Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-28

Abigail Hodson. of any glimpse OF the
village street.
Once several years before this story
opens Abigail had crawled through the
gap In the fence that divided the two
houses and knocked at her friends
back door.
Hannah" she said, with q note OF
complaint in her voice, what do you
Think"
"well?" queried Hannah sharply, for
she resented Abigail's complaining
tone.
When I got up this morning no.
ticed the mulberry tree had leaved out
so I couldn't see a mite of the road.
1t makes it dreadful lonesome not to
see anything at all"
'well7" repeated Hannah.
What are you going to do about
itf" demanded Abigail. with asperitJ.
Nothing" Hannah had said.
'T thought maybe you'd break on a
long branch OF it SOS 1 could have
view"
"It cuts or my view. too" returned
Hannah.
Il should think you'd want to see
the street. You always set store by
seeing the street." persisted the tact
less Abigail.
I've got enough work to do with
out peeking at the street." said Han
nah loftily.
That was the beginning OF the bit
terness between Hannah Payne and
her friend Abigail Hodson. From Q
cold nod the breach widened until they
did not speak at all, and then early
one morning Abigail arose and replaced
the three pickets that had been re-
moved from the dividing fence. Han
/ nah heard the sound of the hammer
and came to the window, but she said
nothing, only the stubborn look remain
ed on her face.
Three years had passed, and the null
berry tree throve nightly. 1t sent out
broad green leaves that cast a denser
shade over Hannah's house and kept
| the sunshine from the rooms She
! had to keep a keener watch over her
books and clothing, for the little house
| seemed damp. apd mold gathered quick
/ " on different articles.
The fruit ripened on the tree, and
| the birds came and carried it of. Dur
ing the season when the mulberries
were ripe the birds came in focks to
| feed upon them, but Abigail Hodson
/ would have scorned to touch one of
the ripe berries, although in the past
she had been very fond of them.
/ On this particular summer morning
it was very dull in Green lane, where
the tive women lived. Abigail had
finished her homework at 8 O'Clock
and taken her sewing out to the front
porch. She could see Hannah Payne
/ rocking to and fro on the next porch
but neither woman could see beyond
the low hanging branches of the mul
berry tree.
All at once there was the sound OF
drum and fife and a distant murmul
of voices from the street. Abigail rec
objected that a small circus was to pa
rade that morning, and in the evening
there was to be a performance in q
tent on the village green. Abigail was
( Baptist and did not dream of COINS
to the circus. but Hannah Payne
would go. Hannah was a Baptist, al
were her forefathers, but they al
went to the circus.
1t was rather lonely there on Abb
gals porch. The honeysuckle vines
screened it well, and there was nc
sign of life except the frenzied dart
Ing of ruby throated humming bird
tho Anyyar frytrpnnfG fha h1Iz
zing of bees and now the sound OF
approaching music.
If Abigail Hodson had not been sc
proud she would have tossed aside bel
sewing and FASTENED to the front gate
from which point she might have look
ed down the lane and watched the cir
Gus parade go along the main street
But she did not stir. If she had Han
nah Payne would know that Abigail
was suffering Inconvenience from the
obscuring mulberry tree, and thai
would give Hannah Payne a chance Il
laugh at her one time friend, and thai
privilege and advantage Abigail Hod
son would not permit
Abigail Hodson snapped a needle
and tossed the broken pieces into thu
grass 81 wish | could cut that ole
tree down" she muttered. not know
ing that the same unspOken wish wal
in Hannab's heart, not realizing tina
her anger against the tree was stim
ulsted by the feud it had caused mucl
more than by the lost view of the WI
lage street.
Il wish l could cut the old ire,
down" repeated Abigail again AM
again, and with each repetition Of tn
desire there grew upon her the eonvic
ton that the tree must be cut down o
things would never be right for her Il
the world
She sat out on the porch until sunse
and then went in and prepared supper
but she did not eat any. After suppe
she went ont and sat In the gathering
gloom of the porch. She saw Hannal
Payne go away dressed In a whit
gown. and she knew that Hannah wa
going to the circus AbTgan-s bitter