The Ordway new era., 1915-03-12

. weight. t.
THE Jenningses are still here" said
the doctor. "The old man 10 mAdder
than any hornet ever dared be. and
they go in the morning. But the stu
alton was too much for our German
friend. He left with the others"
Well. we went out and took the
path knew best. which was out to-
ward the springhouse. At the little
bridge over the creek Doctor Barnes
stopped. and leaning over the rail-. took
a good look at me.
when you self.contained women go
to pieces" he said, you pretty near
smash. don't you? You look as II you'd
had death in your family"
This was my family" l half
sniveled.
But" he said. you'll be getting
married and having home of your
own and forgetting all about this"
He looked at me with his sharp
eyes. There's probably some nice
chap In the village. eh?"
Look here,' turned on him. 'if
you're talking all this nonsense to keep
my mind on things, you needn't"
I'm not" he said. I'm asking for
the sake Of my own mind, but we'll
not bother about that now. We'd bet
ter start back" i,- .i
We went back to the house and
Strengthened the news stand. Amanda
King having taken a violent toothache
as result of the excitement. The
Jenningses were packing to go. and
l,,r, hoa a ~ NO
oxide and shut herself In her room. At
six O'Clock Tillle beckoned to me from
the door Of the officers dining room
and said she'd put the basket In the
snow by the grape arbor. ! got ready.
with heavy heart, to take 1t out I
had forgotten all about their dinner.
for one thing. and had to carry bad
news.
But Mr.. Pierce had been there be-
fore me. saw tracks In the fresh
snow. for, praise heaven! 1t had
snowed all that week and our. prints
were nlled up almost ~ fast as we
made them. When l got to the shelter
house 1t was In Wild state OF ex.
citement. Mrs. Dick. with her cheeks
flushed. had gathered all her things on
the cot and was rolling them up In
sheets and newspapers. But Mr.. Dick
was sitting of the box In front Of the
firs with his curly hair standing every
way. He had been roasting potatoes.
and a. l opened the door. he picked
one up and poked at It tc see II 1t was
done.
''Damn!" he said, and dropped It.
Mrs. Dick sat ON the cot rolling up
. pink ribbon and looked at him.
III you want to know exactly my
reason for insisting on moving tonight,
I'll tell you." she said. paying no atten-
ton to me. 1T 10 your disposition"
He didn't say anything. but he put
his foot on the potato and smashed 1t.
III had to be shut in here with
you one more day." she went on. I'D
hate you" ~
"Why the one more day!" he asked.
without looking up.
But she didn't answer him. She was
in the worst kind of temper; she
threw the ribbon down, and coming
over, lifted the lid Of my basket and
looked in.
Ham again!" she exclaimed un-
gratefully. Thanks 30 much for re-
membering US. Minnie. dare say our
dinner today slipped your mind!"
II wonder II It strikes you. Minnie. :"
Mr.. Dick said, noticing me for the first
time. shat II you and Sam hadn't been
so confounded meddling, that fellow
Pierce would be washing buggies In
the village livery stable where he be-
longs. and I'd be in one piece Of prop
erty that's as good ~ gone this min
ute.'' ,-.--y4 a-f
was In bad humor. anyhow. and
I'd had enough. I stood Just inside the
door and told them I'd done the best
I could. not for them. but because I'd
promised the old doctor. and II Id
made mistakes I'd answer for them to
him II ! ever met him in the next
world. And in the meantime washed
r1y hands of the whole thing. and they
might make out a. best they could. l
was going.
Mrs. Dick heard me through. Then
she came over and put her hand on
mine where II lay on the table.
you're perfectly right" she eaid. II
know how you have tried. and that the
fault is all that wretched Pierce's. You
mustn't mind Mr.. Carter, Minnie. He's
been In that sort Of humor all day"
He looked at her with the most mis-
cradle face ever saw. but he didn't
say anything. She sighed, the little
wretch,
i plodded back with my empty bas-
ket. had only one clear thought
that l wouldn't have any more tramp
ing across the golf links in the snow.
I wanted to get back to my room and
go to bed and forget. i-
But as I came near the house saw
Mr. Pierce come out on the front
piazza and switch on the lights. He
stood there looking out Into the snow,
and the next minute 1 saw why. Com.
ing up the hill and across the lawn
Vgan uh 1I~A ~ pa1nln Me T.