Catoctin clarion., 1911-05-04

I
he remarked as he went out.
Meanwhile the letter had sped on Its
way and bro 1ght first wrath, then gen.
uine sympathy and appreciation. to Sis
ter Ellen
"Poor Maryw she sighed. "She has
not had an easy life. but 1t Is hard to
get away from farm. Now, let me
see."
She evolved plan, called family
council and eventually wrote letter.
"There," she said placidly, wiping
her glasses. II hope Mary will like
my plan. She was always a great
one to make believe"
After week had gone past Mrs.
Brown tried to make herself keep away
from the mail box at the front gate.
but In vain. She watched daily for
the carriers coming. and when he had
gone past she plodded out to the gate.
Her heart stood still when she saw
d letter. She picked 1t up 1t was
the letter. 1t seemed to her that her
heart would have broken II 1t had
been anything else She could hardly
walk back to the house and sank
breathless on the lowest step.
She was to visit Ellen frst the letter
read, then letter would come telling
her whom she should visit next, and
80 on. Thus there would be some
thing for her to look forward to.
There were a great many do you re-
members" following the business part
of the letter. and Mary Brown laughed
softly to herself.
The hungry clatter Of chickens and
pigs reused her at last. The rapt ex-
preston faded from her face, and she
looked anxiously at the setting sun.
"Mercyw she CALCULATED. ITS get
ting late. Shoe. there! I'm coming to
feed you now."
The next morning she arose with a
feeling Of elation.
"Now l am visiting Ellen" she
thought happily. ELLEN had pancakes
for breakfast when l was there be-
fore"
Mrs. Brown had pancakes for break
fast, served with the best sirup. and
she beamed upon Jared in way that
made him feel uncomfortable.
At noon she had fried chicken, and
Jared watched her in astonishment as
she helped herself to one OF the choic-
est joints-his favorite piece.
"Are you feeling well?" he asked.
"As we'll as common. thank you,'
she responded In her best company
manner and Jared pondered IN silence.
He noticed during the next few days
that things did not seem to run with
their accustomed smoothness, and he
did not understand why 1t was so.
His wife seemed well in fact, when
he took pains to observe her carefully,
she looked uncommonly well. He de-
cided the trouble lay with himself.
81 wish you'd fix me up some bit
ters, Mary" he said that evening. Il
don't seem to be feeling just right"
"Why. certainly. Wil-Jared," Mrs.
Brown said cordially. I'D love to.
I'll do it the first thing in the morn
ing"
Jared had expected instant sympa-
thy and was prepared to give his
symptoms in detail after he had had
little gentle urging But Mrs. Brown
was visiting William just then. and
William had written that his health
was fairly good Moreover, she re-
membered that William had never
liked to be fused over. Therefore she
forbore to ask questions. and Jared
turned to his paper in disgust.
With the morning came letter.
Her mind was filed with pleasant fan
cies. and the bitters was forgotten.
Jared was indignant. He was not ac-
customed to being ignored, and Mrs.
Brown was ignoring him. 1t was not
intentional. however. The truth was
that he simply did not enter into her
present existence.
Her necessary work she CLOSED over
by pretending to be helping which
ever relative she was visiting, ana
when that was dcne she followed bold
ly where her fancy led. 1t led her to
do many things that puzzled Jared.
She walked around imaginary chill
dren when he worked and croOned to
imaginary babies while she rocked.
To be sure Jared could not know why
she suddenly swerved from straight
course In going from one room to an
other or why she held her arms In
such peculiar manner when she
rocked. 1t came to him suddenly one
day that her arms held In such man.
ner might easily enfold child. He
walked out to the barn and sat on an
empty keg.
"Poor Mary" he groaned. poor Ma
ry! Her mind is going! It's been--let
me see, it's been thirty-five years since
her baby died, and he was only four
months old. not old enough Tor her to
be much attached to him, though she
did take on considerable at the time l
remember. Poor Mary! What am I
going to do?'
Then on baking days she made saucer
pies and set them before Jared with
such a shining face that he ate them.
! although he longed to sweep them vio-
lently from his sight.
"Poor Mary! She don't realize what
she's doing" he groaned. "Those drat'
ted pies were bad enough. and now
these things! She seems to think the
house is full of children. Poor Mary!'
An impulse to which he yielded
brought him in from the field one aft
ernoon. She was not In her accus'
toned place on the side porch.
As he drew nearer he saw that the
! chair. too. was missing. The porch
looked lonely. He stood irresolutely
for a moment. Then he heard his