Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-11-06

out TO the springhou TO say good-by
20 me before he and Mrs. Sam left.
4 hated to see him 60. after all we
had been through together and sup
pose he saw it in my face, for he
came over close and stood looking
down at me, and smiling. you
saved US. Minnie" he said, and ]
needn't tell you we're grateful; but do
you know what / thnk?' he asked,
pointing his long forehnger at me. Il
think you've enjoyed It even when you
were suffering most Red.hared wom-
en- are born to intrigue, as the sparks
ny upward"
Enjoyed It'll" l snapped I'm an
old woman before my time, Mr.. Sam.
What with trailing back and forward
through the snow to the shelter-house,
and not getting to bed at all some
nights. and my heart going by fits and
starts, as you may say, and half the
time my spinal marrow fairly chilled,
not to mention putting on my over
SHOES every morning from force OF
habit and having to take them of
again, I'm about all in"
TITS been the making of you, Min
ME-" he said. cycling me, with his
hands in his pockets. Look at your
cheeks! Look at your disposition!
don't believe you'd stab anybody in
the back now!"
(Which was a joke, Of course; /
never stabbed anybody in the back)
He opened the door and a blast OF
February wind ratified the window
frames. Mr.. Sam threw out his chest
under his sweater and waved me an
other good-by.
We'll, I'm of, Minnie" he said.
Take care of yourself and don't sit
too tight on the Job; learn to rise a
Dit In the saddle"
''Good-by, Mr.. Sam" / called put
ting down Miss Patty's dolly and fol-
lowing him to the door; "good-by; bet
ter have something before you start to
keep you warm"
He turned at the corner OF the path
and grinned back at me.
"All right" he called. an go down
wich!"
Then he was gone, ard happy as
was. knew would miss him terribly.
It began when the old doctor died.
suppose you have heard Of Hope San
atorium and the mineral spring that
made 1t famous.
have been spring-house girl at
Hope Sanatorium for fourteen years.
For the first year or so ! nearly went
crazy. Then found things we're com
ing my way. I've got the kind OF mind
that never forgets a name or face and
can combine them properly, which
isn't common. And when folks came
back l could call them at once. The
old doctor used 10 say my memory was
an asset to the sanatorium.
He was in the habit OF coming to
the spring-house every day to get his
morning glass OF water and read the
papers. For a good many years It had
been his custom to sit there, in the
winter by the wood fire and in summer
1ust inside the open door. and TO read
of the headings aloud while l cleaned
around the spring and polished
glasses.
All that winter, with the papers
full OF rumors that Miss Patty Jen.
we'd followed II by the spring. house
IRE, the old doctor and l, getting an
cry at the Austrian emperor for oppos-
fng II when we knew how much too
good Miss Patty was for any foreign,
er. and then getting nervous and
fused when we read that the prince
mother was in favor OF the match and
1T might go through. Miss Patty and
her father came every winter 10 Hope
Springs ana couldn't have been more
anxious about II If she had been my
own sister
Well, as l say, 1t all began the very
.day the old doctor died He stamped
nut 10 the spring house with the morn
fng paper about nine O'Clock, and the
wedding seemed 10 be all of. Tn,
paper said the emperor had definitely
refused his consent and had sent tn,
nrince. who was his cousin, for a Jap
anese cruise. while the Jennings fam
4Iy was going to Mexico in their pri
xate car. The old doctor was indig
s,aut. and ! remember how he trampe'
nm and down the spring hOuse, mu;
serinK that the girl had had a luck.
s.scape. and what did the empero
axpect n beauty and youth and wealth
weren't enough. But he calmed down
and soon he was reading that the pa
pers we're predicting an early spring
and he said we'd better begin 10 in
crease our sulphur percentage in tn
xgafer.
-'By the way" he remarked, MI
Richard will be along in a day or SO
Minnie. You'd better break 1t to Mre
wiggins."
since the summer before we'd ha,
90 break Mr.. Dicks coming 20 Mrs
virgins. the housekeeper owing L
MS nnding her false front where /
mad blown out OF the window, havinI
sseen hung up TO dry, and his wearing
"a % luncheon as whiskers, Mr., Die
was the old doctors grandson
-Humphi" ! said. and he turne