The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-28

mat might come-but here the case
was different There was Mary Ann.
She went on to explain: Settlements
10 money and property q man gives
his wife. 30 II he gets to speculating,
that much Is safe for her and the chill
dren."
She did not propose to be more Ok
phcit, but stood tall, straight and de-
dant by the mantel. He could only
protest: "Why, Mirandy, you'll be pro-
vided for when / die"
"Ycs, and every time I want five
cents, and don't care about asking You
Tor II, / may wish you were dead, so I
wouldn't have to. / don't suppose you
Intend to pay me wages, same as now,
and let me take the most OF it out Of
the privileges Of being Mrs. Ander-
son."
He shook his head doubtfully. 81
don't know, Mirandy, about the set
Elements"
"Oh, yes" she said, confidently,
you'll fix that all right. I'll tell the
folks we're engaged; and, John Ander-
son, do you know, If a a goes back
on a promise Of this sort a woman
never raises her head AGAIN.
He sat long by the fire in utter be-
wilderment, and at last. because the
idea was SO new to him that he could
see nothing deeper in it, concluded
that itrwas nothing more than caprice
when a woman gets a fool notion in
her head you might just as well wait
until it wears itself out or Awe in al
once" he thought. He resolved to
wait.
When Mirandy came down to get
breakfast the next morning she sang .
little hymn. But 1t was pathetic to see
under her assumed cheerfulness the
tender way In which she regarded the
familiar breakfast cups. Some late fall
morning glories blew In at the open
window across the table, and the odor
Of ripening apples came In from the
orchard. When would she come back
to 1t ALI Perhaps never. She recog-
nized the impossibility of coming back
to live there in the old order Of things
after what had happened. 1t made
her still more uncertain to see John
Anderson's cheerful, confident manner
as he brought the wagon around to
the door.
you'll be back in a day or so, /
reckon, Mirandy, and will be ready to
60 and get married" he ventured.
It'll take longer than you think to
get the papers fixed. / thought we'G'
better stop and get Granny Simpson to
go over and keep house until you're
ready for me-" she answered.
y "Oh, pshaw, now, Mirandy; there
amt any need of that. I'll just drop
work at any time and come for you.
You can just tell Jake you are ready
to come home. He'll be picking ap-
pies In the south orchard for quite a
spell"
Thus they talked for two long miles,
each ignoring the others intention, I'M
til he set her down at the farmhouse
gate. Then he gave her a pocket.
book, saying: That's to get weddin'
ixln's. Spend as much as you like"
The blood rushed to her face at the
offer of the bride, but after a moment
she said quietly: THANK you; i reck-
on it'll be used" He drove away, leav-
ing her much astonished by his fit of
generosity.
wedding flxin's for me-" she said,
contemptuOusly. II need them about
as much as a wagon does FIVE wheels.
But / reckon Mary Ann can find use
for 1t. I'll make her believe her IA
ther sent 1t and me too. l wonder
which will prove the greatest bless
ingT' With that she walked into the
house and asked where she should
hang her hat and shawl, to tho great
delight Of Mary Ann, who looked upon
her intention to pay a visit of indef-
mite length Us nothing less than a mir
acle.
While affairs at the farmhouse were
at their worst, work became scarce at
Mary AIMS, and Mirandy at last faced
a day when there was nothing to do.
What would become Of her? Every
thing would go smoothly for a while
now, until the need Of money was felt
again. She had no doubt she could
Tue over SUCH places Win them al
ways. But that was not right, not
Just, and bitter words might pass and
remorse.
She would 60 to John Anderson and
tell him plainly what her thought had
been; then, though he might not for
give her. still she would have done
right. She walked over to the house
In the bleak afternoon. A snowstorm
was brewing in the sky. 1t was still
early, and she could sit by the fire I'M
till supper time. As she entered the
house she saw that Granny was gone,
and evidently intended staying to tea,
because a cold supper for one was set
out on the table. The fire was out
and the kitchen cold.
Mirandy pulled the table cloth
straight mechanically, picked up a
rusty knife and eyed the feast criti-
cally. The hand towel over the wash
'tand was like the typical one in a