Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-02-06


dry and talking to Mrs. Bellamy, who
had run across for a moments chat.
Mrs. Bellamy was thin, bow-backed
woman, who could stand like post
while other women's feet gave out un-
der them. She had trained herself to
stand, for her mornings were spent
mainly at some other back door than
her own. She always was just going
yet never went. Ada Winter had found
that out before she had lived in the
neighborhood a week. She was Mrs.
n Bellamys next door neighbor, and 1t
had not taken them long to get ac-
quainted.
THE milk is something awful" Mrs.
Bellamy said. 1T either sours over
night or else there amt enough cream
on it to grease a cats whiskers. I'm
so plagued with it I don't know what
to do"
\ "I'd like to see myself paying out
good money for a poor article" Ada
y said as she sat down comfortably on
the steps. The milk I've had so far
has been pretty good. At least, I've
I had no cause to complain"
Mrs. Bellamy sighed. That's him!
He always starts in good. But you'll
find out he won't keep 1t up. He's
smart as lightning. And he's just got
rich off us poor folks"
WHO is he?" demanded Ada. She
was beginning to feel interested, espe-
cially since Mrs Bellamy's complaint
was not the first she had heard.
why didn't you ever hear OF La
ban Lambert? He's got the best dairy
farms in this section, besides being a
stockholder in the bank and owning
string Of houses here in town. Hes
rich and he's earned every penny him.
self. He's an old bach and his sister
keeps house for him. They amt wlo-
ow or old maid in the country that
amt run after him some time or otn-
er, but he amt the marrying KIND.
Too stingy to support wife, L sup
pose. Everybody knows he nigs EN-
on the milk, but they keep on buying
of him lust the same. There's Han
nah Hess, t'other side of you. Sne
wouldn't dare speak up to him II ne
sold her chalk and water, cause she's
got her eye on him. And Mauda
Moore's just as bad. And Stella Arm
strong. And them that amt got an
eve on him owes him great long milk
bills" She tried to look unconscious.
well. l guess 1 better be stepping
home"
Ada Winter laughed as she rose.
"AIl right, Mrs. Bellamy. Well meet
again"
Entering her house she went in to
the living room and took the big chair
at the front window. 1t was almost
time for the milkman, and she wanted
to see what happened when he came
Ada Winter had been widow three
years. She was AZ, and her husband
had been eight years older. He had
left her a farm and money enough 10
live upon comfortably. She had no
children, and after he went she found
the farm very lonely, so she rented II
and moved into town. She was not
pretty. but she was sweet and very
wholesome looking. She had color In
her cheeks and a sparkle in her blue
eyes. In her low necked, short-sleeV-
ed blue chambray frock she looked a
thing of gentleness and timidity
Far up the street bell tangled and
the yellow milk cart, numbering in the
wake Of a massive brown horse. came
into view. At the Moore gate Manda
was waiting with her empty milk bot
tie and a ticket. But the man who
stained out OF the milk cart was no
Barkis. His keen black eyes saw the
empty milk bottle rather than Manda.
Inside of fifteen seconds he had lett
Manda with three pints of Indifferent
milk and passed on TO Stella Arm
strons's Stella was widow, and she
too was waiting. But Mr.. Lambert
tarried barely ten seconds with her.
Then he crossed over to Hannah Hess.
Hannah bounced out Of her door with
every assurance that she had been
waiting. but, though she tittereE her
liveliest. Mr.. Lambert paid her no
beed He was now due to Ada's. She
leaned forward curiously. Her milk
hottie. holding ticket, set on the
front steps. She did not consider II
necessary to present it to Mr.. Lambert
personally After he had left the milk
and gone on she rose and went to get
Il For the first time the printed top
was turned wrong side up.
Ada was fair, If very decided. She
helieved in giving everybody the
chance she would under the same cir
crmstances like for herself. She said
IN herself that she would let the milk
no IT'S own judge. 1t had been very
GOOD so far, but then the label had
always been the other way. MRS. Bel
,amy said that he carried two lapels
inst as he carried two grades OF milk
She knew what was under the one la
bel She would now discover what
was under the other
She set the milk away. Before night
q was sour and no cream had risen
unon it. She had ceased to be new
and doubtful customer. He was sure
of her now and he was dealing out to
her the same quality of milk he i'm
posed upon her neighbors. Ada mao
M milk for her tea that night, and
every sip she took established her IN
the belief that it was her business to
work reform.
~ may be widow" thought Ada
and her blue eyes were all sparkle
lint I'm no old maid. And I'm moi
eeeking a husband. Mr. Lambert Is
going to know what think OF him
before another day is over"
Next morning she was waiting fol
him When his bell tangled before hel
door she ran out quickly. Manda
Moore was at her gate, Mrs. Arm
strong at hers, Hannah Hess on hei
norch-all his secret adorers, ever
Mrs Bellamy, who simpered before
,ao,,,a chic owed him a bill she