go into
your rooms" retorted Ann bitterly
II am sorry. hope you'll change
your mind" said Della. turning TO the
door.
When the door had closed Ann
reached down and took the box ont
OF her workbaskct and thrust II In II
small cupboard In the chimneypiccc.
II slipped forward and before Ann
could catch II fell TO the floor. distrib-
uting its contents over the hearth rug
With little cry OF dismay Ann bent
down TO pick up the scattered letters
and photographs. As she placed the
last one in the box her arm stlifencd.
and she held the picture before her
eyes with a strange set smile on her
face.
1t was n picture of her husband.
James Bart taken In his handsome
young manhood. The bold dark eyes
looked confidently into her own and
seemed to challenge her 10 crlticisc tho
few words written In his grabbed wrii
ing across the bottom OF the card:
Il
1885" That was year before he had
married Ann.
Ann rose stifliy to her feet and closed
the box with snap: then she walked
deliberately TO Della Priddy's door aud
knocked loudly.
Come i'm said Dclia's voice.
Miss Prlddy was sitting near the
devastated supper table. her eyes rcd
from crying. The tall clock IN the
corner was slowly ticking away the
minutes toward @. when tho expected
guests would arrive.
Instead OF feeling triumphant NJ the
downfall OF her enemy's hopes. Ann
Bart felt very small and mean n'it
she could be us magnanimous
II was mad at you. Della Priddy.
she said in low. even tone. ''hecanS"
you've always snuhbcd me and hechuse
you didn't ask me to your party. :"
came In and cartcd all ynnr fnol ul'
into the attic. and It's there now. insl
as good as ever III 20 mp in n minute
and bring It down. want 10 ask you
question, aud you needn't he offend
ed. You used to know my husband
before was married. didn't yon:'
Della's head lifted proudly. and sh'
broke the bitter silence OF years II
was engaged to him once. but he fitted
me to marry you. never felt that !
wanted to have much TO do with ciihct
OF you when you came 10 saltwater
IL didn't know II. bella. but ynn
needn't have felt rcsentful You ought
TO be glad you never married James.
lie was hateful. lie was hard man
TO live with. I had hard life. Two
crimson spots glowed IN AIMS cheeks
as she bent over Della priddy and kiss
ed her softly. I'm going up TO get
that food now. hope you'll forgive
me-" she added.
"Of course do. I'm sorry ! acted
mean. but couldn't see much Of him.
and II makes me feel better 10 know
he wasn't perfect" half laughed Della
as she returned AIMS caress. ''Yonll
go and get ready for supper now.
won't you? And we'll all like TO see