Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1932-02-10
WEEKLY SOCIETY STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP
READING TO WHILE AWAY
TIME AFTER DAYS CHORES
"SilkS and Tubs" an Interesting
Short Story Written by Doris
Nj. Thompson

She was tired and in a few min
utes Bee Williams would be there
with another new silk dress and
more tales of her wonderful life in
the city. Already the car was turn
ing into the lane. Mil surveyed the
wash tapping on the line; heavy
flannel shirts. cOlOrless aprons and
house dresses. No silks there.
Hello, Mil. Why. honey, what's
the matter? You look as if some
thin terrible was goin' TO happen
Mil shrugged. "Nothin' now could
happen around this here place"
Jaw gee Mil, why don't you come
back with me? Wen have a grand
time in the city. Frank could find
job for you easy"
Nils eyes looked almost hope
full, but she shook her head. "Oh,
couldn't take a chance. I'd never
get away without pa KNOWN it,
and if he did :" she shud-
dered.
But he won't have to know. You
can fix things up on the sly and
slip off during the day when he
and Eric are in the fields. Pa will
lend you money enough TO get there.
| know what I'll do; when | get
back Frank and I'll look around for
a place for you and let you know
yKThn fn I'll
Half afraid to agree. Mil nodded
assent.
Il must be gettin back with the
car now. Don't forget to come to
our party tonight. We're going to
have the Baxter boys over to play"
Mil remained seated awhile look
ing over the barren area of Da-
kota farm land which stretched on
every side Scrubby bushes poked
up here and there. She pictured
without turning about the scene be
hind her. A three room shack, hid
eous and implanted, four rooms, If
one counted the place above set be
tween the rafters which served as
a place for Eric TO sleep.
Her thoughts passed on to her
father; hard Hank Hanson he was
called. For thirty years he had
chung to his claim. thirty lonesome.
years of hard labor for his women
folk. First her mother, whose
more genteel rearing, unable to
stand the grind had made her leave
twelve-year-old Mill TO carry on her
work. Now. after sixteen years of
it Mil rose as she saw her
father approaching from nearby
field. She finished hanging the
wash and went into her shanty to
prepare the MONDAY meal. Her "a
ther entered.
"Sorta late gettin' dinner, amt
ya?"
"Yuh, guess So" she answered
listlessly.
Suppose Bee Williams kept
you talkin' all mornin'. Saw her
car from the field"
Mil finished the supper dishes
early She had nothing nice to wear
to Bees house, but she wanted to
go. It would be her first party In
three years.
Her father watched her prepare.
lions. Hope you amt plannin' on
takin' the horse any place, Mil. I've
got to go over to Simon's to Dor.
row his harness."
She turned without word and
re-entered her small bedroom.
Every day she waited for word
from the big city in the bordering
state and always she was preparing
for her departure. little things at a
time so he wouldn't notice. Finally
a letter came. Hank Hanson met
the mailman himself and brought
il in.
"See you got a letter from Bee
What's she up to now?"
Mil went to her room TO read
it. Come as soon as you can" she
read. 1--WE have found a lady who
will wait for YOU
Bee had planned everything. The
next morning Mil sent a note to Mrs
Williams with the mailman saying
that arrangements were all right for
the following afternoon.
Everything was on the table at
sharp noon the next day. Mil tried
to appear calm, but her eyes had a
really anticipatOry look for the first
time In years. AT 80 she was
ready to leave and taking a last
look at the only place which had
been home to her she set out for
the barn. Halfway there she was
stopped by an excited clammering
of voices near the road A group
of men were huddled together as If
they carried something. Simon
Hentchiss ran ahead to her.
Your fathers hurt. Mil. He
was ont by the road when Henry
Crabh's team of runaway horses
caught him. VIII you get a bed
ready?"
She stood as still as stone. Don't
take 1t so hard. Mil. / know it's
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