The Madison journal., 1913-04-26

"a ~ kind Offices, mellowing
S pleasantly its original
@ glare Of white. In sum-
mer a trumpet-vine draped the
ugly little piazza which Emmys
"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
playground 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
i've 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 we're
no nearer the chance to spend their
lives together the fifth than the first.
Emmy was hanging out clothes. It
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.
little girl in short skirts and a blue
checked apron, helped with the less
cumbrous stockings and haudker-
chiefs. The child was pretty. She
had a fresh color and curly yellow
hair. Emmy's hair was black, and
twisted In a braid about a shapely
head.
The widow Darter sat on the piazza
In large rockingham. She rocked
As she Iocked, she moaned piteously
At intervals she changed the sibilant
moan into a hollow groaning sound
"Oh dear, Oh dear! Oh dear, oh dear
oh dear!" walled the widow. "Um-m!
), um-m! um-m-m-m,"
The little girl flung a frown of i'm
patience over her shoulder. 81 don't
see why mamma makes such an awfu
racket" she snapped.
"She suffers" said Emmy.
well, she needn't holler so If she
does" cried Virginia. rebelliously. :"
know she wouldn't let me holler wher
Istubbed my toe. 1t hurt awful, too!'
Emmy said nothing.
Say, are you going to the picnic
with Bert tomorrow afternoon" sale
the child.
NO, jimmy, don't see how | can
Mothers so sick"
"Well, | told Bert | was willing 4
take care of mamma; and he said he'C
buy me a new doll If | would. | CUES:
he wants you to go awful"
2"Oh-h dear! Oh-h dear" droneC
the sufferer on the piazza.
3 well. can't" said Emmy. g,
wish you'd. run and ask mother If sh'
wants anything"
81 s'pose she wants you to read t
her; she says | don't read with ex
preston" said the little girl Blu
we're all read out; you put off th'
washing to read the end of A Ro
nance of Two Worlds and we've go
to wait until No 9 comes in! Alber
said he'd sent for a whooping big pile
OF books from Davenport; you can ge
EN- at the dry-goods stores for five
cents book. And Mrs. Connerl
bring them up, won't she. when sh'
comes? She's got to go for her board
err" Emmy nodded. Mrs. Darte
groaned more softly, sign that sh'
was distracted by something from he
own griefs of mind or body. Jim!
chattered on. Miss Ann Bigelow toll
me Mrs. Conner's going to have gir
from the University of Chicago for
boarder this time, but she's only com
Ing for a week. Sibyl Edmunds know
her we'll And, Emmy, she takes pic
lures, and she's going to bring he
camera"
Emmy, Emmy! there comes Mrs
Conner!" screamed her mother.
Her words were accompanied by th'
vision of a white horse and an ancien
phaeton (which had been newly wash
ed for the occasion) just beyond tn
lilac-bushes at the gate. Mrs. Conner
comely presence filled the better par
Of the seat, but the eyes Of all tn
Darters travelled at once to the slin
girl in gray covert-cloth who sat be
side her. The girl looked like huI
dreds OF rather pretty American girls
with gray eyes and brown hair an
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 tn
Chicago University. She know
Sibyl." Then she fished out a pacl
age from the luggage heaped at thei
feet Here's the books. That you
ma on the piazza?"
As If in response, a few hollo'
moans floated from the rocking chail
She seems in great pain" said Mis-
Keith, sympathetically.
Emmy's fair skin Redeemed painful
: Y. mo, she-she isn't WELL" sh
stammered.
. Mrs. Conner coughed a dry, ine1
spressiye cough.
i do wish you would step in an
see mother for a minute" Emm
begged, as much with her eyes a
with her voice. Il can hitch th
morse II Miss Keith minds"
But Miss Keith did not mind: sh
vas quite willing to hold the horse
ana the borse. sagging his elderl
mead. AMMAN rod of M mind 70 r,nnNl