The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-03-12
CHAPTER xyI-tcontinued.,

Ao RhhoNAltlJ dCTO6S lno SQudTGp EIW
Miss Norman come out OF the News
door and go down the street toward the
PARSONS house presently. Then she
paused at the orner OF the court house
park to glance up at the splendor OF
the August naples. The birds were
singing, and the sunlight fickered
through. She crossed the lawn to q
seat and sat down. Harlan could see
her looking about, drawing in the air
perfumed with the bloom OF the corn
n the golden stubble UP the hillsides.
Her eye closed. and after a while she
slept-just O tired Woman OF 40 who
q worked hard and had no illusions,
who vas just what the inevitability of
work and life makes Of all Of Us. But
about the square In IL minutes,
gossip ran. The bleached-hair lady
who had come back with Aurelie
Lindstrom from her triumphant
wearing the ill-gotten McFetridge
diamonds, was asleep In the park!
No other woman had ever slept in
Rome's park. Nothing could have SO
jabbed convention, nothing SO focused
comment on Aurelie LindstromL All
about the square the stores, the
the bank and around the hitching rails
the buzz ran. Harlan heard talk Of IL
from his window. Clerks stopped n
told others; farmers stared. Some
one asked where was old Marshal Bee;
and others said the sheriff's office had
jurisdiction as the park was county
property. K, "r
Wiley Curran, talking to Aurelie In
his shop, saw Miss Norman drowsily
lurch back under all the midsummer
glory and sleep as a child sleeps.
Poor Adj" murmured Aurelie, he's
been tired for 10 years and never a
such peace and air as this. It's just fine
to see herl"
And Aunt Addy, who had hurried
down, wiping her fIoury hands to
settle back her specs and kiss the
~wanderer, looked over in the park and
said: Poor dear-let her sleep till
supper time IL she win. What else Is
the park good for except tired people,
and maybe h~eart-sick, too"
But meantime Rome rocked with
scandal. Old Marshal Bee was routed
from his midday meal and told to do
something and he ambled into the
sherifrs office and said they ought to
do something; Old Deputy Amos
pulled his whiskers and protested. The
undertaken came In and denounced
both of them, and the district at
torney was appealed to, but he shook
his head. Never would he wake any
body up just before the primaries! .
. And while the agitation grew and
seethed in the court house and about
IAAO olhdS' hlAoo AN0AA AAnh 9tNRs SACRN
= whole, long beautiful hour, and then
awoke slowly, luxuriantly, to stare up
at the splendor of the sky through the
naples. Affair off came a drowsy cow
bell and the singing of a reaper. She
hated to come back to her banal
world Of grease paint and the hunting
Of jobs. Just peace-that was what
she longer for. But she rubbed her
eyes and went over to the Parsons
house as Aurelie had directed her.
Aurelie and Mr.. Curran were
laughing together over old times; end
Uncle Michigan, who had been sum-
moned by a small boy, was sitting
ventures, her hand tucked under his
own black paw, when Miss Norman
came in.
WELL" she drawled with her good
humor, t old dame put me out
proper!"t III
"old dame? Miss Amelia2
Il suppose 50. Never had such q
frost. The old catamaran-zing!"
Whats the natter" cried Aurelie.
"She said" drawled Miss Norman
salmIy, that M friend Of that Lind
strom girl could get a room In her
house. Said 1t had been a respectable
house since 1856. We could take our
diamonds and beat it to Earlville.
Lord, Aurelie, our diamonds!"
Aurelie colored to her a tips. Her
eyes began to blaze. And to damp
the kindling fires, Wiley called up
Amelia Parsons on the telephone. She
declined to explain. She wouldn't have
them actresses" and that ended 1t. |
Aurelie caught his lamely repeated
phase. Them actresses"
II wish some Of the managers could
hear that" went on Miss Norma
They've told me-, now and then, II
wasn't actress enough to hurt"
But Aurelie could see no humor in
1t. ooh, this town! 1t always did hate
met" And she burst out of the News
office to stare at the court house.
That's just where they sent Papa
Lindstrom to jail and made him crazy
And it's just where they laughed when
I went to school wearing daisies in my
hair. And no shoes!" |
Nov, dear" protested Aunt Abby,
ITS just proud of you'll"
Il won't stay here a night" She
came back and threw her arms abort
Uncle Mich'3 sTiZZled head. We'll go
over to Earlvtlle and stay at the
Metropole-and take you, Uncle Mich,
good to me-" She was on the verge Of
tears. And the rest-I hate 'em! They
say I'm d~ifferent-and Pm glad Pm
different! I hate 'em!"
Uncle Michigan had q rubbing the
brass band of his peg leg. This
RADIANT AuTeIlei MS Olu FaDplC hunting
Aurelie? The same child Aurelie who
used to dive among the waite
hyacinths in futile chasing of the baby
sharks in the south Louisiana bayous?
Done come to occupy the land! But
now he was more bewildered. Reckon
I'd take you out home, Aurelie. but
John he's got SO filled with the
holiness spirit. The holiness brethren
done turned John hard against the
show business"
I'VE won't stay another minute!"
cried Aurelie. I'll call UP the Metro
pole and have 'em send their taxicab!"
Wiley fell in his chair. Aunt Abby
stared. Tat would be the last word.
Aurelie skipping out Of town in a
taxi. For there was a taxi. Earlville
had q tax. Where there Is an Elks'
club in brownstone and q hotel
tapestried dogs In four colors-there
must be a taxi. But eve had this
blatant taxi desecrated the streets Of
Rome.
"Aureiie!" gasped Mr.. Curran. Take
the street car from the junction. But
the taxi--gee whizl"