Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-16
NJ THE HOENEW SUMMER FASHIONS SUGGESTIONS
The Dqilv Storv


as he went with his burden toward the
neat little farmhouse. He was laborlous-
ly hlllng the woodbox after doing the
morning chores. and he was very tired.
Ma opened the door and closed II after
him, but she did not speak; he avoided
her gentle blue eyes. It had been al
most six years since ne could talk TO
her without disagreement Ma went
back to her pe-making on the table near
the window and looked past the sere
cornstaks half burned in snow, to lit
tie brown house from whose chimney the
smoke seemed to ride almost eayly into
| the dead gray day. There was n red
barn near the little house, and to and
! fro in the yard ran a small figure In
red coat and cap. Mas heart ycarned
toward her daughter Molly's 4-yenr-old
Jimmy. Then she sighed and looked
around at her husbands obdurate face
John Davis was what is called good
man, but he was hard. He boasted that
his great grandfather was an Indian, and
that he himself never forgave an injury
He had wanted Molly to marry Peter
Andrews, and had therefore considered
himself hopelessly injured when she In
sisted on loving and marrying Richard
Burns, though he had no real objection
to Richard In himself, Molly was as
stubborn as he, and there had been no |
visiting between the two households. by |
his own command, He was master In his |
own house, and Ma obeyed, though under
protest, for their two sons were out West |
and Molly was all she had. She had long
since ceased to argue with Pa about It,
and, though she did not go to Molly's
house, she made the most of any chance
meetings with her or the small Jimmy.
She had not been in her daughters
house since the time Jimmy was born.
Pa had not tried to stop her then.
And now it was the day before the
New Year began. Ma went on with her
pies, big and rich, and thick with her
best mincemeat, and she did now as she
had always done since Molly had been
a tiny glrl-made one pie in little yell
low saucer Molly's little pic Each year
she continued to do this, her husbands
Notwithstanding This time she
did it ostentatiously, holding 1t high on
her hand as she trimmed the crust or
around the edge. She intended to at
tract his attention.
He had removed his mittens and had
.aken down his old gun from the rack
he sat cleaning the gun, with his feet
IN the hearth, and his teeth set He
vas in torture from rheumatism, and !
20 weak he could scarcely get through
With what work must be done out of
loors. but he carefully hid his condition
rom his wife; Ma would put him to bed
md dose him and tell him he had TO
orgive Molly and have Richard over
o relieve him OF the heavy work. Rich
Lrd wanted 10 do this, too, Ma would
'e scared and say he was too old to be
lone. and too old to be unforgiving
Ie was only 60. and he never had for
'iven any one, and he did not intend
o begin now, And he had said he would !
ever see Mollys baby, and he never
would either!
Then he looked up and saw Mollys lit
e pie balanced on her mothers hand It I
'as ths last straw. I
Ma" he said you're a worse idiot '
very year Quit maxim that little fool =
lie! Mollyll never come over here to eat :
, and you can make up your mind to
lat-you've had time enough! And I for !
Id you to be everlastin'ly meetin' her an . .
urns like know you do! Ill-Ill lock :
on up, old as you be, IL you can't have :
ny sense! I don't want to have to say =
lis ag'in next year! You throw that pie I
ito the slop bucket this minute or I'll \
1me over there and do It myself" He \
,se, but his rheumatism made him pause. a
nd then Ma did what she had not done
ace before in the 10 years of their mar
nge. She faced him with blazing eyes 4
nd dared him to touch her or the pie, 0
nd he stood speechless beneath the tor I
mt of her words. He had not seen Ma W
FUSED before! a
John Davis she finished, after she &
Id talked awhile, "the Lord can take 81
'wn your wicked pride II can't. You
low Molly had a right to marry Richard "
I'd you know you're as wild to see your t'
ly grandson as / am, too! I'm going t'
er there after this just when please 81
n going to take this pie over when it's p
ked. I've sent II on the sly too long
n tired OF sneakin'! I've knuckled under | al
YOUR whim as long as ever intend to- | is
,u're too old to be so hard. You better 81
st stop tempting Providence with the 10
rdness Of your heart and go and fetch
me Molly on Richard and Jimmy-pm | h,
okin the best in the land like l always y,
You do what say an see how good Il
feels to be decent once. This will be n
~ Years eve. an a good time to begin. 10
lis Is the last word I'm goln' to say
out It," She closed her mouth and
.mmed the oven door on the pie. m
Pa stood In the middle of the room a, a.
lding his gun, too dumbfounded TO "
aak or move. At last he started for
} door and she called him in her usual
Ice: TO
IT'S most II, an dinner'n be ready at
What you want with the gun, Pa?"
answered DULY;
Saw some fat rabbits over in the corn
I'd like TO taste one-we
II had any this winter" He marched
of the house. and from the window ~
watched him ploW through the snow
eonstalks till he passed out OF
ht behind some old shed and hay
cks back OF Mollys barn. stl
he put dinner on the table at l2 ana OF
led loudly 10 the barn. She waited ga
while, then put the things In the oven wi
keep warm, In the pantry the pies wi
cd IN delicious brown crlspness beside Sh
fruit cake and cranberry jelly and all $50
delieacies the farm afforded.
{ o'clock he had not yet come and 81
grew impatient. She had heard the Gs
4 once or twice, but that was some st'
le back. At she was openly anxious
J went out to search the barn
hen she dared 10 hope that he had
,en her at her word and had gone 10
ly's, but looking over she saw nothing 81
ng on except Jimmy still In the yard ~ ~
hen she thought he might have been y
Led IN TO dinner az a neighbors, and A.
ate little herself and cleared the ~
ngs away Perhaps ne was 50 angry -,
L he would never forgive her. either. 80
: courage ned and her heart sank be- -