Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-11-07

The Cabin was set on a stream
bank and below pond at the foot o
| the cove; upon its broad hearthston
the fire, as ii sank, shone redder AM
| redder on the faces of the two WIKI
sat beside 1t: hale old faces, scanned
| with wrinkles got Of outdoor liv
ing. Aaron and Verona Brymer hat
| picked over their nightly stent of cot
ton and read the usual chapter. They
were reading the Bible through TO
| gether for the. fourth time. The &C
complishment was too rare to b,
squandered; so they never spent il o.
any but the Good Book.
Now it was bedtime. Taking off hi:
shoes, old Aaron rose stiffiy from his
chair, laid by the faded coat and vesI
that seemed TO have grown with him
like the bark of tree, a mere response
TO the weather and the woods, and
then wound the clock on the fireboard
His wife loosened her shoes, coarse
and mud-stained as his own, and
slipped her feet out before the Goals
OF sudden the embers began to sput
Ter Win ralnQropS.
Ever body l seed in town to-day"
remarked old Aaron, flowed there's
been SIGH sight O. bad weather that
they'd got no crops in sca'cely." He
breathed once before he added. "Har-
vey rode out with me this evenin'."
A silence. Then. Did he name
me-" asked the old woman, her eyes
on the Goals.
He sure did. Mother, jist like he's
always done. know in reason hit
makes him think long o. the time, not
TO come to see you nor have you go
about them. Folks is noticin' hit, spe
cially sense the little chap come"
Harvey can visit me any day he's
a mind to, s'long as he comes by his
self. He knows tina: 'thout my sendin
him word of hit" She did not raise
her voice, but her fine eyes flashed, her
mouth Strengthened as she spoke.
But. Mother, you jist materially can't
help admirin' his spunk in not goin'
where his woman amt welcome. and
her good wife TO him-now can ye?"
urged Aaron.
Il don't know how good wife she
may be-" Verona Brymer spoke evenly
and slowly. He's made his ice be-
twixt her and me; let him bide by hit.
Jensy Luskll never pass in by my
door with welcome O. mine. Her nor
hers will never be friends to me- That
Harvey should a picked her, of all the
gals he knowed-"
She sat a moment shaking her head.
70 Of
der TO fill the silence.
When he was courtin' her." she
went on, he was so afeared, one
while, that thar town cousin of hers
would git her. He told me oncet that
he might stand to see her well mar
ried, but to see one he thought so
much Of given TO a man he jist dee
spised, he could not endyore. Well
says, Harvey, son. | says, EFF you
marry Jensy Lusk. I'll hat to stand by
and see the one | think the most OF
given to a womern | deespise.' But
ne, boy-like, never thinks of that now"
A chill breath drifted shudderingly
between the two, stirring their scant
gray hair to the roots. Instinctively
ne bent to poke the fire, first drawing
he bed of embers, and then Smelling
The Goals from the half-burned logs
ike kernels rafting off cob. /
"Hit'll be apt to come rain in the
hight, and then turn of cold" said the
Did man, his tone an admission that
he more personal subject might safest
De let fall. Il reckon we'd might as
we'll kiver the fire. Coals'll be sight
Of help with damp wood"
While he piled the shovel, the wife
rose from her chair, laid aside her
skirt, waist, and neckerchief, tied her
Bingham apron over her head and
stood ready for her hard-earned nights
rest.
Aaron sat on box by the bed look
ing at the smooth-scoured puncheons
as though he had lost something down
a crack there. At last he said, rails
ing his mild, bright blue eyes to her
face: "Mother-ye know what We read
his evenin' in The Book: Let not the
sun go down on your wrath I'm al
ways a-hopin' you'll come to that mind
about Jensy some day"
Some day." repeated the old mother
I'VE needn't look for 1t. The
lay won't never dawn that'll see me
n Jensy Lusk's house. This place Is
mine. amt it," She looked somberly
At rafter and wall, threshold and lin
eel. 81 can keep my home. eff
couldn't keep my son-she shan't never
come here"
The old husband shook his head. |
Well, WELL" he said at length, with |
what was for him unwonted spirit, |
you can use yo' pleasure. Varony; |
but eff l was you I'd put away sech
'eelin's, an go up thar tomorrow
Twas. to bid you to Sunday |
Inner tomorrow that Harvey spoke
% me, an l said I'd name it to We
lame it to ye."
Verona turned and looked her mate
,ver broodingly. How long did one
i've with a man before he knew ones
cal mind? She gave him no answer.
md the light was blown out in silence.
II