The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-29
Daily Short Story
A BUSHEL OF PEARS
BIZ Martha "A. c wIuI.r,

~ "eFNNa W. - WNiitaw&
II only had a bushel OF pears
Just one busheli. Flora moaned. look
lng almost angrily at the big tree a
little way on the back piazza.
Commonly IL was loaded with fruit
20 the breaking point-this season a
May frost had left IL almost wholly
barren Here and there an abortive
pear peeped n from the thickest OF
leafage- Flora shook a tiny FIST at
TIE most ~o1truslve one. running on.
To think You are there tantalizing
me-this year OF all years"
Why so tragic. FIoe" DR.. Eden
asked. looking up from the Medical
Journal. In which he had been buried.
She made a grimace al him-he did
not see u-before answering. Why
lou see-ior cause. Mothers rich
step-slster In the city had suddenly
remembered her existence 10 the ex-
tent at least OF writing. recallinr All
the good things 10 eat We ever had
fears especially-not fresh and ripe
out al done up in sugar-preserved
win ginser-aud d~riedafter preserv-
ing-chlps are mighty good-and all
out asking outright II we wouldn't
sen1 her some. Id love-to-but-T
Pears may hit-neNt year" DR.
Eden said. ph ilosophically.
ana rich aunts may change their
MINDS. their yearnings-forget all
about US by next year Flora nunr
oack at him. "Then-it's goodby to
any nope OF an invitation to visit her
On, wouldn't ] love Il, Think of going
TO a really truly theatre. with really
truiy acting inside it-not the fiv->V-
in Jonesville.
I'm like the milkmaid I'm the SMELL.
ing bushel OF pears would
Hiahe Two Jars of preserves. a nice
sanSy boN OF chips-and a jar OF
tIult. Could any mortal rich aunt
pining for home cooking do less ma
respond TO them? And YOU know as
Wen as my great chance must come
mat Way-or not al all"
Chance Eden demanded.
smiling whimsically.
Flora stared at him. flushed and
stammered. "Nhy-to-to-see him
-and-and-meet people-the risht
people. O know
H-m. People TO be translated a
tlch husband?' Eden asked. stIl smil-
ing; but with quickened breath.
flora hushed holly. You needn't
put 1t thar way" she said. Not badly
but-a girl can't marry well unless
she has chances-and who gets any 6t
chances here9"
oh. several people seem to-Iones.
VIE averages pretty high matrimoni-
any ana way above par as to its baby
crop, Eden laughed. Then he stuffed
me Medical Journal" disrespectTulIy
IN his pocket. walked out TO her mn
MS hand on her shoulder and said CAV
with vet a tremor underneath. "lf
the worst happens YOU can depend on
me; Certainly ! won't see YOU an old
maid ~
Go away. hateful" Flora said sau.
CITY. Who cares for ever a half pro-
posai that has to be drawn out with 2
corkscreWs You'd starve IL YOU dared
get married-at least for twenty
years vet. I know women-they dread
the doctors wife as much as thew
adore the doctor himself"
III risk it. thOugh-in the name OF
friendship. not 70 say Christian char
ny. Eden deturned, bending over and
kissing her.
As she sprang up he fell back. sup
pressing "A whistle. for out through
the hall walked an imposing person.
VINO put up her glass. surveyed the
pair and said stolidly. Il came TO see
my sister. Mrs. Trainor. Has she
moved? II seems impossible you can
be her daughter"
Aunt Margaret Flora cried. ready
10 sink With shame.
Eden smiled family. bowed and
said quietly: Il hope. madame. yoV
viii let me also say Aunt Margaret-
IL may cNplain-what YOU saw"
1t goes the lady said. thawing Wis
IDLY. on. I'm forgetting-my son Hen
~ Is waiting In the earl told him !
would come in and ask
III fetch him in Eden said. fall
Ing gracefully into his role Of fance.
Aunt Margaret. otherwise rich Mrs.