The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-11-11

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birds OF fratbrF. 1uatrd aridiy
irons Snsan's cOmprrSSrd iiIz as she
DISAPPEARED in the Kitenen aud ciossd
the duor behind her.
shorily afiPFwRrd susan heard tho
Widow Lre and JunHS Wiliun irave
the house by the sldr doo- aud 80
aruund to- the shed where Queen OF
shcba lived in solitary sIdendOr.
'Cso0d night. Susan" called Fanny
sweelly. Mere going Ia take Queen
o. Shrba h0me.''
-Good night" said susan. quite as
Amiahly. Wish yuu joy Of her.
When Queen Of Sheba'S n0lsy ciamof
had died away Susan tiniShed her wors
and then went to the west wing of the
house, where she lived with a bed
ridden aunt
Aunt MISSY. Jonas has shipped an
the Blue Heron with Captain Rink"
she said IN matter OF fact tome as
she tucked the old lady under the
covers and turned down the lamp.
You're fool. Susan Tipping"
shrilIed Miss Melissa sngrily. lis he
going to take that goose along tOOY'
"NO: Fanny Lees going to take care
Of It,"
Miss Melissa's darh eyes glared
aercely al her neice. Go along. do:
Vin't got no patience with you al ayr
And she covered beneath her cOverlidS
With little grunts Of displeasure.
Four days afterward Jonas sailed
away on the blue Heron. and be car
ried away two pictures In his memory.
One was of Fanny Lee. plump and
smiling. with the grny goose at her
side. waving farewell from the dock.
The other picture was Of Susan Tip.
ping. tall and slender and pale. with
Der face frUzen into stony indifference.
And when the familiar faces had melt
cd into the base that covered shore
and bay Jonas Wilton still looked
wIstfully backward.
Il was Q long year. The Widow Lea
Aaunted the gray goose as DetrOthal
Gift, and Queen OF Sheba was geneF-
ally regarded as the tangible bond that
united two loving. separated hearts.
Az the months wore on and no news
came from Jonas there was a strained
look In Fanny's eyes and occasionally
In the voodshed the gray goose rscs!v-
ed the castIgations she so richly de-
served after her predatory descents
upon the grass grown lawn.
1t was a long year. Aunt Melissa
died 10 the summer and left Susan
richer By several thousand dollars. but
poorer by one friend less. Susan plan
ned when Jonas came back she would
20 away and leave the home to him
and his waiting bride-aDd Queen OF
Sheba.
One cold winter night Fanny Lee
brought the gray goose to Susan's
door Her eyes were red. and she
wore a black dress and d black veil
On her hat.
Il can't bear TO see the crittrr
around. she sobbed bitterly. ut re-
minds me so Of Jonas and him drownd-
ed at sea-
"Drowndcdy' asked Susan In a
strange voice.
II forgot you didn't know. Or
course they told me first. 1t was on
the coast Of Brazil. He fell overheard
and was drowuded. and Captain Rink
he sent word to the Telegraph sta
ton. and of course they told me.
You'll keep Queen o Sheba. won't
your"
Susan stared fprcely al the long
neck and yellow bill wriggling out Of
the widows black shawl.
III take care of her" said Susan
tcily. Put her In the shed
you'll De good 10 her-f0r his sake"
shifted Fanny Lee, turning to 60
"I'lI be- good to her, repeated Susan,
with a strange smile as she closed the
door.
One day q week later Susan was eat
ing her dinner In lonely contemplation
of the great goose that crowned the
feast. Her face wore The look of one
who has overcome an enemy. but her
triumph was married by lack of appe-
title and a fiuttering pain at her heart.
The kitchen door opened nOisily. and
familiar feet tramped across the door.
Susan Tipping. I've wanted to see
you for a hull year, and TO Susans
CONSERVATION pair of arms encircled
her and she was kissed by no other
than Jonas Wilton himself. II wasn't
drownded II was John Wilson. the
cook"
In her joy Susan nearly kissed Jonas
In return, but a sudden recollection
assailed her. and she pushed him away
and arose to her feet. What about
Fanny Lee and Queen O Sheba: Shes
took good care of the goose for you.
she said quietly.
Il got silk shawl for Fanny Lee."
said Jonas. "that'l pay her for her
trouble. As for the goose there amt
nothing happened TO her YETI His
voice almost quivered with suspense
There she is. Something has hap
pened to her. / was so 40 wrought
up when | heard you was drOwnded
just took spite on her aud killed her.
but now somehow cant eat her.
~...F.,I .,,aa.. 90 hiIl N nnf