Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-04-03

ESH M1 frost had offered their
Ia A kind Offices, mellowing
G-& pleasantly its original
A-1 glare of white. In sum
mer a trumpet-vine draped the
ugly little piazza which Emmy's
"art.needle work" had helped to
build, and which she and her
mother admired with simple hearts.
The big burr oak and the ma.
pies hid the house from the road
but the grassy knoll in front of the
house was bare. and from this van.
foreground one could see the shallow
curve Of whitish-brown where the vii.
lage street climbed the hill, the chin.
neys of the houses below, and afar of
the trains roaring through the prai.
ries. All the village was interested In
the railway, but Emmy had an es-
pecial and intimate interest because
her sweetheart was the local agent.
He had been her sweetheart during
five years, In any one Of which he
would have been proud and glad to
marry her; yet this was the fifth
year of their betrothal, and Emmy
was drearily rejecting that they were
no nearer the chance to spend their
lives together the f1fth than the first,
Emmy was hanging out clothes. 1t
was four o'clock in the afternoon, but
she had just brought out the large
basket and was pinning the garments
to the line, while Virginia, her sister,
a little girl in short skirts and blue
checked apron, helped with the less
cumbrous stockings and handker-
chiefs. The child was pretty. She
had fresh color and curly yellow
hair. Emmy's hair was black. and
twisted in a braid about shapely
head.
The widow Darter sat on the piazza
in large rocking.chair. She rocked.
AS she rocked, she moaned piteously
At intervals she changed the sibilant
moan into hollow groaning sound.
"Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear, oh dear
oh dear!" walled the widow. "Um-m! F!
um.m! umm-m-m!"
The little girl flung frown Of i'm
patience over her shoulder. Il don't
see why mamma makes such an awful
racket" she snapped.
"She suffers" said Emmy.
"Well, she needn't holler so II she
does" cried Virginia, rebelliously. Il
know she wouldn't let me holler when
| stubbed my toe. 1t hurt awful, too!
Emmy said nothing.
Say, are you going to the picnic
with Bert tomorrow afternoon" said
the child.
mo, jimmy, I don't see how can
Mothers so sick"
We'll, / told Bert I was willing to
take care of mamma; and he said he'd
buy me a new doll If would. guess
he wants you to go awful
"Oh.h dear! Oh,h dear!" droned
the sufferer on the piazza.
We'll, can't" said Emmy. u
wish you'd run and ask mother If she
wants anything"
81 s'pose she wants you to read to
her; she says l don't read with ex
preston" said the little girl. But
we're all read out; you put on the
washing to read the end OF "A no
nance of Two Worlds and we've got
to wait until No. 9 comes in! Albert
said he'd sent for whooping big pile
of books from Davenport; you can gel
'em at the dry-goods stores for nve
cents book. And Mrs. Connerll
bring them up, won't she. when she
comes? She's got to go for her board
err" Emmy nodded. Mrs. Dartel
groaned more softly, sign that she
was distracted by something from heI
own griefs of mind or body. Jimmy
chattered on. Miss Ann Bigelow told
me Mrs. Conner's going to have CIR
from the University of Chicago for
boarder this time, but she's only com
ing for a week. Sibyl Edmunds knows
her well. And, Emmy, she takes pic
lures, and she's going to bring hel
camera"
Emmy! Emmy! there comes Mrs
Conner!" screamed her mother.
Her words were accompanied by the
vision of a white horse and an ancien
phaeton (Which had been newly WASH
ed for the occasion) just beyond the
lilac.bushes at the gate. Mrs. Conner'i
comely presence filed the better par
of the seat. but the eyes OF all the
Darters travelled at once to the slim
girl in gray covert-cloth who sat be
side her. The girl looked like hun
dreds of rather pretty American girls
with gray eyes and brown hair ant
dimples In their cheeks.
Mrs. Conner had stopped the horse
She responded to Emmy's greeting b!
presenting her to the girl In gray
Miss Doris Keith; she's going to thu
Chicago University. She knows
sibyl." Then she flshed out a pack
age from the luggage heaped at thei
feet. Here's the books. That you
ma on the piazza?"
As II in response, a few hollow
means floated from the rocking chair
"She seems In great pain" said Mis-
Keith, alphabetically.
Emmy's fair skin reddened painful
ly. mo, she-she isn't we'll" she
stanmered.
Mrs. Conner coughed q dry. inez
pr.ssive cough.
81 do wish you would step In ant