The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-04-07

ten-forty ear ihts where she washes
dishes fer the Women's Exchange
lunch. She has to stay until almost
shutdown. and comes home dead-beat.
I don't want to say anything hard Of
Mr.. Simmons, but 1t do seem he uses
his family keerless like on good sal.
ary."
What" inquired Mr.. Alan from
the doorstep. does the brute do?"
well, wouldn't skeercely call him
brute. think" said Miss Selma Lue,
as she shook out her duster and began
on the shelf Of canned tongue. He
runs q laundry wagon and he says II
is advertisement fer the house fer
him to be a stylish dresser. but | can't
see why the house has TO have his
pants pressed every morning and have
him wear purple socks and tan shoes,
when his wife 10 an drug out with
trying to piece along and keep going.
Sometimes I think II must be vanity
in Mr.. Simmons, and vanity In a man
is like a turkey gobbler a-strutting In
November"
What about vanity in the ladies',
Miss Selma Lue? You surely don't
approve of that"
Now. Mr.. Alan, you're mad at
what said about the men and are
trying to git even with me-" And Miss
Selma Lue smiled over her shoulder
at him. Miss Selma Lue's smile was
like a broad beam OF sunshine on Q
summer morning. Don't you know
the Lord wouldn't have gave women
folks shiny curls, cheeks pink like Q
peach. figgers plump beautiful and
eyes blue as the wild violets on the
creek, like Miss Cynthie there, lessen
he intended to excuse them some fer
being proud?"
Il don't believe he would quite
stand for that amount OF pride and
grudge Mr.. Simmons the purple socks"
murmured Mr.. Alan over his cigar In
careful soto voce, and Immediately
steered Miss Selma Lue of the dis
turbing topic of her friends perfec-
lions.
Anything interesting in the family
histories Of the other two soap boxes,
Miss Selma Lue? 1t seems the thing
on the Bluff to know all about your
neighbors. and my intimacy with your
kiddies grows apace." There was q
winning wholesomeness In Mr.. Alan's
voice that struck a kindred note In the
soul of Miss Selma Lue, and she rev.
eled in the unbosomine OF herself to
him. His dark eyes shone with inter.
est and his straight mouth had an I'M
expected quirk In the left corner, cas-
lily interpreted as indicative of sense
of humor
We'll. Patue Tyne, the little one
that cant hardly set up good yet, 10
Jest SO to speak transient, as her ma
have gone on visit to her sister over
to Union City. After she had got the
other Ave ready to go, there Jest
wasn't nothing to FIX Pattie up in fifteen
for visit, SO she left her with me.
wash the blue Bingham out of nights
and piece out with a dress OF Bios
SONS when it's needed bad. Looks
like Mis- Tyne breads the sewing ma,
chine and a bolt Of caliker like they
was typhoid smallpox"
And last, but not least, tell me the
tale of Blossom, the lady of my heart,
the only person who really appreciates
me for my true worth. which is pep
permint candy in limited quantities
and n shoulder cushioned in Drawn
and exalted In height. Blossom is a
lady Of discernment and has the cour.
age Of her predictions"
Mr.. Alan" said Miss Selma Lue a.
she sat down on the step by him and.
picking up tho little white calico bon.
net he had let drop OF the nodding
head OF tho lady in question, began to
plat the ruffie with caressing fingers,
they amt many people I would tell
tho story of her to. One way or an
other. l have shet up every soul on
the Bluff as has asked me. OF course
Miss Cynthie knews, fer people can't
help talking pitifulness to her. but the
rest Jest found her here. and that 10
all they need to know.
1T was a year ago last ChristmaA
1t happened to me and Charity to find
her. About dark when l was busy to
death doing up supper truck-as you
see, that's my busiest time OF day
a girl come In here ! never saw be-
fore and she looked wild and white.
She carried bundle in her arms. but
I never suspicioned anything. so
Jest sold her a box OF crackers and
she went on out. Then plumb forgot
her. as I oughten to have done. for
aha nacne oaamIpD and aiah