The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-08-01
Copyright, 1918, by ". werner.)

SA " w
Miss Betsy. laden with the fruits
of her mornings marketing. was TAX
ing a longer walk than usual. She
was going clear round by Pink street.
though she knew that the neighbors
stared in disdain to see her there. 1t
was not d~isreputable, but unfashion-
able. That was why Miss Betsy had
moved away.
h had been made to do so by her
dominating younger sister Clemen-
tine, and she had ~ ceased to be
sorry. Now, as she entered the be-
loved, dearly familiar thoroughfare.
her steps faltered, her eyes dimmed
with eager remembrance. 1t was the
life till half a dozen years before.
She had walked the sidewalks as a
child, as a girl. and as a woman. in
Joy and he%artbreak. in hope and disil-
fusion. Each and everything bore
witness to her of the sweet and sad
things OF her life.
Past the double array Of dingy
houses Miss Betsy passed and came
at last to the dingiest Of all--and the
gaze al it. The May bush beside the
feeble porch was budding.
Its grown a yard higher" she
thought. And that biggest branch
was the %littlest when we lived here.
l wonder of the orioles ever build in
the old maple now. l see the daffo-
dis back there have come up as
usual. Id like to know if they've
blossomed this year. 1 thought they
needed attention last fall. That was
the last time l was here. Walking
isn't so easy for me as ii once was"
She sighed and rubbed the gate
post with her finger "It peedc fresh
paint. but guess it'll have to do
"Clementine wants another piece of
mahogany. She'll have it, of course.
And there goes the paint money.
Well, this paint has hung on we'll.
And the folks don't seem very par
ticular. l wish they'd pay a little
faster. They're quite a good deal
back on their contract. Lawyer Bird
to live on. 1t seems like eating up
the body of a friend to live on the
old place this way. l wouldn't care
If we'd just rented it. But Clemen-
tine wouldn't hear to that. If you
rent 1t you'll want to go back OF it,
she said. Maybe she was right.
Mable l would. can't go back to
It now. for it's sold on a contract.
Mo there's the house we live in.
Well. l must go on, Clementine's ex-
pecting me" She hoisted up the net
bag, heavy with parcels, and started
to o on.
Betsy! Betsy Bush."
The cracked old voice behind her
made her turn quickly.
"Dorinda's been watching you out
OF the window said an old man.
She sent me to see if it wat you.
We amt seen you in so long we most
weren't sure. How do you do, Betsy =?
How's sister? Amt you coming in
Seems like you might. You amt been
on this street before in I don't know
how long"
talker 1 ever heard Miss Betsy said,
letting her hand linger on his and
again. I declare. You and Dorinda
get over Q. our street, do you?'
"Landy, no! You're too stylish for
US in that big house and all. How'd
you like your big house. Betsy?
How's Clementine like it?"
"Clementine likes it. But l can't
come in this time, Steven, and 1 can,
stay. I just slipped away long enough
to get a peep at things ~ here. I'm
not as good a walker as once was,
and I keep in the house more. But
I don't forget if / don't come.
guess l DON'T" She averted her face
lest Steven see the tear on her cheek,
"Good-by, Steven. Take my love and
plenty of it to Your wife. Tell her |
wish I was right back here beside
her. Tell her-oh. pshaw. What's
the use? Good-by, Steven"
She went on as hastily as her a
cells. her rheumatism and her tear
blinded eyes would let her. Some
times" she thought. Il feel like I'd
never go near that place again. II
understand it, but then she's sixteen
years younger and different, besides.