The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-11-17

asked the pale, Ill old woman.
mot word," admitted En- family.
"Lordy mel l kinder wish your pa
hadn't put all his money into Donalds-
vile gas stock. Why, lie even mort
gagged the house to buy more stock"
went on Mrs. Tatem. ut was an right
rs long as they paid dividends, but
now-why, It's six months overduer
"Yes, ma"
You're wonderful manager, EN-,
to make that last money stretch over
so many months. l suppose you got
some left?"
Elm thought Of her worn purse. which
contained one copper cent.
Yes. 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, l think could relish
an egg"
Elm Tatem stood by the kitchen win
dow looking out across the yard, now
brown and bare, swept by November
winds. She was q sweet faced, pa
tient looking woman of thirty-6ve, and
her still abundant fair hair and blue
eyes added to her charms. People said
that En- Tatem had faded drcadfully
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 stockv"
she murmured, with tears filling her
eyes. There came knock at the
door. MA wants to know If you can
spare dozen eggs" said a little girl.
En- went into her pantry and counted
the eggs In tho blue bowl. There were
exactly fourteen. She would save two
for her mother. and with the 18 cents
Iii 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.
Elm 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 rs soon
as she gets some change" And Mary
ran down the path.
Elm stared after the child with hard,
resentful eyes.
its wicked, downright wickedp' she
cried fercely. They've all got money
and food and everything. Tomorrow
will be Thanksgiving day, and not a
thing to eat! 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 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 Elizas dead
body within the nest. eliza had, died
at her post Of duty.
After En- Tatem had given Efza's
corpse decent burial she hurried into
the house and prepared poached egg
and cup Of tea for her mothers din
ner. After the meal Mrs. Tatem dozed
Off into her afternoon nap.
En- locked the doors and went up
the steep hill back Of tho 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
dercd Deacon Peppers fine flock Of
turkeys. All had been sold save two,
the giant Of the flock and small hen
turkey which no one wanted. OF
course the deacon would kill the COB
bier for his own table. Although he
was bachelor, no often entertained
his many friends and relatives.
i've got to look out for ma, andithey
can't want that little hen--and hope
I'll be forgiven, but Iican't let maedieP
with these mingled prayers and ex-
cuses En- drew from her pocket a
handful Of corn ana tossed,it toward
the turkeys.
They came running toward her. the
gobbler greedily pushingthis,small COM
panion out Of the way. Eml threw an
other handful and another gradually
Turing the birds towardSthe fence. On
her side she had spreadhan old fshinet
on the ground.
But, to her dismay, 1ttwastthe bronze
gobbler which came tot.her net. The
little hen wearied Of thejunequal ichase
for grains OF corn and wandered of.
Presently Em Tatem wagssmuffiing the