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

~$ brown house. Nor did the brliancy of their
blossoms dim the clumps of snowdrops which
seemed the epltome of the winters drifts-as if the
great chilly banks had concentrated themselves into
floral form, and so babe goodby to shverng mortals
and Godspeed to spring.
There also promise of further glory in the gold
OF dattodl buds making ready to burst their green
sheahs in the formal beds under the paror windows
Everything was formal about the house; there was
prness IN the regular architecture no foolish pro-
Jechons no coquetsh bay windows had been added to
the original structure Puritancal upright hanked by
one wing The holland shades were lowered to an ex-
act line; the door mat placed lust far from the
threshold, and Miss Beach's narrow precise soul was
always secretly rejoced when the cat sat exactly in the
middle OF the mat. An inch or two either way would
nave made the lady shrug her shoulders impatienty
& Miss Beach also foe to innovations; folIes
were unknown to her; fppancy disguised her; she
condoned no offenses, had charity for those fallen
by the Ways1de Let them lie there" said She "for
there is right and wrong. Let people do right or
suffer the consequences | have no sympathy for
wrong-doers; no money for the idle or wasteful"
stern ineXorable sentiments to which she always
hed hrmly She had just delivered herself of views
very like these to the visiting members of the relief
society who had approached her in behalf of an in
valid mother with two little children
"A refined cultured woman you know, who has evil
aenty seen better days., the visitors who felt their
emily
$50 we all have" was the reply. uttered in -, b,rsb
tone that seemed to make the austere figure in somber
black an altogether dssonant in the brightness of
tne sweet spring morning; dscord in the vast har-
mony OF April Neither you nor l are as Young and
active as were Miss Jameson"
Miss lameson's delicate face, still youthful DESPITE
its framing of svery gray flushed as she renI;ad LEI
dignity, Il mean financially" ''1
DoubtIess the woman has wasted more money than
nave saved uncompromisingly shifted Miss Beach
roDaDiy Sne is one OF those weak foolish creatures
VINO SquanaeT their patrimony trying to keep their
sleeves IN fashion. you have turned YOURS INSIDE
down She gave mirthless laugh
l know nothing of her past" quietly returned Miss
Jameson Ignoring the brusque remark "She has only
recently come here. 1t is enough that she is NEEDING
the necessities of life. If our errand is frutless we
may as well 60, and she turned fo her cor,Dan;on ht
nor wlhout tentative look at Miss Beach, who was
totally unresponsive to the questioning glance
Not woman but human shell enclosing pebble
eaIt' commented Miss Jameson to her companion ~
wonder these flowers bloom in such an atmosphere.
near such an arid presence" F'
I've been without some of the necessities of life al
my my days g[umbled Miss Beach, as she carefully
Strengthened the doormat and fastened the door She
walked very erect and seated herself rigidv in wind
Sor rocker with which she seemed in accordance then
as II rockng-cha1r were too luxurious to chime with
neT mood changed to a stiff hard-backed armchair
Have | two children" she went on prir,Iy "TJa
compromising? she hercely asked with a son,ber
ooue expression IN her dark eyes, expression not
ar all So1tened by the flood of April sunshine that
Streamed INTO the room, but which instead seemed ~
mock her. She shaded her ewes from, II rae+;rc 49,
on the arms OF the chair, and buryng her face
III neI HANDS, Just at that moment clasped convusvev
Inc sunshine still came in with merry DISREGARD oof
the bowed Inquire in the old armchair If pided objects
lat were uornamented before; caught at the bright
On e sliVer teapot in the corner cupboard and was
rehected from the polished surface of the fall
CLOCK winch held its hands before its face s IL Il
ashamed TO TICK OFT another moment of Ardlla Reachs
narrow, selfish, unforgiving life
MISS beach moved her hand little and raw of SIN
se Iolceu ltself through her fingers 1t was golden
pathway down which memories travelled. inst feu,
were rainbowclad, the rest were robed in blaclr ad
gloomy gIays, but all stopped at the ong-c1osed inn
OF MISS beachs heart knocking for adn,ttance Che
opened the door ever little but despite her grudoin
welcome, they gained entrance one bv one HeT
coutenance changed, her lips moved her ewes BRIGHT
ned' She nlaIy rose from her chair the knitting
Sna.d ne nag PICKED up when she entered the room
aropped 70 the floor unheeded deep red glow came
upon her cheeks as she walked slowly back and forth
was such beautiful starlight night I remember
It well alas, too well" she murmured "ETe aid az
sLdIs were not brighter than my eyes-he said" and
tnen SMILE the poor bitter ghost of the smile that
must nave once curved her lips changed her hard coun
1e,lance' she opened the drawer of a little mahogany
i aoe, tahng from IT daguerrotype at which she
1t must have been her fault that which came after
she whispered in low constrained voice the flush dy-
Ig from her lace leaving pale and hopelessIv cad
She closed the case slowly. as one fingers for last
farewell then as she heard the sound Of approaching
footsteps, hastily put the picture away.
Do you want to buy any eggs?'
EggsY she repeated, looking sharply at the sto,,t
mddle-aged woman who asked the question "Are We
out of eggs with that hen-house full of hens?"
You know better, Miss Beach," she answered stifav
I'm talking about different kind These children
have en. Go in. she said, holding the door open fol
the two little folks who stood outside and giving then
little push.
Miss Beach waved them back "Hester, you know
don't like to be disturbed she demonstrated but will