The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-09-02
Ten Minutes
WITH THE
Short-Story
Writers
A STEP DOWN.
lBy NIorence 0. MaIlon.l

on IN the morning, and Slle ale nei
supper and talked of Indifferent mat
ters as II this were merely one more
in The long procession Of uneventful
days. The girl saw, at last, that there
would be no opportunity Of her moth
ers making, so she summoned her
courage and laid aside all pretense OF
eating.
Mother aren't you coming to see
me married. she asked in a strained
voice.
She had feared that battling deal
ness which Mrs. Peck sometimes leisn
cd, but the answer came readily
enough.
mo. am not coming" said the ell
der woman, beginning to scrape on
the dishes ITS good deal OF a
step down for a Peck to have TO 30 TO
priest to get married, and ! guess
don't care to see 1t.
Bertha was not deceived by the
duietness of her mothers tone. she
knew the decision was final, and, al
though she had been trying TO prepare
herself for It. she was stuIG to the
quick. II seemed molstrous that Mrs.
Peck could not lay aside her prejud-
Ice sufficiently to go and see her only
child married. 1t was not as II there
were any thing against Jim Wiley
the girl told herself: 1t was nothing
but senseless, wicked pride. Sadden-
ed she went upstairs to finish her
packing.
After awhile some one came in the
front door and went up to Bertha
room. Mrs. Peck, washing dishes IN
the kitchen heard the step. she
knew that IL was Ella Snyder, coip
to help Bertha into her wedding dress
She could hear the girls ta:slng up
stairs. 1t made her feel very forlorn
and lonely
BY and by she heard the carriage
driven up, and Bertha's voice calling
OUT from the window that sne would
be right down. Then she heard her
daughters step on the stairs. IT paus
ed at the dining room, and next in
stant the girl ran into the kitchen,
where Mrs. Peck stood at the sink
with both hands deep in the dish
water. She seized her mother and
kissed her convulsively
Lock out. Look out. warned Mrs
Peck. you most made me break this
tumbler."
You'll get used to it, mother"
sobbed Bertha lncoherently. you'll
get used to it. y
Mrs. Peck flattened her lips.
Il never will" she said, carefully
lifting the tumblers into the rinslL,
water.
l,ertha was gone Her trunk was
gone. the new suit case that had been
standing in the upstairs closet was
gone. There were only the presents
left, and Mrs. Peck locked the door
uu9a>--those. There seemed TO be
strangely little to do this evening. and
yet she felt the need of doing some
rhlng. she wrapped herself in a
shawl and went out upon the porch
1t was cool. and all that she could
do there was TO sit and think. IN
desperation she decided TO get ise
trowel and loosen up the earth In The
aster bed.
H.
She had been working for few
minutes-not finding that this pre-
aluded thinking. either-wien she be
came aware that woman had stoI
ped on the side walk and was peerine
in through the dusk at the asters
Mrs. Peck did not know her, she was
middleagcd and was dressed in pros
porous black.
Those asters are handsome the
woman exclaimed, seeing that sh'
was observed.
Ordinarily, Mrs. Peck was very con
servative about making acquaintance
Tonight, however, she yearned for hu
man companionship; besides, her flow
ers were her vulnerable point
Il would be pleased to have yot
step inside. so YOU can see them plain
er," she said primly.
The woman accepted. and sOor
showed by her comments that she
was one Of the elect who know the
lore OF gardens. They stood for some
time discussing seeds and bulbs, until
Mrs. Peck at last suggested:
Maybe you would like to sit dowr
on the piazza a lew minutes, and rest
you?H
The stranger seemed glad to fal
in with any suggestion. she had an all
of not knowing what to do with her
self.
IT'S a lonesome evening" she slsh
ed. seating herself heavily in one ol
the rocking chairs.
Terrible said Mrs. Peck
81 don't know that ever knew suct
lonesome evening" continued tn,
other.
"Well, know | never did. confess
ed Mrs. Peck. in burst of frankness
There was a pause. while both won
en- looked out into the gathering dark
ness.
Il didn't expect TO spend this even
ing wandering around the streets,
volunteered the stranger Il came
seventy miles TO so to wedding, ant
then didn't go Mrs. PECK locke,
at her IN surprise. I'm Mrs Wiley
explained the other, ansN ering the
question IN Mrs. Peck's lcok. NJ,
sons aetting married this evening
or said Mrs Peck stiffly.
presume You know Jimg ven
tursd Airs Wiley.'if II ..aars mn.
irsi Peck noddelLy
Everybody knuwis Jim saidl n,
Tother THAT boy has moro friends
lie was the greatest favorite with tn,
young people at home. The girls II
the church were all after him, bu
he had to come off here and mari,
an outsider. She sighed deeply