The Tupelo journal., 1911-03-31
By ESTHER ALDERshAW

The doorbell rang sharply, and Eva
ina dropped the rolling pin and open
ID the side door.
A man stood in the porch, his hat in
hand-a good looking man Of forty,
perhaps, with a nice smile and a we'll
ihaped head. Evalina liked a mar to
nave a well shaped head, and she
'ather liked the looks Of this a
When he spoke she liked the deep
mellow tones of his voice.
Il am looking for Miss Ward" he
said pleasantly. rs she at homer"
Il am Miss Ward" acknowledged
Eyalina, smiling.
81 was told Miss Ward could supply
me with some homemade bread"
Il have wheat, rye and graham"
Evalina opened a glass case that rest
ID on a side table and from its depths
lrew forth a crisp golden Loaf.
T1l take one of EACH" he declared.
Just then there came a %querulous
yoice from a room beyond the kitchen.
"Evalina, who are you talking to?
gou amt got any beaus out there,
ave you"
The girl flushed brightly, and q
strange air Of reserve settled over her
!ovely face. TT is my Great-aunt Har-
riet. She Is very old and somewhat
peculiar. l hope you will not mind
what she said"
"Evalina! That's Tom Taylor's xoice.
What's he dom herew Aunt Harriet's
voice shrilled through the rooms.
The man let himself out the door
while Evalina FASTENED to the side OF
bedridden Aunt Harriet.
whats Tom Taylor doing here?"
isked the old woman peevishly.
at wasn't Tom, Aunt Harriet; 1t
was a stranger" explained the girl
with sweet patience.
what you going to give me for sup
| per?' With Evalina's help she sat up
| while the girl brushed back her scanty
gray locks and Strengthened the bed
| clothes.
"Creamed toast and peaches, some OF
my fresh jumbles and a cup Of tea"
Sounds dreadful good, Evllina.
expect I'm mighty cross to you some
times. You've got the patience Of an
angel, for you amt never cross" Aunt
Harriet stretched forth a bdny hand
and caressed the girls bright hair.
Evalina bent and kissed her softly.
Too bad / can't be nice to you, Aunt
Harriet. You're all I've got in the
world"
I'm a poor critter," 1amcnted Aunt
Harriet-''not worth my salt. You're
killing yourself baking and brewing
there to make a living for US both.
wish you'd get married. Evalina."
Maybe l shall marry a millionaire
laughed Evalina as she went busily to
and fro. "You would like that, aunt,
for l shouldn't do any more baking
Wouldn't that be perfectly lovely? You
might ride In IN automobile How
would you like that?"
81 wouldn't like it a mite" said Aunt
Harriet grimly. I'D say to the driver,
You can take me right up to the
graveyard now; Pm bound to get there
if l go riding in an automobile and
so If there was an accblent I'd be
right handy to the Ward plot. There
Evalina. that supper does smell reaI
tasty. It's a shame you don't get mar
ried. You are a splendid cook, and
some good man would appreciate you
Aunt Harriet. I believe you might
operate a matrimonial bureau, only
please don't practice on me. I'm too
busy to get married"
Evalina hurried away to attend to
her baking, which by a series of acct.
dents had been delayed until the latf
afternoon. AS she hustled to and fro,
putting things to rights, clearing away
the disorder of -four and other ingre.
dents. she passed a small mirror hang
ing on the wall.
Dear me!v' murmured Evalina. II
wonder if that smudge Of -four was on
my forehead when he was in here. ]
hope not"
"Evalina. do come and set me rightr!'
called the old lady. 1--WE eat my sup
per and spilled the tea, and I want to
go to Sleep"
When Evalina had cleared away the
supper things and Aunt Harriet had
been tucked under the covers Eyalina
sal a long time over her own meal
with soft brown eyes dreamily fixed on
the glowing square Of the stove door.
Every day thereafter the strange
man called at Eyalina's house and
bought some product Of her baking.
One day several weeks after the
strangers first visit Aunt Harriet was
left alone in the house while Evalina
went to a nearby town to order sup
plies. Late in the afternoon there
came a knock at the sitting door.
"Who IS ity' demanded Aunt Har-
riet shril.y.
II would like some bread. please
came the meek voice Of the stranger.