The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-06-25


Office with the weekly newspaper in
her hand and turned down the snowy
lane that led to her home A woman.
wrapped in a large Paisley shawl and
with her arms full of packages, painted
behind her.
Mercy me, Ann Roswell, how fast
you do walk! Can't you slow down
SOS 1 can catch up with you?"
Ann turned and waited until the
other woman came abreast of her;
then she fell into step with the others
slow pace.
"How's your rheumatism, Sarah?
Jacob said last night he guessed you'd
be laid up for the winter
Sarah Ely smiled good-naturedly.
The winters well along and l amt
laid up yet. Jacobs been croaking for
the last three years about that rheu-
matism! 1 guess I'll be able to trot
around and wait on him for some time
to come yet. How's Dulcimer Jane?"
"Who?" demanded Ann Roswell,
fercely.
Mrs. Ely's ford face paled and
frightened look came into her little
eyes,
For the land, l didn't mean any
harm-honest 1 didn't. Ann! Only
folks will call her that-and somehow
1t slipped out. I'm real sorry There
was genuine contrition in her voice
and manner
Who calls her that?" asked Ann
Roswell in a strangled voice.
Everybody in Little River. I think
old Mrs. Roe began it when Jane
wouldn't have Jimmy Roe. The old
lady said as how Jane didn't want to
do anything except eat strawberries
and cream and play on the dulci-
mer!"
Ann walked slowly toward the shah
by old house
Its disgrace-it isl" muttered
Ann, intensely, and then she fastened
around to the back door as if suddenly
tmpelled by some long-delayed pur-
pose.
She removed her overshoes and
wraps in the warm, tidy kitchen and
went into the sitting room where the
bright sun poured relentlessly on worn
brussels carpet and dusty old-fash-
Toned furniture.
BOOKS and newspapers, catalogues
and magazines were strewn over
chairs, tables and sofa. Every avail
able corner of the room was scattered
with yellowed sheets of music or bat
tered folios. On small table. placed
In the sunny bay window, was a dull
elmer, one of those ancient instrn-
ments that our grandmothers occa-
s1onally played and by them reyer-
enced because of it's mention In the
holy book
In front of the dulcimer sat Jane
Roswell; tall and fair and slender and
faded like pale pink rose. With one
hand, she gently waved a small pad
ded stick above the duIcimer and as
the stick smote the metal keys she
sang nigh treble accompaniment to
the tinkling notes.
DO you know what folks call you ?''
she asked, sharply.
Jane Roswell looked I'D with dreamy
blue eyes and her slender fingers
strayed toward a ragged sheet of
music.
DO you know what folks call Won.
Jane Roswell?" repeated Ann with
sudden passion. They call you Dull
mer Jane Do you understand, now?"
Jane arose to her full height, and the
dreamy light died out of her eyes. A
look OF pitiful bewilderment took its
place. ''Why-why do they call me
| that?" she almost whispered.
Ann WINGED, but her voice did not
tremble. Because you're idle, Jane,
and don't do nothing except sing and
play on that duIcimer-drat the thing.
l say! l don't wonder old Mrs. Roe
said what she did!" Ann STONED
abruptly at the strange look that came
into her sisters eyes.
What did old Mrs. Roe say about
me?" asked Jane, coldly.
Ann hesitated. "She said-someboiy
| told me just now-she said that you
didn't want to do nothing except eat
strawberries and cream and play on
the dulcimer all day-and so she nick
named you 'Dulcimer Jane and folks
have been calling you that for ten
years! Sarah Ely just told me all
about it,
Mrs. Roe never liked me-" an
nounced Jane, duly.
Ann was eager in her sisters de-
AChSC' ohC Always Was queer. Jan0y-
don't you mind what she said. | ex-
pect she was mad because you didn't
marry Jimmy. She set store by him.
and he amt never married yet"
Jane flashed a strange smile at her
sister.
Jimmy Roe never asked me to
marry him." she said at last He said
he'd. like to, only his mother made
such a fuss over his coming to see
me that he knew it would only
mean trouble all around if we was to
marry
Ann gasped. 81 never knew it, Jane
Roswell! And what did you say to
him?"
Il told him ne needn't trouble to
| apologize, because / wouldn't marry
him under any circumstances. James