The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

asked the pale, Ill old woman
mot a word" admitted EN- family.
"Lordy me! 1 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
as long as they paid dividends, but
now-why, It's six months overdue"
Eyes, ma"
You're a wonderful manager, EN-,
to make that last money stretch over
so many months. l 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 egg?"
Yes, Emmy. 1 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 sweet faced. pa
tient looking woman Of thirty-five. and
her still abundant fair hair and blue
eyes added to her charms. People said
that En- Tatem had faded dreadfully
the past year. but they did not guess
1t was because EN- was slowly starv-
ing herself so that there would be
enough for the beloved mother.
''If 1t hadn't been for the gas stockT'
she murmured. with tears filling her
eyes. There came a knock at the
door. ma wants to know II you can
spare a dozen eggs" said a little girl
EN- went into her pantry and counted
the eggs in the blue bowl. There We're
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.
"She's 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.
Its wicked, downright wickedT' she
cried fiercely. They've all got money
and food and everything. Tomorrow
will be Thanksgiving day. and not
thing to eatI I'll have to kill Eliza.
Maybe ma could eat her If she was
roasted with sage dressing"
EN- went down to the chicken house,
where the solitary hen, Eliza, had
wandered disconsolately about
1T will seem like killing a friend to
harm Eliza" thought En- Where is
the critter anyway? She's laid her egg
this morning, and-oh, ElizaP'
Ems surprise and grief were justi-
fed by the sight of poor ELIAS dead
body within the nest Eliza had died
at her post OF duty.
After EN- Tatem had given Eliza's
corpse decent burial she hurried into
the house and prepared a poached egg
and cup Of tea for her mothers din
ner. After the meal Mrs. Tatem dozed
or 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 Den
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 flock and a small hen
turkey which no one wanted. OF
course the deacon would kill the COB
bier for his own table Although he
was a bachelor. he often entertained
his many friends and relatives.
1--WE got to look out for ma, and they
can't want that little hen-and l 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 1t toward
the turkeys.
They came running toward her. the
gobbler greedily 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 fish net
on the ground
But. to her dismay. 1t was the bronze
gobbler which came to her net The
little hen wearied OF the unequal chase
for grains OF corn and wandered OF.
| Presently EN- Tatem was muffiing the
H.