The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-12-12
CHAPTER VII-Continued

Land" cried the little old woman.
Il declare. my wits are skrimshaw!"
She fitted to the kitchen. I'D be
letting this boil dry in another minute.
Nothing Stinks like burned vinegar |!
What's the matter with me?"
Saladine followed her into the
kitchen. Bart stayed with Jenny in
the dining room.
I'll set it back to cool, or it'd take
the hide off you," Marin Pierce decid-
ed, and suddenly she was busy with
another saucepan, water, some twists
of herbs from the cabinet above the
sink. Il might try a hot steep on her
chest" she whispered, half to herself.
mo good just standing BY"
And she called: Jenny! Jennyl'
The girl came softly to the door.
Jenny, you loose her Clothes" Marin
Pierce directed. ''Pll want to rub this
on her chest, soon's it's ready. GET
her wet things off, easy as you can,
not moving her. Get blanket round
her. :"
Jenny tried to speak; and after a
word. "Yes, Granny" she said, and
closed the door.
Her knees were wavering; she
turned and set her back against the
door, and stood there weakly, looking
toward the couch where Huldys
broken body lay.
SO, slowly, at last she moved across
the room.
Jenny approached the task of tend
ing Hubby with a deep reluctance; but
this was not because of the part Hubby
had played in her life heretofore. She
had cause enough to hate the woman,
not so much because Hubby had pre-
empted the place in Wills heart to
which the girl so long had yearned.
but because Hubby had wronged Will
and flouted him and embittered all his
life these later years. But in this
hour Hubby was no longer the woman
whom Jenny at once hated and de-
death, and needed tendance. So after
that first reluctance, Jenny began the
task imposed upon her with gentle
hands and plying solicitude.
Once while she worked Marin Pierce
called some question, and Jenny an
swered it almost heedlessly; but mo-
ment later she was alert, watching the
hurt woman keenly. For Hubby had
stirred; and Jenny saw faint move
ment of the others breast.
But Hubby did not rouse, and when
there was no more that Jenny could
do, she stood beside the couch, lost
in dim dreams and long thoughts of
what had been.
After a long time, the pattern of
the past began to shift and change,
and Jenny glimpsed the future. Hubby
was hurt, was dying. She would die
and Will be left alone.
Alone and free. And Jenny, I'M
Outstanding, felt her pulse quicken
its beat, and her cheeks grow warm.
Her eyes began to shine.
She had for the moment forgotten
Hubby, in her thought of Will; yet she
still stood above the hurt woman, look
ing down at her. And now suddenly
she forgot viii again; for Hubby
moved. Jenny saw her eyes half open,
saw the lids crack. and the eyes
blank and wandering-stare up at the
ceiling.
Then Huldy's eyes met Jennys and
held them for pulse beat that was
eternity. She looked at Jenny. and
then her lips twisted a little in that
familiar, half-insolent, half-challeng
ing smile.
And from these lips came a sound
low murmur of ironic laughter, per-
haps word.
Jenny bent lower, infinitely gentle !;
she whispered:
ITS all right, Mis- Ferrinl We're
taking care of you. Don't try to talk.
ma'am. Just rest yourself"
The smile widened, and this time
Hubby spoke audibly. Her voice was
thin and strained, yet the words were
clear enough. And they cut and
burned and stung; for she said:
You can have him now!"
Jenny's eyes widened at that, as
though ar a blow. She recoiled. family,
her cheek crimson but she gathered
patient strength again.
Hush. ma am." she whispered
We've sent for VIII. He'll be right
here. Yon rest yourself"
Huldy's head moved family, as
though i: were terribly heavy, as