The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-09-11
PEA RIDGE AFFAIR
BY N. M. WILLIAMS.

There were seven Sisters Brown In
Pea Ridge church, differentiated &C.
cording to husbands past or present.
Sister 10 was a widow, with an only
and beloved son, by way Of make
weight to a houseful Of daughters.
Half the girls had married, the others
had embraced the policy Of watchful
waiting.
Octavius, o and brother, was sem
sitive over their methods-so much so
that he fought shy of asking men
friends to the house. He was indeed
shy over most things-the reverse,
quite, of his masterful mother. who
felt herself able at the slightest notice
to second the plans and expound the
purposes of anything from the state
legislature to divine Providence.
Hence, with her wisdom admitted at
fault, the case must be desperate. In
deed, II looked so to Mrs. Ware and
Leda, her daughter. Rather helpless,
both of them-because Aunt Susan
had always taken care of them. Now
she was dead and the bank had failed,
SO there was only their place to de-
pend on. 1t was a small place, with a
good house, to be sure, but only a gar
den, a paddock, a bit Of orchard and
a few acres In grass. It would hardly
yield a living to an Industrious farmer
able to work II early and late. What
could II prove but an expense greater
than Fonf tn a aOrHIn ~ lo xAn
had neither strength nor knowledge7
Oddly, nobody thought of matrimony
as an ark of refuge. Notwithstanding
Leda was pretty and amiable.
Leda was properly penitent. Both
cried no little over their help
lessness, and sat at home through
Christmas and New Year, trying not
to be hurt by the unusual largesse Of
their neighbors.
1--WE are not starving-yet," Leda
said. choking. as she put away the
third batch Of pies they had received
In one morning, besides the loaf of
gingerbread, and the wedges of plum
cake. "Only / hope they will spare
us broken bits OF food, nanny. It's
all wrong-not being g~rateful-but
somehow / wish they had at least
waited"
"Don't fret, daughter. Our urn will
come" Mrs. Ware said, but with a
sinking heart for all her brave words.
To comfort herself she went out and
lifted the sash OF the smallest pit. 1t
va A Sn(EoA 80 aor1U hnIhc-tnnnrflQ
narcissus. She forgot her
troubles instantly In her JOY at finding
at least a dozen Unexpectedly In flower
and Roman hyacinths. Ex-
citedly she shipped each blossom, ran
laying them delicately together.
and calling. LEI LIE! Come take
these to Miss Allenl Don't let her
think It's TO pay her for her mince-
meat-it isn't-she SEN 1t Just as we
would have done, being as poor her
self. But she has to stay so close at
homeland loves flowers. Make haste,
And hurry back. / want you
to help me lift the heavier SASH"
Miss Allen was the dressmaker.
Leda, hearing Miss Allen vas busy.
did not see her, but sent In her gift by
the errand girl. Indeed she was busy
upon her knees, shipping and pin
ming and squirting at a very fine frock,
draping a very fine lady-Mrs. Carr.
OF the Glen, who had ordered the frock
from the city, and upon getting ii had
changed her mind as to how she want
ed 1t trimmed In parts.
"Flowers this time Of the year,
~extravagant, Miss Allen" she
said with a certain ~good-natured hau-
teur upon seeing the cluster. When
their source was explained, she looked
thoughtful. 20" wonder-could l get
for my table7 You know we
a dinner party Saturday" she
Those / order are always so
fragiie-they wither while you look
at them"
"Pll find out" said Miss Allen.
She did. And thus began the rift
In the cloud for the Wares. They had
enough TO live on a year, by very close
pinching. BY the end of 1t they had
violet frames full Of flowers. pitfuls OF
early bulbs, and roses ablow In the
green house. Mrs. Carr was interest
ed in them. holding them her discov-
cry, therefore her p~rotegees. As such
she took Ii upon herself TO make a
betwixt Leda and Octavius.
Mrs. Carr had a house party at the
holidays. Therefore she
took all the flowers the Wares could
and asked further that Leda
should come up and arrange them
about the rooms. when a gay voice
sounded at her elbow, "No fair Miss
Leda,' said Linly Carr, nephew of the
house and heir presumptive. whats
this / hear-that you're going to take
Ocky Brown7 / don't believe Ill l
won't! Tell me IL isn't sol"
"It is not-Ocky can run much fast
er than l." Leda said suddenly, dim
pfIng. Linly had come near TO being
her sweetheart back In the happy
days. He ben ear and nearer, look