The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-16
(Continued.)

want to be wicked. was Just tnink~ ing of others. Ferman has not been able to go on with his work. MT ysrricker has been forced to leave hIs. His wife has been up night and day with me for weeks. And you yourself tell me the house is upside down because you are not able to see to it. seem to be a source of trouble to everybody"
 Mary finished up with a pathetic little ghost of a smile. Tanta left her so much time to fill up with thought
 'T don't say your words are wrong only your reading of 'em." Tanta said, with a worried shake of her head .'It's on'y for folk with clever heads that can explain to you. But you seem just now like them as reads the good words in the Book, and ha'nt got proper understanding of 'em. I doubt but you couldn't have kept Mr. Verricker back if you'd lashed him to his chair with rin1pjes. And as for Mrs John, you couldn't have drove her out of this house at the point of the gun; and as for my work, why, it does not good to let the master see what hussies and block heads the Tottie vrows are. It's Tam ta does that, and Tanta does this. so why don't you do the same with him jtill I just feel glad? As for him. just look round you. There's flowers on :; the table there. and fruit by your el- bow. There's books from the store in vryburg. There's wine that cost a mint of money. There's not wish lyou could think yourself but what he's thought of it first Him that's crazy for you to get right. And then you go right against his word of the Book and wish you were dead"
 Mary avoided the bright angry eyes that looked so large through their spectacles, and turned to the { window.
 You don't understand" she said { helpIessly, watching a Kaffir child through the window playing with a currish yellow dog on the other side of the road.
 The Afrikander precipitated her .needlework into the large. basket at her side, and drawing her chair with her in a manner of a snail drawing up its shell, came close to the couch and picked up one of the almost transparent hands lying Imply in the young wife's lap.
 Maybe I understand a lot. missie," she said. bending forward meaning ily. 'sMaybe I'm understanding more than you do. And maybe if Itold you all I understand you'd say, Tan ia, you're a meddling old fool who shasnt any right to think of nothing but your pots and your kitchen
 Mary tried to draw her hand away effort was feeble
 There's nothing to understand" she said. contradicting herself in a tone she tried to make cold, but
 
 Nothing to understand? Moth ing? Tanta raised her brows till her eyes were distended to ludicrous pro- portions. well, maybe not; maybe there's no use in trying to understand things that ain't understandable. It was things like that set Eve eating ,she apple. I only understand those Shings you and the master want me to understand" She shook her head knowingly. and Mary felt her warm hand give a gentle additional pres- sure.
 There was a short silence; then che turned languidly from her con- .tcmplation of the nigger boy and the dog.
 Your husband, Tanta,'' she said, ~is he living?"
 The question came so abruptly that she other dropped the hand she was holding and sat upright But her rcninine wit told her that she had struck the right chord, and she ans wered promptly.
 No. missie.'
 Mary's sympathies were touched end she said, Oh" and remained silent. and Tanta went on. She had a feeling that her little story might tbe of use. that it might point a nor al
 There ain't much to tell, and what zhere is don't hurt now,' she said readily. You see, was selfish, like most young girls; and he was a man working hard to set us up on 8 Free State farm. He rode transport, and was away for weeks and months. had 2 baby girl, a wee mite, and him being away so much s'pose I loved her ali the harder But she was weak, an died when she was three years old. And I think I must have zone crazy for awhile. He came Aorne. and told rim he'd killed it by being away and not helping me te look after her. I got savage and broodeo- He just said nothing, but went on with his work But I go that bad tempered he stayed away a heap; longer and longer; not but what I drove him to it for he was .