The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-12-04
CHAPTER VII.
about" Mary chavah.

"F we took the day before Christ.
mas an had 1t for Christmas
observed Tab Winslow. would
that hurtY'
Eat your oatmeal" said Mis- Wins.
low in the immemorial manner of
adults. ~
would 1t. would it. would it?" per.
sisted Tab in the immemorial manner
of youth. ..-.
"And have Theophilus Thistledown
for dinner that day Unsteady" Mis-
Winslow suggested with diplomacy.
On which Tab ate his oatmeal in 81.
lence.
But. like adults immemorially. Mis-
Winslow bore far more the adult man.
ner than its heart. After breakfast
she stood staring out the pantry win.
dow at the sparrOws on the bird box.
1T looks like Mary Chavah was 60
ing to be the only one in Trail Town
to have any Christmas after ALL" she
thought, that little boy coming to her.
So"
He was coming week after next.
Mary had said. and Mis- Winslow had
heard no word about 1t from anybody
else. When ''the biggest of the work.
Of the forenoon was finished Mis-
Winslow ran down the road to Ellen
Bourne's. In Old Trail Town they al
ways speak of it as running down. or
In, or over. In the morning with an
unconscious suiting of terms to in
formalities.
Ellen was cleaning her silver. She
had six Of each"-six knives. six
forks, six spoons. all plated and seldom
used, pewter with black handles serv-
ing for every day. The silver was
cleaned often, though it was never on
the table, save for company. and there
never had been any company since
Ellen had lost her little boy from
fever. Having no articulateness and
having no other outlet for emotion
she fed her grief by small abstentions
mo guests. no diversions. no snatches
Of song about her work. Yet she was
sane enough and normal, only in dearth
Of sane and normal outlets for emo
ton, for energy. for personality she
had taken these strange directions for
yet Embarrassed forces.
Mercy" observed Mis- Winslow.
warming her hands at the cooking
stove, you got more energy,
THAN family. guess you mean"
Ellen Bourne finished. Ellen was little
and fair, with slightly dropping head.
and eyebrows curved to a childlike
Effectiveness.
well. got considerable more family
than got energy" said Mis- Winslow.
so guess we even it up. Seven I'M
der fifteen eats up energy like so much
air." ..
Hey, king and countryv' said Ellen's
old father, whiting by the fire, you
got family enough. Ellen. You got
your hands full Of u.s." He rubbed his
hands through his thin outstanding sill
yer hair on his little pink head. and
his fine, pink face took on the look of
father which rarely intruded. now. on
his settled look of old man.
81 dunno what she'd do" said Ellen's
mother. with any more around here
to pick up after. We're cluttered up
enough as it is" She was an old lady
Of whose outlines you took notice be
fore your attention lay further upon
her-angled waist, chin, lips. forehead.
put on her succession Of zigzags.. But
her eyes were awake. and it was to
be seen that she did not mean what she
said and that she was looking anxious
ly at Ellen in the hope Of having de-
ceived her daughter. Ellen smiled at
her brightly. and was not deceived.
II keep pretty busy" she said.
Mis- Abby Winslow, who was not
deceived either. FASTENED to the sub
ject Of Mary.
81 should think Mary Chavah had
enough to do, too," she said. "but she's
going to take Lily's little boy. Had
you heard?'
mo" Ellen said. and stopped shay
ing silver polish.
"He's coming in two weeks" Mis-
Winslow impaired. "She told me so
herself. She's got his room fixed up
with owls on the wall paper. She's
bought him a wash basin with a rim
of puppies and red stocking cap. I
saw her." ..-. 3d.
"How old is hep Ellen asked and
worked again. b.. .
II never thought to ask her." Mis-
Winslow confessed. HE must be quite
a little fellow. But he's coming alone
from some place out west"
"Hey. king and country" Ellen's
father said; I'D hate to have boy
come here with my head the way 1t is"
"And keeping the house all upset"
Ellen's mother said. and asked Mis-
Winslow some question about Mary;
and when she turned to Ellen again.
why. Ellen Bourne" she said.
you've shaved up every bit of that
cleaning polish. and we're most done
cleaning"
Ellen was looking at Mis- Winslow.
IF you see her." Ellen said. ''you ask
her II can't do anything to help"
Later in the day, happening In at
Mis- Mortimer Bates, Mis- Winslow
found Mis- Moran there before her and
asked what they had heard "about
Mary Chavah." Something In that
word about" pricks curiosity its sharp
est. "Have you heard about Mary