The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-05-13

; to some one else. II he doesn't want {
continue the loan" protested 'Dorind
! eagerly.
II can do nothing of the sort, miss.
retorted the widow bitterly. ''Ther
amt any loose money in the who'll
village. and ! amt going to Tom, Dicl
. and Harry asking EN- to buy the mort
gage on my house-not If lose it You
forget that was Hodge!'
$50 you're selling me for the mort
gage?" laughed Dorinda mirthlessly.
"Stop that nonsense Dorinda. Yor
know you like Lem Tuckby. Why
he's been coming here for six months
and you've played accomplishments for
him while he sawed away on that old
fiddle of his. and nobody can blame
him If he thinks you meant you liked
him."
Mother. ] really never dreamed he
was coming because he cared for me-"
protested Dorinda.
why did you think he called. chr
Dorinda blushed furiously. but she
looked her mother straight in the eyes.
II thought thought he came to see
you, mother" she said steadily.
A dull red settled over Mrs. Kerr's
sallow countenance. She could not ex-
plain to Dorinda that she. herself. had
believed the same thing-that Lem was
coming to court her-nor could she tell
the girl how bitter had been her disap-
pointment when the hardware dealer
had declared that Dorinda was as the
apple of his eye.
II hope-I hope have too much re
spect for your poor pa ever to look at
any man again" cried Ann Kerr wild
ly, for In moments of emotion she was
wont to refer to her long suffering
husband as paragon among men.
IL know. mother-but-but"- Poor
Dorinda. remembering her dearly loved
father. broke into sudden tears.
Ann Kerr's face darkened. and she
went into the kitchen and began to
prepare the evening meal. She was
angry with herself for having believed
Lem Tuckby would look at her with
such a fresh young creature as Do
rinda TO attract his admiring eye, And
she was angry with Dorinda because
the girl despised an opportunity that
she herself would gladly have seized.
So mother and daughter ate their
supper in silence. and when the meal
was concluded Dorinda went and sat
In the sitting room with look of
utter despair on her fair young face
you'll soon be rid of Lem If you're
going to look at him like that" laugh.
ed her mother sardonically.
The back door opened and Alvina
Toby came in, little red shawl held
closely around her thin. salow face.
Hope amt unwecome." she cried.
winklng openly at Mrs. Kerr. ''Wednes-
day nights beau night you know.
and ! thought perhaps you'd get lone
some sitting out here alone"
"Sit right down." urged Mrs. Kerr. |
with hasty glance at Dorinda's avert |
ed face. "Dorry's got a headache. |
and
Dorinda got up and went into the |
parlor, where her mother had lighted |
the pink lamp II was warm In there. |
for the coal fire in the stove was
glowing red. but DOrinda was SILVER
ing with cold dread as she waited for
the unwelcome sound of Lem Tuckby's
heavy footsteps.
From the closed door of the sitting
Dom came the shril sound of Alvina's
'oice. Now and then her words sound
d quite plainly TO Dorinda and as
Alvina talked the girl grew paler.
"Dorinda acts awful uppish over be-
ne engaged TO Lem Tuckby." shrilled
Alvina. she needn't put on airs-l
ould have been engaged to him ten
ears ago myself-but-l had good rea
ons for staying single"
Ann Kerr's deep voice rumbled some
naudibe reply; then Alvina went on:
well, it's surprising just the same
ave thought she'd have preferred Billy
.ane. | hear that he's steadied down ,
He went west. you know.
nd his folks are pleased as can be over
said Billy want nearly as bad as ,
Dlks painted him. His ma always said ,
was Dorry sent him away to make ,
IAN of himself"
"Dorry?" questioned Ann Kerr sharp /
"Yes-and seems he told her he !
ouldn't come back till she'd be proud /
take him.-he amt never come back
et." Alvina laughed disagreeably. '
Dorinda stood with closed eyes and {
4 L.. 4