The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-02-04
You Act rs il Hou Couldn't Get III.
Out OF the House Fast Enough

into the bit of garden which Mary
emma had planted and which Mary
emma had promised to harvest. in
deed, she could not look anywhere
that she did not see something which
Maryemma had either done or had Yet
her little sphere. even Maryemma,
but h had grown old and Mary
emma had somehow got beyond her
control. Maryemma now dominated
her, very gently, it is true, but still
in a way tina was supremely hateful
to Mrs. Peel. She moderated Mary
emma and was very d~isagreeable to
since the days of Mrs. Peel's young
widowhood and Of Maryemma's child
hood, were at the point of open rup-
ture. when Mrs. Peel was inspired to
get Maryemma away to visit her older
married sister in Ohio. When Mary
emina's parents died n the family
was broken up. this sister had gone
e her lsnce, but they sometimes
wrote to each other. Why should
Maryemma not visit her? Mrs. Peel
had proceeded to fire Maryentna's
imagination with every subtlety
known To her. She perceived that
Maryemma had a real longing for
something she had never known and,
lSi maps, OtI uol una III SuCIl coI1-
panionship as she had. And when a
card came from Betsy inviting Mary
emma to the celebration Of old home
week at Bradford Centre, Mrs. Peel
had forthwith prevailed upon her to
go without even the preliminary of
informing her sister that she was
coming. Mrs. Peel judiciously had
urged that it was not necessary to
send Betsy word of any kind.
So il seemed that i'm a Very S1,o,.t
time now Mrs. Peel would be rid OF
Maryemma. She. too, was a vision
builder. She fancied that. freed OF
Maryemma's numbering presence, her
spirit would become light and airy
again and that she would coax back
to her a semblance of youth and en-.
1oyment. She would De mistress of
herself and of her house. She would
not need to defer to anybody. All thai
had escaped her of late years she
would capture again when Maryemma
was away. Maryemma spoiled life
for her. Whenever she looked at
Maryemna she was reminded that
this homely. middle aged woman was
the child she had adopted. Maryem-
upon her. If she did not see Mary
emma constantly she would forget
that she was old And to forget that
she was old NEAR happiness.
In time the old oi)cloth valise was
closed and locked and tagged. And
Maryemma, in her best hat, with the
feather and all her bead chains and
rings and brooches. with a starched
petticOat under her full skirt, was
arrayed to go. In hat moment she
forgot all the unpleasant things thai
had passed beween them in q life
time and remembered only that she
was leaving an old woman whom she
loved. h put her arms about Mrs
Peels neck and began to cry. II cam
Dear to go and leave you,' she sobbed,
There. there!' AS unyielding and
stiff II hard as q stick stood Mrs
Peel. She patted Maryemma's shak-
ing shoulder hastily. Above Mary
emma's head her impatient glance
roved. Suppose Maryemma should
fool around until she missed her
train
"Goodby. dear. TIL write every
lay" Maryemma Withdrew her arms
from Mrs. Peel's neck and wiped her
streaming eyes. Take good care Of
yourself. Be careful of the cellar
door nights. And don't drink too
strong tea. Oh. Aunt Sophie, how !
hate to leave you"
Mrs. Peel whimpered c~unningly,
"Maryen1ma, I declare it makes me
feel bad to hear You take on SO.
wish you'd go right off, brave and
sensible"
I'm going" said Marye1nma. stoop.
ing to lift the valise. Her chin quiv.