Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-01-27

went round and put his hands o. his
sisters slim shoulders. He might
have tossed her to the ceiling il he.
lad been chosen.
See here, Hatty." he said, y like to
have my own way once in awhile, Just
for change. want you to have
that paper. It'll brighten you up,
make you ten years younger, and
show the nighbors we know what's
what as we'll as any one. I'm going
to send it to you bright and early to.
morrow, and if you'll hang it, I'll tell
you what I'll DOLL let up on Pillow,
and give him another chance. Hows
that for bargain?"
He did not wait for an answer, but
gave her the gentlest of shakes before
he let her go. went out laughing into
the hall, thrust his great shoulders
into his overcoat, kissed his hand, and
was off with a good-by and a bang of
the front door that set the little house
a-tremble.
"Spunkiest little woman in all
Massachusetts, he chuckled to HIM
self, striding away down the street,
IF she does look like a piece of your
great-grandmother's best china, just
fit to crush in your hands. She wont
do it, suppose; always manages to
have her own way, somehow. But I
need something to keep me up to that
resolution about Pillow. And If
should have to let him off, well, 1t
would be worth it to me, twice over,
to see Hatty give in"
Miss Hatty, left alone in the hall
after that slam of the front door,
stood still and looked about her trem-
bling.
Half the house, with the shop, the
little parlor back of it, and the two
tiny chambers above, was hers; the
corresponding half, without the shop
window, belonged to the Pillows. The
line of division ran through the center
of the hall and was as clearly marked
as was the character of the owners.
On Mrs. Pillows side the floor was
covered with strip of gay carpet.
The wall famed with the gorgeous
and intricate pattern of the paper
which had so aroused the admiration
and envy of Mr.. Bascom. It's surface
reflected the sunshine which fell
through the fanlight over the door,
and distracted the eye with the va
riety and splendor of it's hues. Miss
Hatty's wall was painted a somber
though spotless yellow, and the boards
of her floor we're left bare and
scrubbed to a snowy whiteness
II can't do it," she murmured,
clasping her slender fingers in dis
tress. 81 can't! It's too much to ask.
l should feel as if the house was in a
perfect clutter if had those images
all over my wall. couldn't breathe
1t don't seem to me it's the place for
such things, anyway seems kind of
wicked. birds and flowers, and they'd
haunt me. | should dream of 'em.
What did Sam ask me to do it for?"
She went back into the parlor
where Milly Davis waited in breath
less and solemn agitation.
of course they had ought to pay
their interest money" unused Miss
Hatty, looking at the child with dazed
and woeful eyes as if she scarcely
realized her presence. "But Susy
Pillows lived here so long, it'll about
pose it's my duty as a neighbor and a
Christian to help her out, if it's any
ways in my power to do it, wish it
wasn't. I wish-I don't see how can,
anyhow in the world. It'll be every
bit as hard as moving myself to have
all those things staring and faring at
me. and 6gurin' round me all the
time. I'D rather move. I'd rather go
and live somewhere else, in a strange
house, than stay here where it won't
seem like home any MORE"
Milly round-eyed, awed and fas-
cinated by this unheard-of outburst
from her gentle mistress, ventured
Trembling word of consolation.
But Miss Hatty turned upon her
with a pale though gentle austerity.
"Milly," she said. there's the shop
bell, run and see what's wanted"
After that the day wore. away SLOW
ly and in silence. An atmosphere of
gloom peryaded shop and parlor.
Trade was dull, though the day was
so, bright, and even the tinkle of the
little BELL usually so cheerful and in
spring, had now a lugubrious and
tuneless sound, as If It shared the
general detection. The lights we're
extinguished early, and bidding Milly
a kind but distant goodnight, Miss
Hatty retired to her chamber. f.
What spiritual struggles were hers
during the night watches, what SELF
communings, what debates between
conscience and inclination, what deep
and sorrowful study of the situation
in all It's aspects, these things no one
ever knew. But when dawn broke, It
found her sleeping quietly, her smooth
cheek, pure as an infants pressed
TRANQUILITY upon her maiden pillow,
and when she came downstairs, rust
ling crisply in her fresh print gown,
the cloud of yesterday had vanished
e.o,,o ha,.G foco There uhono inot