Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-03-02
CHAPTER ~.
The Wonderful Barn Lori.

They can't nobody toll what q mort
gage and q Coli Club will do"
Miss Selma Lue.
Now, Bonnie, run home as quick
rs you can, for I know your mother
Is In a hurry fer the things. Here's
the nickel head OF cabbage. Put 1t
under your ARM. and take the sack
OF meal in you hand. See II you
can't carry the potatoes Oh the other
arm and the piece of bacon in your
other hand. Instead of the sorghum
molasses she sent for, | am going to
send t~hree-for-ten cakes Of soap, fer
she's forgot to buy a bit for more'n
a week. and l am sure she would
rather have 1t. My, what a load for
q boy! Open your mouth for this
ginger snap. and go careful but fast"
And Miss Selma Lue steered the heav.
ily-loaded youngster down the steps
and started him toward home.
As she came up again she paused.
and, resting her hands on her hips,
leaned out to look far up the street
There was the shadow of anxiety on
llSl usually uuiuillGu utoW, hUu SIZE
sighed as she picked Blossom out Of
the cracker-box and put her far back
on the counter, hemming her in for
safety with two brooms.
81 fee like | Amt seen Miss Cynthie
fer q year" she said, land 1t has
been more'n a week since she came
down. The cook comes after things
and she says the child amt sick, so
l amt got no cause to worry; but
I'm jest hungry to see her. Seems
like she is a kind Of a frosted cake
the more you git OF her the more you
want."
Yes, thick with frosting, and white
and cold; It's good to-look at" re-
marked Mr.. Alan as he seated him.
self on an upturned peck measure
and reached to head Clemmie of from
a pile of scrubbing brushes she seemed
bent on chewing.
well, I've got a feeling in my
bones she'll come today, and I'm going
to expect her anyway. Mis- Kinney's
bones always gives her notice OF
trouble. but I've got mine trained so
they ache fer the coming Of good"
Miss Selma Lue's wisdom was an I'M.
conscious adaptation Of one Of the
principles of n very modern thought.
1t was at the lull time at eleven
O'Clock, when the Bluff dinners were
all In the pot, and Miss Selma Lue
could get a breathing spell until the
afternoon rush for supper %provender.
The Bluff bought supplies a meal at
a time and brought the nickels and
dimes in payment thereof. Miss Sc
lima Lue had no need of a bookkeeper
she put her money In a cracked win.
sgar jug behind the counter. Nor did
she ever have enough to make bank
deposits, as her stock was bought on
much the same principle as that on
which It was sold. q little at 4 time
end cash down.
For" she coulseied her neighbors,
having on hand, most OF times means
wasting, and the piece OF meat
oughter go in the pot according to
not what you think you want. Lots
of folks stomiks ain't as greedy as
they is"
Mr.. Alan had come in for his din.
ner a little before the time. He spent
most of his mornings down at the
ferry sketching the r%oustabouts as
they loaded the early boats; but when
the wharf was deserted. he found It
pleasant to come and chat with Miss
Selma Lue as she prepared the simple
meal he shared with her. He liked
to watch the babies tumble and crawl
about the grocery before their noon
maps, for the floor and low-lying re-
gions Of the store offered unlimited
opportunities for adventure to creep.
ers, and 1t always interested him to
see what they could manage In the
way Of exciting catastrophes.
Miss Selma Lue at such times fair.
ly radiated with good cheer and In.
terest and he felt constrained to do
likewise. In fact, Miss Selma Lue
invited condolences as the sun invites
the buds in the springtime, and her