Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1911-01-21

The doorbell rang sharply. and Eva
lima dropped the rolling pin and open
ed 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 well
shaped head Evalina liked "A man to
have well shaped head. and she
rather liked the looks of this man
When he spoke she liked the deep
mellow tones Of his voice
II am looking for Miss Ward" he
said pleasantly. rs she at home:"
II am Miss Ward" acknowledged
Evalina. smiling.
II was told Miss Ward could supply
me with some homemade bread "
81 have wheat. rye and graham"
Evalina opened glass case that rest
ed on side table and from its depths
drew forth a crisp golden loaf
"I'll take one OF each" be declared.
Just then there ran' IL uurru"u>
voice from room beyond the kitchen
"Evalina. who are yOu talking to?
You amt got any hrhuS out there,
have you?"
The girl flushed brightly. and a
strange air OF reserve settled over her
lovely face 1T is NV Grpat-a aunt EIar.
riet. She is very old and somewhat
peculiar | nope you will not mind
what she said"
"EvaIna. That's Tom Taylors voice
What's he doin' here" Aunt IIarriet'S
voice shrilled through the rooms
The man let himself out the door
bedridden Aunt Harriet
whats Tom Taylor doing here"
asked the old woman peeviShly
'It wasn't Tom. Aunt Harriet. it
with sweet patience.
What you going to give me for sup
PERI" With Evalinas help she sat up
while the girl brushed back her sranty
gray locks and Strengthened the bed
clothes
"Creamed toast and peaches. some OF
my fresh jumbles and a cup of tea"
Sounds dreadful good. Evalina
expect I'm mighty cross to you some"
times. You've got the patience Of an
angel, for you ain't never cross" Aunt
Harriet stretched forth bony hand
a nd hn vi 20 hriu hnir
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 poor critter." lamented Aunt
Harriet-"not worth my salt. You're
there to make a living for us both
wish you'd get married. Evalina,"
Maybe | shall marry millionaire"
laughed Evalina as she went buSily to
and fro. You would like that. aunt
for | shouldn't do any more baking
Wouldn't that be perfectly lovely? You
might ride in an automobile. How
would you like thatT"
IL wouldn't like 1t a mite" said Aunt
Harriet grimly. I'D say to the driver.
You can take me right up to the
graveyard now; I'm bound to get there
If go riding in an automobile and
so If there was an accident Id be
right handy to the Ward plot. There,
Evalina. that supper does smell real
tasty. It's a shame you don't get mar
ried. You are splendid cook. and
some good man would appreciate you"
Aunt Harriet. 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 series of accl-
dents had been delayed until the late
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- 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 i've eat my sup
per and spilled the tea. and want to
go to sleep"
When Evalina had cleared away the
supper things and Aunt Harriet had
been tucked under the covers Evalina
sat 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 Evalina'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 nearby town to order sup
plies. Late in the afternoon there
came knock at the sitting room door.
"Who is it?" demanded Aunt Har-
riet shrilly.
II would like some bread, please"
came the meek voice Of the stranger
THE keys under the mat" called
Aunt Harriet eagerly. Come right
In"
When the door had opened and clos
ed and she knew the stranger was In
the sitting room Aunt Harriet called
again: "Evallna's gone to the store,
II you want bread you can take II
from the ease and leave the money on
3ho koy>Io 10 ron 'Topo To vIor ."