The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-06-18


the two. Here, stand on that mat Now, then, whats
your business?
"1o see if you'd like to buy some Easter eggs" an
swered the little boy, promptly.
"No," returned Miss Beach, decsivey. "Who sent
you peddling them, and why should you come to me
when everybody knows what layers my white Leghorns
are|
But these are for Easter" explained the boy tremu
lousy.
They're church eggs. My mama painted them
chimed in the little girl
"Heathenish," tersely remarked Miss Beach
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
Not chickens, but yolks and whites that make em,
corrected the boy.
See" said the little girl lifting dainty napkin from
the basket disclosing the eggs in their nest of pink
cotton.
They were exquisitely painted with churchly mottos
clusters of voletS and forget and feStoons of
roses and neatly finished with little ribbons. Miss
Beach was not imaginative enough to connect them
with the children and fancy that just such hedgngs
the delicate little boy with his big brown eyes, the
girl with her spirituee face and fluffy golden hair
might be expected to hatch out from just such
eggs these Instead she only gave them a passing
glance, and exclaimed with sharp contemptuousness:
so you think am going to spend money for egg
shells? Do you know what I do with egg shells? I
break them up and feed them to my hens to make
shells for more eggs; that's all they're good for. I
don't want any paint on them either. Now you go.
lump into the small boys throat; his soft dark
eyes filled with which he bravey repressed at the
harsh words he turned to leave the room but the little
girl still fingered.
"Oh what shall we dor" she cried, piteousIy Mama
paid out almost all her money for fresh paints and these
ribbons. She somebody would buy the
eggs, when they pretty"
Come, Mary" urged the boy, with pitiful Little at
tempt at dignity "if the lady doesn't care for them we
mustn't keep asking her.
Just they leaving the room, the little girl
turned back to say with sweet insistence: "But I'm
away to someone you love, because you are glad"
"But I'm not glad. have nothing to be glad
about don't love anybody"
The child timidy back looked furtively at her
shoes, then ventured the immaculate carpet and
close to Miss Beach, who had taken to rocking and
knitting to tide over the unwelcome interview. She
laid her Little hand the thin that clasped the
shining needles. I'm sorry for you" she said X
meant glad because Christ rose she added with simple
reverence. That's what my says. She's sick
and that's why want to sell the eggs to get
thing for her.
Miss Beach moved uneasily under the sympathetic
pressure of the soft little fingers. How much are
they? she asked, in less forbidding voice.
Ten cents apiece" replied the boy, with business
But sad," put in the little girl naively "that
II we couldn't get ten cents we to take five"
Her brother laid a swift warning hand on her arm
while Miss Beach smiled, with grim amusement iii
take them at fve," she said, quickly drawing long,
beaded purse from her pocket and slipping the steel
thought selecting halfdollar from the change She
poured into her lap, and giving it to the boy
How rich you must be-" sighed the little girl look
ing at the silver with awed, wideopen eyes. We're
awful poor but mama says doesn't matter SO long as
we love each other"
The boys face crimsoned. "Oughtnt to have
told! the child anxiousy questioned Jack always says
that talk too much, she added, with pretty little
air of apology
Miss Beach deliberated for moment then took fifty
cents more from the pile in her lap "This is present
Tor you. present, mind. | should hate to have the
name OF paying than five cents apiece for egg
shells she continued with dsagreeable little laugh
which made the children vince.
hMOyxr trI,,41s
but not unkindy scrutiny into the sweet little face u-
der the pink hood
Mary and think you are just the loveliest woman
to give me all this for my mama" and She threw her
arms inpulsively around Miss Beachs neck, putting
her a,r SOFT cheek against her face
There, there" Miss Beach said, not urgently, "ttat
will do guess you had better go now
But when the children went the memories took their
places and filled the room. "The loveest woman
she repeated in bewildered way going slowly over to
the old giframed glass with its little landscape in the
upper part lust what he once said" then the hard
lace grew tender again. tears into the sharp black
eyes; she bent her head upon the mantel and wept
Later she went into the kitchen "Here is this won
dertu nest OF eggs she said with unpleasant emphasis
Perhaps you'd better set it. Or if you are particu-
it to them" " =
I'D like to set EN-" mumbed Hester. as Miss Beach
walked away with erect figure and stern look "and
have EN- Matched into the milk of human kindness
linen with rm step and look of settled determine
ton, she walked swiftly to Miss Beachs side asking
IN voice full of suppressed feeling: "Do Won know
whose children those are? Do you know that they're
your flesh and blood? The onlv kindred Won have
barring their sick mother"
Miss Beach's face grew CHASTITY, unconsciousy she
leaned against the door for support "-haye-forbid
den you to speak of that subject" she faltered with
white lips that moved stif1y
gu can turn me away. You can do what you will
PUT snail speak, Hester a~swered dehantly crossing
her arms on her broad chest resolutely %They are
your sister Mays only childs children Their mothe
IS slowly dying of an incurable disease She hasn't !
sent TO her NAME and those children often go half fed
W wa are you going to do, Miss Beach?"
The two women equally stern and uncompronlisino
faced each other Miss Beach made no reply, but he
companion continued:
am proud to say that I've made and carried he
many bowl OF broth from your meat and chickens
and Jam and Jelly. did it because thought 'twa
right You can take it out Of my wages and how yo,
can feel this hard toward your own, / don't see"
In spite OF Hesters direct accusing looks and words
MISS Beach still remained silent The woman reache,
lor shawl that hung behind the door, and putin,
It around her, said Tentatively:
II suppose I'm to 60 I've served Won faithfully
good many years I've put up with your whims am
crocnets, and liked you all through; yes-and bee