The midland journal., 1911-06-23
CHAPTER vlil.-contlnued.


"All you've got TO say, Mr.. Dobbs, is
how glad you are that my baby is
Citing we'll, and then give your coat
to Mary Ellen and go on to your work,
rejoicing fer me-" said Miss Selma
Lue, coming quickly to the rescue of
the foundering condoler. How did
you all ever git the notion that things
went against Blossom last night?"
she asked
I'VE seen the doctor-and then you
closed the front blinds that's always
q sign-and- answered Mrs. Dobbs,
swallowing sob.
well, amt that too bad fer you
all to be so upset about mistake!
And IL here amt all the Tyneses!
Mercy, Mis- Tyne, Blossom amt dead
nor likely to be, and. please, ma'am,
take them black bombazine strips
offen the childrens necks. It's so
rough it'll rub 'em raw"
Now. Mrs. Tyne was a person of
one idea at time, and her mind
was set on speech to go with the
Dias-looking star she rendered Miss
Selma Lue, so out 1t came, regardless
OF the fact that it was not at all
needed
Miss Seliny Lue," she said with
real and practised emotion, though
she have gone from our sight and we
must bury in the cold, cold ground,
yet let us look up!" At the word
cold" Mrs. Tyne gave a realistic
shiyer, and at the word "up" she cast
her eyes skyward, though the express
sion was in some degree marred by a
sQuint caused by the rays of the morn
ing sun striking her full in the face.
That's real comforting thought,
Mis- Tyne, and am thankful fer the
speech and the star, too. Bennie,
honey, run all UP and down the street
and tell everybody Blossom is a heap
better and they needn't git ready fer
no funeral"
Now. you know there amt been
death on the Bluff fer four years
since Mr.. 81 Bradford's ma died. and
we was preparing to have as nice a
funeral as ever was fer you. Miss
Seliny Lue.' said Mrs. Kinney In
tons that might have been construed
as reproachful.
Well, ! wanter say one thing; and
ITS that ! am glad me and Blossom
nave found out how many friends we
nave while we are still alive and can
'preciate them all. 1t never did seem
Jest eight to hold back all the flowers
and tears and white robes until peo-
pie are gone where they can't enjoy
'em none. And specially about fu-
neral sermons-looks like If the
corpses coulder heard all the praise
spoke over them they mighter got the
ambition to go on living spell longer.
Lands alive, did you all know it's
seven o'clock, and not a breakfast
dish washed on the Bluff?"
Miss Selma Lue's call to duty sent
them all hurrying in different direc-
tions
Mrs. Dobbs was slow in getting
started, and as she descended the
steps she said: Il do declare am
uneasy about Ethel Maud. couldn't
find her nowheres this morning. /
was Jest so sorrowful about your trou-
Bile | clean forgot to worry"
"Oh, Mis- Dobbs, honey, when l
opened the door this morning at day
break there was Ethel Maud scrouch-
ed down on the steps with nothing
on but her nightgown. and a-moaning
like something hurt She shot past
me into the room. and when she seen
Blossom so much better she jest laid
down on the floor and cried herself to
sleep plumb pitiful. Mr.. Alan lifted
her on the foot of the bed, and l
know II Blossom stirs she viii wake
up and call me. Her little heart Is
that loving she can. watch even while
she sleeps. ! feel this morning more