Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-14


Are your feet Clean Miss Beach asked sharply of
the two "Here, stand that mat. Now, then, what's
your business"
1To see if you'd like to buy Easter eggs" an
swered the little boy, promptly
NO returned Miss Beach decisively sWho sent
you pedding them, and why should you come to me,
when everybody knows what layers my white Leghorns
But these are for Easter" explained the boy tremu-
They're church eggs. My mama painted them "
chimed in the little girl
-Heathensh,' teTsely remarked Miss IS, Beach g..
They're just Shells" went the child, with half
frightened look Mama blew the chickens out and
made custard and cake of them she added hastily.
mot Chickens but yolks and whites that make en-
See said the little girl lifting dainty napkin from
the basket disclosing the eggs in their nest OF pink
They were exquistely painted with churchly mottos.
clusters of vioets and forget and festoons of
roses and were neatly finished with little ribbons Miss
Beach not imaginative enough to connect them
with the children and fancy that just such hedglings
the delicate little boy with his big brown eyes. the
girl with her sprtuele face and fluffy golden hair
eggs as these Instead she only gave them passing
glance and exclaimed with sharp contenptuousness:
S a think n6 a sU s T. pen With m ees es
break them up and feed them to my hens to make
shells for more eggs; that's an they I good toT
lump came into the small boys throat his soft dark
eyes filled with which he hravey repressed at the
harsh words he turned to leave the but the little
ooh, what shall we dor" she cried. piteousy, Mama
ribbons She was so sure somebody would buy the
eggs when they were pretty"
Come Mary" urged the boy, with phtul little at
tempt at dignity IF the lady doesn't care for hen we
mustn't keep asking her.
turned back. say, with sweet insstenee: But I'm
you don't understand. These eggs are to give
away to someone you love, because you are glad
~But I'm glad have nothing to be glad
about. don't love ANYBODY"
The child tinidy back looked furtively at her
Shoes then ventured the ate carpet and went
close to Miss Beach, who had taken to rocking and
laid her little hand the thin that clasped the
shining needles. I'm so sorry for you, she said X
reverence That's what my mama says. She's sick,
and that's why we want 70 sell the eggs to get some
thing for her"
Miss Beach moved uneasi1y under the sympathetic
pressure of the soft little fingers How much
they?" she asked, in less forbidding voice
Ten cents apiece" replied the boy with business
"But said" put in the little girl naivey, that
if we couldn't get to take five
Her brother laid a swift warning hand on her arm,
while Miss Beach smiled with grim amusement I'll
take them FIVE" she said quickly drawing long,
beaded purse from her pocket and slipping the steel
ring. "All of them" she added after moments
thought selecting halt from the change she
How rich you must be-, sighed the little girl look
ing at the silver with awed wide-open eyes. Were
awful poor, but says doesn't long
we love each other"
The boys. face .crimsoned. "oughtn't to have
told the child anxiously questioned Jack always says
that talk too much, she added, with pretty little
air of apology.
cents from the pile in her lap This is present
for you. A present. mind should hate to have the
of paying more than FIVE cents apiece for egg
Shells" she continued with disagreeable little laugh
which made the children vince
Now, what's your nan1e? and she peered with sharp
but unkndly scrutiny into the little face un
der the pink hood.
MARY, and think you just the loveliest woman
inpulsively around Miss Beachs meek, putting
her soft cheek ass st b her face said ,s.n
will do. guess you had better go now"
But when the children went the memories took their
she repeated in bewildered way going slowly over to
the old giltframed glass with its little landscape the
face grew tender again. into the sharp black
eyes; she bent her head upon the mantel and wept
Later she went into the kitchen Here is this
Perhaps you'd better it Or, if you are particu-
larry glad especially fond of somebody you can give
I'D like to EN-" mumbled Hester as Miss Beach
walked away win erect figure and stern look, "and
Then with firm step and look of settled determine
ton, she walked swiftly Miss Beachs side asking
whose children those ares Do you know that they're
your flesh and blood? The only kindred you have
barring their sick mother"
Miss Beachs face grew CHASTITY uneonsciously she
leaned against the door for support "I-have-forbd-
den you to speak of that subject" she faltered with
white lips that moved stiffy
but Shall speak Hester s-swered deany g crossing Gr
her arms on her broad chest resolutely "They are
your sister Mary only childs children Their mother
is slowly dying of incurable disease She hasn't
cent to her and those children often go half fed
What you going to do, Miss Beach ?"
The two equally stern and uncompromisine
faced each other. Miss Beach made reply but her
companion continued
Il am proud to say that I've made and carried her
many bowl of broth from your meat and chickens:
and jam and jelly. I did it because thought twas
right You take it out of my wages, and how YOU
can feel this hard toward your own I don't see"
In spite of Testers direct accusing looks and words
Miss Beach still remained silent The woman reached
for shawl that hung behind the door, and putting
it around her, said tentatively:
I suppose I'm TO goi I've served you faithfully
good many years. I've put up with your wtms and
crochets, and liked you all through yes-and been