The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-03-12
bOth farm and house had been neg
lecte4 for years.

botK farm and house had been neg
lected for years.
TO Claude Dabbs the neglect was
far more evident than the beauty.
He put his empty box down by
what passed for u gate, 30 that 1t
might be a sign and symbol Of hl1
presence to Ned when he came by,
and went up the rough driveway to
see Ettle Pulsifer and fkd out II
William Penn rulsifer had any In
tentiOn Of working this week.
Claude had gone to school with
Ettle. He remembered her when
she was pink and pretty. and he
hated TO see her toilIng with SO
little prospect Of reward for her
labor.
Ettle was at q tub In the back
yard. washing. with two very small
children playing at her feet. An
other child, not much older. was
driving his next brother ahn"t thA
yaru a. = nre engine. Two more
children were leaning from an up
per window, trying vainly to reach
q cat on the shed roof. The cat,
being far more comfortable on the
roof than 1t would be In their
hands. was protesting. The oldest
but one, girl, was helping Elite
with the wringing.
my land. Claude. that your"
Elite called, tossing back a dark
brown lock with wet. sOapy hand.
civilian Penn Pulsifer's gone down
to the village with Penny TO look
about for some boards for somepin'.
He told me. II you happened along.
to say that he'd try to git that
chimbly pointed on Bert Oakley's
house come next Thursday, II Il
don't rain"
"All right, Elite" Claude an
swered, and avoided looking ut her.
as he had during all Elites nervous
speech. Well did both Elite and
Claude know that william Penn
Pulsifer had promised 10 come next
week Thursday for some ten weeks.
But 1t was Elites part to hold the
banner high and SO screen some Of
| william Penn Pulsifer's shorcoln-
ings. and 1t was Claude's part not
/ to peep through the rents In the
banner lest he might see the naked
truth.
Ettie sighed as she looked over
toward Claude Dabbs, who had
ToOts and the others on his knees
and Ill about him.
II declare, Claude Dabbs, seems q
shame you're an old bachelor, and
you SO fond Of 'eni. Ought to have
had dozen Of your own"
Things are uneven In this fine
world. Ettie," was Claude'S CON-
ment, as he looked up the road,
along which Jenny and Ned were
tearing ut full speed. 't;Ot Il fine
young man visiting me. My adopt
ed nephew Here he comes" He
walked toward the gate, followed
by all the children.
Presently Elite. looking up from
the washing, saw that he was COM
ing back again. accompanied by the
children and the young man. Jenny
had been tied to the last remaining
gate post.
Elite ungraciously acknowledged
Claude's Introduction. though her
mind was perfectly cordial toward
the young man. II being no part Of
country etiquette 10 look either
pleased or gracious on such an &C.
casion. lest advantage be taken.
What advantage, aud why. no one
knows, but custom has apparently
decreed that they who make their
living from the soil shall. despite
natures generous teaching. In
stinctively distrust their fellow
man.
Claude briefly outlined to Elite
the situation at the White house
and concluded by asking:
Gould you do q days general
housew0rk and cooking. Elite. for
the new folks up there?"
MY lands. what's come to their
cook?' asked Elite, country fash
lon, refusing to commit herself uu-
til she had all the facts spread out
before her.
4 Ned said easily: "They left be-
cause they thought It looked lonely.
Servants leave, nowadays. don't
they, without any reason?''
Here Claude looked up and took
hold OF the situation. lest the en-
ergettc little budget Of nerves lean
Ing against her washtub might take
exception to this oKhand city fell
lows way Of explaining q case.
MY nephew, here. says there's
Just q young girl up there. trying
to run that big house herself and
, keep her mother quiet. I don't know
anything about that, Elite. but It
would be real peighboriy to help
out. I'll send Ned to take you
there tomorrow m0rning-if you
can manage It."
(srCl DE NnNTINyYyTNlA