The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-01-28
CHAPTER III--contInusd.

ways a-blamin' the men. Yew kin Jest
bet never would have let one OF my
husbands go ter the poorhouse. 1t
would have mortified me dretfuL 1t
must be a purity poor sort Of woman
what can't take the care Of one man
and keep roof over his head. Why.
my second. Oliver c.. used ter cay"
"Oh!" Miss Ellie wrung her hands.
cant we do somethin'?"
Il could do a-plenty." mourned Miss
Abigail, "ef l only had been savin'.
Here l git salary O. four dollars
month, an not one penny laid away"
"Yew fergit," spoke some one gently.
that 1t takes considerable ter dress
matron proper"
Aunt Nancy. who had been sneezing
furiously at her own impotence. now
found her speech again.
We're a nice set ter talk erbout
dewin' somethin'-a passed. O. poor ole
critters like usi" Her cackle of en-
Uttered laughter was interrupted by
the low. cultivated voice Of the belle
Of the home. Butterfly Blossy."
We've got to do something" said
Blossy firmly.
When Blossy spoke with such de-
cision every one Of the sisters pricked
up her ears. Blossy might be "a shall
ler-pate;" she might arrange the
golden-white hair OF her head as be-
fitted the browning glory OF young
girl. with puffs and rolls and little
curls. and-more than one sister sus-
pected-witb the aid of rats" she
might gown herself deliberately in the
mended finery OF the long ago, the
better years; she might dress her
lovely big room-the only double bed
chamber in the house. for which she
had paid double entrance fee-in all
sorts OF gewgaws, little ornaments,
hand-painted plaques OF her own pro-
ducing. lace bedspreads, embroidered
splashers and pillow-shams; she might
even permit herself a sutton who came
twice year more punctually than the
line-storms. to ask her withered little
hand In marriage-but her heart was
In the right place, and on occasion she
had proved herself master hand at
''fxin' things"
YES" said she, rising to her feet
and fiinging out her arms with an elo-
quent gesture. we've got to do some
thing. and there's just one thing to do,
girls: take the captain right here
here"-she brought her hands to the
lacee on her bosom-"to our hearts!"
At first there was silence, with the
ladies staring blankly at Blossy and
then at one another. Had they heard
Alright? Then there came murmurs
and EXPLANATIONS. with Miss Abigails
voice gasping above the others:
What would the directors say7"
What do they always say when we
ask a favor?" demanded Blossy
How much will it costr 1t won't
cost cent"
Wont. chr" snapped Aunt Nancy
How on earth be yew goin' to vittle
him? hain't had second dish O
peas this year."
Some men eat more an some less, >
remarked Sarah Jane, as ill-favored q
spinster as ever the sun shone on
generally 1t means so much grub tel
so much weight"
Miss Abigail glanced up at the cell
ing. while Lazy Daisy, who had re
fused to tip the beam for ten years
surreptitiously hid an apple into which
she had been biting.
LES have 'em weighed" suggested
widow. Ruby Lee, with a pretty
well-preserved little face and figure
AN eff tergether they don't come VI
to the heartiest one of US"
Miss Abigail made hasty Interrupt
ton:
Gals. hain't yew never noticed tina
the more yew need the more yew Kit
Before Jenny Bell went to live will
her darter didn't know what | SHOULD
dew. for the 'taters was gittin' poot,
low. Yew know she used ter ca
twenty ter a meal. an then look hun
cry at the platter. An then eff OLE
Square Ely didn't come a-drivin' I'll
} one mornin' with ten bushel in tn,
farm wagoni He'd been savip' EN-
fer us all winter fer fear we might ruI
, short In the spring. Gals. thar's on,
thing yew kin depend on. the fore
sightedness OF the Lord. haint afrai,
ter risk a-stretchin' the board an
keep O. thirty ter pervide ample fe
: thirty-one Naow. haow many OF yev
is willin' ter try it,"
, Every head nodded, Il am" ever,
: eye was wet with the dew OF mercifu
kindness; and Mrs. Homan and Ssral
Jane. who had flung plates at eacl
other only that morning. were OF
' served to be holding hands.
But haow on arth be we a-goin' te
a sleep him." proceeded the matron un
r easily. Thar hain't a extry corner Il
: the hull place. Putin tew people Il
9 No. 80 is out Of the question-it's jes
: erbout the size of a Cinderella sho
B box. anyhow. an the garnet leaks
!. She paused, for Blossy was pullin
z at her sleeve. the real Blossy. warn
hearted. generous. self-deprecating.
Il think No. 80 is just the cozies
little place for onei Do let me take Il
! Miss Abigail. and give the couple m
great big barn OF room"
Aunt Nancy eyed her suspiciousl,
: "Yew amt a-gwine ter make fool ,
. yerself. an jump over the broomstic
= agin?" For Blossy's old suitor. San
= uel Darby. had made one Of his sem
annual visits only that morning.