Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-11-26

ISS$XfX xXEs.E2NI the dividend on
that gas stock?"
asked the pale, Ill old woman.
"Not word" admitted EN- family.
"Lordy me! l Kinder wish your pa
hadn't put all his money into Donalds-
Vile gas stock. Why, he even mort
gagged the house to buy more stock"
went on Mrs. Tatem. 1T was all right
AZ long as they paid dividends, but
now-why, It's six months overduel"
Eyes, ma"
you're a wonderful manager. EN-,
TO make that last money stretch over
20 many months. I suppose you got
some left?'
EN- thought Of her worn purse. which
contained one copper cent
Eyes, ma, some." she replied, getting
up and smoothing the big pillows.
I'm going out to get some dinner for
you. Could you eat an eggT
yes, Emmy. | think could relish
an egg"
EN- Tatem stood by the kitchen win.
dow looking out across the yard. now
brown and bare, swept by November
winds. She was a sweet faced, pa
tient looking woman of thirty-tive. and
her still abundant fair hair and blue
eyes added to her charms. People said
that Em Tatem had faded dreadfully
the past year. but they did not guess
It was because EN- was slowly starv.
ing herself SO that there would be
As1A prph P,vst h. hnl nA
LII It hadn't been for the gas stockv'
she murimured. with tears filling her
eyes. There came a knock at the
door. MA wants to know II you can
spare dozen eggs" said little girl.
EN- went into her pantry and counted
the eggs in the blue bowl. There were
exactly fourteen. She would save two
for her mother, and with the Is cents
In hand she could buy some meat. EN-
did not dare tell her mother that there
now remained In the poultry yard one
lone Plymouth Rock hen.
EN- put the eggs In the girls basket
"How Is your mother. Mary?" she
asked.
shes pretty well. Miss Tatem. She's
awful busy, though. You know to-
morrow's Thanksgiving. And, oh, Miss
Tatem. she says she'll pay you as soon
as she gets some change" And Mary
ran down the path.
EN- stared after the child with hard.
resentful eyes.
.it's wicked. downright wickedr' she
cried fercely. They've all got money
and food and everything. Tomorrow
viii be Thanksgiving day. and not
thing to eat! III have to Kill Eliza.-
Maybe ma could eat her ii she was
roasted with sage dressing
En- Went down to the chicken house.
where the solitary hen. Eliza. had
wandered uisconsoateiy about
1T will seem like killing friend to
harm Eliza" thought En- Where Is
the critter anyway: She's laid her egg
this morning. and-ah. Eliza"
Ems surprise and grief We're justi-
fed by the sight Of poor Eliza's dead
body within the nest. Eliza had died
ut her post Of duty
After Em Tarem had given Eliza's
corpse decent burial she hurried into
the house and prepared poached egg
and n cup of tea for her mothers din
ner, After the meal Mrs. Tatem dozed
OF into her afternoon nap.
EN- locked the doors and went up
the steep hill back of the house and
entered the little grove Of locust trees
that separated her property from Dea-
con Peppers farm. She approached
the boundary fence and looked over
into the deacon's lot. Here had wan
dered Deacon Peppers fine flock OF
turkeys. All had been sold save two.
the giant Of the fock and small hen
turkey which no one wanted. or
course the deacon would kill the COB
bier for his own table. Although be
was bachelor. he often entertained
his many friends and relatives.
"I've got to look out for ma. and they
can't want that little hen-and hope
I'll be forgiven. but can't let ma der
With these mingled prayers and ex-
cuses EN- drew from her pocket a
handful Of corn and. tossed It toward
the turkeys.
They came running toward her. the
gobbler greedlly pushing his small COM
panion out Of the way. EN- threw an
other handful and another. gradually
Turing the birds toward the fence. On
her side she had spread an old 6sh net
On the ground.
But. to her dismay. 1t was the bronze
1obbler which came to her net. The
little hen wearied Of the unequal chase
1of grains Of corn and wandered on.
Presently Em Tatem was mufiiing the