The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1919-08-22

I
paper SyndicAts.l
The snow fell, heavy, continuous :
the February afternoon was as dark
as the soul Of Bluebeard, but is was no
more somber than the spirits Of the
two young women who occupied, e
spectively, the hyacinth-perfumed sit
ting room and the vanilla-scented
kitchen Of David and Bloise Hollings-
worth's bungalow.
David and Eloise we're gone to their
work as newspaper editor and city
librarian. Theresa, David's dainty
young sister, crocheted and wept al
ternately, and Ishta Matilda Gumm's
swart hands expressed the feeling Of
her suffering soul in the long-con-
tinued beating that made her egg
kisses things 30 call forth stomachic
peans.
'Thump do love me-" Isnty MUIR
INJURED; but dat lump O. taller inside
his skull is dat money-crazy rs feered
he's gwlne ask dat yaller Anna to
marry him, whilst he's dazzelt wild de
accounts she givin' him O. de PUNK
she makes Oh, Lawd, eff l jest had
some property Thump could see now !"
Greed for gain was the dynamic
force of the soul Of the widOwered
teamster, Thumpus Cleayes. He
owned his home and a bit Of ground
at its rear; he kept hens, fed them
from garbage scraps (this was In the
good old days" when the American
garbage can was not lean and lll-fa-
vored O-and sold eggs at 80 cents the
dozen all winter. In the afternoons
he did janitor work, and at odd times
tOiled at anything that brought him
money.
Two weeks before, however, outside
Of property, lshty Matildy had appar-
emily been all in all to Thump, but
now she believed he had his "eye on"
Anna Justice, II maid In the fashion
able High Street school, a permanent
position with wages largely in excess
Of Ishty's.
Money, too. was making Theresa
miserable. Two years before, Great
Aunt Theresa Cass Bossier had sue
ceeded in getting payment from the
government for a parcel Of land
Great Uncle John had sold In Civil war
times. There was $4,000 Of 1t, and
Great-Aunt Theresa had died a month
ago and left Theresa every penny OF
it,
Only two persons outside Of her fam.
lily, In the town in which she lived
with her brother. had as yet heard Of
her inheritance and one was Ishty Ma
Tidy. The other was Park Collins
whose property, outside of his slen
der law practice, was less than moth
ing.
Tessle had told him. She haC
wanted 10 hear his joyous exclamation
over her good fortune but wanting Il
hear had been all. Park had con
graduated her with all Indlgnlty, theI
had gone home and hadn't been bacl
since. But Theresa loved him unit
the stars In the evening sky were no
stars at all, but his blue eyes.
When she finally wiped her eyes an'
went out to the kitchen, Ishty sat witt
a newspaper propped In front Of her.
"Lawd, why couldn't dis fool nlggal
a been white jes' fuh dis occasion ?
she heard her mutter. Then the news
paper fell to the floor, and Ishty wep
aloud. "Ef / was jest white now
could git de nan wantsW
"I am white" thought Theresa, 'an'
| cannot get the man | want"
Ishty mopped her eyes with he
skirt tail and pointed to the paper
first page. you kin read good-real
dat"
Leap Year Opportunity! Don't b
, Shy, Glrls-Pop the Question Now :
ran the headlines of the article. "Tha
. Free Marriage License Offered Yestel
day Still Awaits One Who Makes Frs
Proposal. More Offers Are Made Mir
lister Jones and Justice win Make ~
Charge for Tying the Knot
Beneath these lines were the mate
rial offers 10 the first bride VIII
= popped" the question. The photoI
. rapher offered TO make free one doze
' wedding photos. and to frame q
fumed oak or imitation mahogany tn
: marriage certificate; the horse an
! mule dealer offered a free mule (ng
! not told f: the coal man a ton OF cot
r (%actual weight The furniture man.
. bed guaranteed hrst-hand).
"Ef ! was a white woman I'd go OF
and tell dem folks I'd deposed ma
riage and been accepted by de man
loves" commenced lshty. "Ef Thum
could Jest see had n whole lot
] things fuh housekeepln'. he'd u a
4 ter me like a hound after de met
: Vaughn, but ] amt Oh. Miss Tessi
: I jes' knows Anna Justicell git him
Possessions oh, possessions tn
resa resolved that II she could not
|, happy because Of them she would -
: that Ishty vas not unhappy becaui
OF a lack Of them
{. "Ishty" she touched the shakir
!, mountain OF misery-"lf you1l promii
+ me you won't shed another tear i
. have you married to Thumpus befo.
...... ....uIwu -