The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-05-18
THREE SHUTTERED HOUSES
BEN AMES WILLIAMS

he confessed. "I'm due in court in
Providence in the morning. It's just
an appearance, but the Judge down
there is a crank. And I have to
see my client tonight"
When he had finished, he went
home with Uncle Justus; but half
an hour later he stopped in again.
June was washing the last dishes.
Fathers gone to sleep in his
chair" he told her, smiling. Hell
wake up and put himself to bed
by and by. I'm going over to say
good night to Mother and Grand
ma"
June nodded, intent upon the
dishes, intent upon her own
thoughts. It was half after seven.
Clint had said he would be waiting,
a little distance down the road, at
eight; but she had no hope of COM
ing to him so soon. Grandpa and
Grandma Hurder were In the sit
ting-room; and once she looked In
on them. They had not heard her
approach; and Grandpa Hurder was
just leaning over to pat Grandma's
hand where it lay on the arm of the
chair; June watched and her throat
swelled with tears unshed. And then
Asa came In. ANY water hot,
June?" he asked. 1--WE got to have
cup of tea" He sat down while she
put the kettle on the stove, talked
to her casually till it boiled. She
found a tea-ball, and he brought a
milk-bottle half empty from the ice
chest, and poured a little milk into
the cup.
There isn't any cream" she
said. I'm sorry"
''Milk's all right If you use enough
of il" he assured her, smiling in
that dry way he had. That's the
way with most things, June. Too
Titles starvation; too much is as
bad. But enough's all right" He
drank in little sips, watching her.
You're like rosebud, swelling as
it gets ready to bloom"
And he declared: "Hey, you're
blushing, child. High time you
heard some pretty things about your
self, if your own cousin can make
you blush with a compliment. He
put his arm around her, kissed her
cheek. How about this Jervies fell
low?"
He saw her start with dismay,
and laughed, and promised: ST
won't say a word" He disappeared.
Later Aunt EVE came into the
kitchen. chose old folks won't
sleep wink" she said gently. I'm
going to give them some milk" She
saw the bottle where Asa had left it,
and poured the milk into a stew
pan, scratched a match.
June was suddenly cold with re-
membered terror. She told herself
she was fool, fool, fool. People
had drunk warm milk beforei
Rab came In from out of doors,
wet with the increasing rain; he
crossed to where Aunt EVE stood
by the stove and embraced her.
Night, Mother" he said. ''I'n be
back by noon tomorrow"
The funeral is at FOUR" she told
him evenly.
ST know" he assented. 'fI'n be
here" He grinned at June. GOOD
night, kid"
Aunt EVE poured the milk into
two glasses, and June went with
her into the other room.
The girl was full of a great ten
derness for these old folk. Under
Aunt Ewes calm insistence they
slipped their milk obediently; they
set the empty glasses by; they lay
down to sleep like children, side
by side.
June took the glasses, started to-
ward the kitchen to wash them. Be
hind her she heard Aunt Evie say:
mo. I'll leave the windows
closed. It might rain in. And you
don't need any air. You'll be asleep
so SOON"
She was always thus calmly bent
upon having her own way; when she
came back into the kitchen, she
looked at the girl keenly. "You adj
right, June?" she asked.
"Oh, yes" June told her guard
eddy.
"You must 60 to bed" Aunt Evie
directed. Gas soon as you are done
here. Good night, child"
Her hands flying, she slipped on,
| of her clothes, changed swiftly into
the dress Asa secretly had given
her. She stood for a few minutes
before the mirror, busy with her
hair. AT last she was satisfied. Some
one radiant and lovely looked back
at her from the mirror there.
She turned out the light at last,
and in the darkness descended to
the lower hall. She found a heavy
coat and drew it on, then opened the
front door.
A gust of rain wet her cheek, and
she remembered another night when
she had thus gone running to meet
Clint. But then she did not know be
was waiting. It was deeply content.
ing to be sure tonight that he would
meet her here.
-''Darlingl You're shaking al
overl"
I'm excited" she confessed