The Tupelo journal., 1910-11-04
THE OTHER
GENERATION
What Happened at a Hal
loween Party
By cLARlsSA MAcKIE
BY CLARlSSA MACKIE
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.


The windows of Emily Paine's little
shop looked very inviting to the pass
erby. In one were neatly arranged
boxes of stationery, pens, pencils
schoolbooks, inks and mucilage.
The south window was without
doubt the most attractive. Snowy
paper formed a background for tooth
some homemade pies, flaky and tender
The school bell changed its last sum
mons. and scurrying feet carried the
ltardy ones past the little shop. An
hour afterward the door opened and q
girl came In. She was tall and fair
and pretty, with a pink and white
beauty, deepened by the fluffy masses
of a rose colored shawl thrown about
her.
She sank down in a convenient rock
ing chair and tossed aside her shawl.
Good morning, Emp she said In
careless response to Miss Emily's
greeting. Got any yellow Grape pa
'per?"
Il believe so, Flora" replied Miss
Emily, rising and laying aside her
work. Il had a box of assorted col
ors come in yesterday. ! haven't un-
packed it yet"
Miss Emily's brown head was bent
over the open box, and she was laying
rolls of colored papers on the counter.
Here's green and pale blue and pink,
red. white, purple. Here's some vel
low. Flora; two shades, lemon color
and a real pumpkin yellow"
That's what l want-pumpkin color
and black. Got any blackT"
Two rolls"
"Tll take that and all the yellow
you've got. I'm going to have a Hal
loween party. and I want the paper
to decorate with. How much is it,
Emp Flora pulled out a beaded bag
and counted out the money.
Heard the news?" asked Flora as
she drew on her rose colored shawl
with assumed carelessness.
Il don't know as it's much news,
only l. thought perhaps you hadn't
heard" went on Flora rather awk-
.wardly. her blue eyes searching EN-
ily's sweet face with strange intent
ness. Il didn't know till l met him at
the postofice last night, but he says
he's been expecting to come back for
some time"
You haven't told me who you're
talking about" laughed Emily.
"Why, Arson Cook. of course! He's
come back to live at Little River.
That makes it pleasant for us girls"
continued Flora. There's mighty few
men in Little River. Seems as if they
ALL went to the city, just as Arson did.
and most of EN- w come back. He
had such a fine position there | told
him l thought it was funny he'd come
back to a poky little place like Little
River. He said he'd lost something
In Little River a good many years ago
and he'd come back after it. Wasn't
that silly?"
Sounds So" agreed Emily, her head
bent low above the collar she was I'm
broidering.
"I've got to hurry; there1l be a lot
to do before Tuesday night
She closed the shop door and ran
lightly down the steps.
Miss Emily watched her straight
young figure pass through the gate
and cross to the opposite side of the
street just in time to meet a man walk
ing slowly toward her.
The man was Arson Cook, ten years
older, but grown more handsome, more
mature. with stronger purpose in his
face and in his stride than when Emily
had last seer him. He lifted his hat
and walked on beside Flora, smiling at
some remark the girl had made. Emily
saw him look back toward the little
white house with it's wing shop, and
then the two turned the corner by the
hotel. Flora Lee lived in quite the OPP
posite direction.
Emily drew back with quivering lips,
and for the first time since she bad
opened tfe'little shop she was ashamed
of this humble means of livelihood.
Years before when she had known An
son Cook her father had been alive and
the little white house had been an
abode of comfort and plenty. Now
after long years of illness that had de-
pleted the savings in the bank old
Captain Paine and his wife were dead,
and Emily had been left to confront
the world with no resources save a
skillful knowledge of cookery and b
of the little home. Hence
the shop.
In between waiting on customers
Emily scanned her little bank book
and studied a letter she had received
from a cousin in the city.
.'You better sell the place, EN-. and
come here. You could get a few rooms
and keep house."
A new light came into Emily's eyes
as size reread the letter, and all at once
she seemed to arrive at a decision,
for she went to the telephone and call.
ed up IA number. The dry voice OF
Mr.. Silas Smith rasped back in reply.
AThis lis Emily Paine, Mr.. Smith.
You've been at me to sell my place.
Have you got a customer in sviewy"
Nobody special. Emily. till yester-
day. Now, er-somebody was asking
for a smtII house like yours on b
main street. ] think l a make q sale
for you. What's your priceY
Emily fold him.
After dinner while she was arrang-
ing the rolls Of Grape paper in the
south window Of the shop Flora