Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-06-06

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Let Della Priddy accuse her OF steal
ing the supper. she would laugh in
her face!
There was the sound Of low knock
at the kitchen door. and Ann strobe
swiftly across the floor and threw the
door wide open. There stood Della
with her milk pitcher in one hand and
the black cat curling about her skirts
Good evening"" hcsitated Della, with
one look at AIMS face.
Good evening" snapped Mrs. Hart,
with questioning brows
May | come I'm for few minutes %
asked Della, 81 want 10 say somethingl
to you, Mrs. Bart"
Come in" said Ann ungraciously,
leading the way into the dining room
and pulling forward stlfl rocker.
"Sit down"
But Della stood, tall and slender and
very pale, her pitcher held In the curve
of her long arm. The black cat stin
archcd its back against her saken
skirt.
Ann watched her ana waited fierce.
ly CNpcCtunt of the accusation. She
imagined that Della had seen her dcv-
astatcd supper table through the win
dow, or she may have observed Ann
In the very act OF dcspoillng the Ia.
bic
Il want YOU to come to my supper
party blurtcd forth Della at last. 81
know I've never been very friendly to
you, Mrs. Bart but | mean 20 do bot
ter and I've put OF asking You every
day because | thought maybe you'd
resent IT, Now, at the very last mo
mcnt, just mndc UP my mind TO rush
I'm ana have II out. I've got place
all laid FOR YOU, and / expect wen all
have n real good tinc together WIN
you Gomez"
Dclia's blue eyes were lifted for an
Instant To the crayon portrait OF James
Bart on the wall over the mantCl-
piece then her glance fell on tho
strangely working features OF Ann
Bnrt
81 can't come" said Ann In n chok-
ing voice.
"WhyW asked Della gently.
You'll know why-when you go into
your rooms" rotorted Ann bitterly.
IL am sorry. | hope youll change
your mind" said Della, turning TO tho
door
When the door had closed Ann
reached down and took the box OUT
OF her workbasket and thrust It I'm ~
small cupboard I'm the chImneypiece.
1t slipped forward and before Ann
could catch 1t fell to the floor, dlstrib-
uting its contents over the hearth rug
With lltde cry OF dismay Ann bent
down TO pick zip the scattered letters
and photographs. As she placed the
last one In the box her arm stIRcncd,
and she held the picture before her
eyes with strange set smile on her
face.
IL was n picture OF her husband
James Bart. taken I'm his handsome
young manhood. The bold dark eyes
looked confidently into her own and
seemed TO challenge her TO criticsc the
few words written I'm his grabbed writ
ing across the bottom OF the card:
'TO Della, from James April ..
1888" That was year before he had
married Ann.
Ann rose stifiy TO her feet and closed
the box with snap; then she walked
deliberately 60 Della Priddy's door and
Knocked loudly.
"Comc inw snld Dclla's voice.
Miss Prlddy was sitting near the
devastated supper table. her eyes red
from crying The tail clock I'm the
corner was slowly ticking away the
minutes toward 6. when the expected
guests would arrive.
Instead or feeling triumphant mt the
downfall OF her cncmy's hopes. Ann
Bart felt very small and mean. But
she could bc as magnnnimous
81 was mad Mt You. Dclin Priddy"
she said iu a low. even tone. because
you've always suubbnd nc ana because
sou didn't ask me TO your pnrty. so
couc iu ana cartcd all your food NJ
into the attic. md its there now. just
as good as over. III go up I'm minute
aud bring It down. | want TO ask you
question, and you needn't be offend
cd. YOu used TO know my husband
before I WINS married. didn't your
Dclia's head lifted proudly, and she
broke the bitter silence OF yenrs. II
was engaged TO him once. but he lifted
me 20 marry you. / mover felt that I
wanted to have much 10 do with either
OF you when you came 20 saltwater"
II didn't know &c. Della. but you
needn't have felt rcscntful You ought
10 DC glad YOU never married James
Ilc was hateful lie was hard man
10 live with had hard life" Two
crimson spots glDwcd iu AIMS checks
ns she bent over Dclla Priddy ana kiss
cd her softly "fT0 pCiup nm Ia ,,ef
thot food now I hope youm forgive
u.". added
"Of course / do I'm sorry 7 acted
mean. but J couldn't see much Of him.
and &c makes me feel better To- know
hc wasn't perfect half laughed Della
1s She returned AIMS carcss "Youu
go and gct ready for supper nov.
won't your And wen an ike to sec
the night blooming ccrcus too"
Very well I'll como i'm 1e sopu oa