Nebraska Newspapers

    W *
TUB OMAHA DAILY BEE : TTBIDAY , SEPTEMBER 1 , 185)1) ) ) .
( Copyright , 18M. uy Ella HlgKlnson. )
Mra. Krazer sat down heavily In a low
rocking chair nnd took her darning basket
on her Inp. She drew a rather largo black
locking up over her arm , thrusting her
hand well down Into the fool , and spreading
her fingers far apart. She examined It
carefully , with her head on ono sldo and a
llttlo near-sighted squint In her eyes.
Then she threaded a ncodlo and dropped a
ointment jar , over which ehe always
d , into the stocking.
The door bell rang.
" 0 , mercy on us ! " said Mra. Frazcr. She
jumped up attflly , but so suddenly that the
darning things rolled all over the floor.
"Just because I'd set out to daml I could
embroider on them pillow hama a month
an' not a soul would Bet foot In this houso.
I wonder who It Isl"
She lifted ono cdgo of the shade and
peered out cautiously. " 0 , myl It's Mia'
loan. ) I'd almost rather It had been the
minister. "
She gathered Up the darning Implements
and the red canton flannel stocking bug nnd
hurried Into the bedroom. She returned In
a moment and with a triumphant air laid
a partly embroidered pillow aham carelessly
on the table , thruat n needle Into It "and
sot her thlmblo betildo It. Then eho opened
the door.
"Why , MU' Neanl You don't mean 111
Really , now ? Well , I'm amnred. I thought
you never was comln' . Come right In don't
mind your rubbers. My carpet ain't silk-
warp henriotty. I never take my rubbers
off anywheres. It's too much trouble. It
folko don't llko my rubbers , they needn't
HUe ino that's all I Jjovo mo , love my nib-
torsi" she added , with a comfortable laugh ,
preceding her guest Into the sitting room.
Mrs. Dean sank Into a low chair. She was
a small , colorless woman wlUi cold eyea and
n stubborn mouth.
"Such a hill oa you live on ! " she said In
an injured tone. "What possessed you to
buy 'way up hero ? "
"O , Just to clvo folks somothln' to won
der about , " replied Mrs. Frazer , with her
mellow , exasperating laUgh. "Folks arc
bound to ask questions , you know. If they
don't ask what made ua build 'way up here
they oak why wo didn't put n porch clear
around , or a bay window In the bath room ,
or why wo didn't run our pipes on the out
side o' the houso. "
"Yes , " said Mrs. Doan , coldly. Her polo
oycsworo commencing to lot out a llttlo
unsuspected fire. She had many nervous
movomcnta. , IIcr veil was too short , and
eho kept putting up a carelessly gloved
hand to draw it down over her thin chin.
Bach tlmo It sprang back , llko a piece
of rubber , and .curved late her lips with
every breath.
"You makln' shams ? "
"Yes I was Just workln' on 'em. "
The door bell rang.
"Well ! " said Mrs. Frazer. She got up
moro slowly .this time. She- was a largo
' ' "
woman ; she mo'vod s'tiffly. "It novcr ralna
but It poura. " t ( "
Sublimely unconscious M her rudeness she
went to the doori "
"O , Mis' Hostetter ! You , Is It ? Well.
I'm right glad you come. Step in. I guesa
you. know Mis' Dean ? " eJie added , humor
ously.
"O my , yes , " said Mra. Hoatetter , sitting
on the edge of a chair. She was tall and
thin. She stooped slightly.- *
"I was * afraid it might b'e the 'minister , "
Mrs. Frazor resumed her place.
"Woll , tolkln' about the minister. " said
Mrs. Dean , lowering her volco. "I Just
(
want that you should notice how often1 ho
gooa to Misa Huntloy's. I've seen him go
there tlmo an' oglln. He's mighty scarce
In hla callln' at our house , I notice. *
Why , I < wondar where the trunk's a-goln'
In that express wagon ! "
The ether two women came to the win
dow at onco.
"I wonderl" said Mrs. Frazor , rubbing
her chin. "Thero ain't a soul movln' in
round here anywheres that \ know of. I
can't think -whore It can bo goln' to. Bartlo's
house la right in the way , so's we can't
see , oven If wo go outside. "
"Llko aa not eomo of your neighbors has
had company come , " suggested Mrs. Hos
teller.
'Well , I'll run in an' oak Mia' Bartlo
tomorrow If she eeo where It went to. "
Mrs. Frazor sighed as she epoke , and turned
reluctantly from the window.
"Woll , " said Mrs. Hostetter , drawing n
long "breath " , "I Just run In to see if you'd
heard the la tost. I can't stay. I've got my
week's boko gefctln' ready to go In the
ovon. "
If you mean about the way Mr. Daven
port 's bean a-actln' up , " said Mrs. Fraer ,
closing her lips grimly , "I've heard , "
"So 'vo I , " said Mrs. Dean. "I thdnk
that'a just harrablo. I don't mean to bid
htm the tlmo o' day If I dlo for It. "
"Well , I don't neither. But I just want
to toll you what Mis' Oraham cays when I
told her. She waltod toll I got all through ,
an' then eho up an' saya eho didn't think
It could ba true. After my n-tollln' 'crl
So I Just told her It was true. "
"What Md eho say then ? "
"What do you suppose Bho oald ? She Just
looked me In the eye , on1 eaya , ca'mly , that
If It was true eho was sorry he'd done
wrong , but that she didn't consider one por-
Bon 'ad oucht to Judge another. Saya she
thought It was human nature to do wrong ,
an' that wo'd ought to ho sorry for each
other , on * holn each other up. "
"Why , Uio Ideal What 'Id you say ? I
hope you Kive her a good ono. "
"Woll , I did. " Mrs. Hostotter epoko with
triumph. "I told her well I was a Chris
tian on' belonged to church , an' eho .wouldn't
ketch mo uphoWtn' a man that 'ad turned
lilssolf out to bo what Mr. Davenport had.
I asked her how you could pick out respec
table folka If they woa on speakin' terms
with tiat kind. Then aho uald Bo-methln *
reel profano. She miossed that God could
put his fl riser on 'em ! O , that made mo
o'tful mad I I said , well , I wouldn't epehk
to Mr , Davenport an1 I didn't reckon Mis'
Dean and Mia' Frazor would , elthor. nn'
that wo waa the loodln' ones In the church. "
"Good for you ! I guess she didn't have
anything furdor to pay to that , did the ? "
"Yes , Eho did. That's what makes mn
o oflul mad. Sht > up an * says then , still
ea'm like , that Eho didn't consider It would
hurt any good woman to bo kind to Mr.
Davenport , even If ho hod done what wes
claimed ag'ln htm which eho didn't be- .
Move ! The brazen thing says that ag'ln
an' It mlcht do him some good. "
The door opened suddenly nnd a slatternly
girl burst into the room , She stopped und
stared at the euests. Then the throw her
hand over her face , giggled bashfully , and
exclaiming , " 0 , now ! " retired nolsllv ,
"What do you think o' that ? " exclaimed
Mrt. Frazer , In a tone of exasperation ,
"after all I've talked to her , a-trounclu' In
hare that way before people ! A woman
might as well be crazy at cciat , as to keep
a hired girl. They're that mortifying , "
i "Now that makes mo think , " said Mrs ,
1 * Hoatotter , "I wag sayln' the name thing
to Mil * Graham the other day , an' what d'
you s'poae she gays ? She says ehe thinks
hired glrla have an offul hard life. She
feela sorry for 'cm , She keeps a rockln'
chair 'n In th kitchen fer her'n an1 lets
her go out ten tlraea a week if she want .
Bays she thinks It's offul bard for a girl
to haye to ask evpry tlmo she wants to go
anywheres. She says eho gets cross some
times an * lots her temper go at' her girl ,
an' then she always goes back an' apolo
gize * . She ain't got any tech word as
earvant In her vocabulary. "
"Such llllnees | " said Mra. Frazer , scorn
fully. "A-rulnln' hired girls that way ! "
"Woll , I must say , " admitted Mrs. Dean
reluctantly , "that Mis' Graham's hired girl
Is an exception to the general run of 'em. |
She worships the ground Mis' Graham sets ,
foot to , no' would run her legs off for her. " I
"Tho worst thing she said , " put In Mrs. ]
Hostottcr , "was that she , didn't think
women hail ought to get together an' talk
over girls' faults. Says she'd Just as soon
anybody would oak her how she liked her
husband as to osk her how she liked her
hired girl. Says she's been guilty of such
things herself , but she ain't gain' to again ,
0 , I never hear such goln' on's. ' !
"I guess she's crazy ! "
"I guess eho Is. She Bays if wo caught
girls a'crltlclzln' our faults wo'd have a
ocnlptlon fit. "
"Thero goes that express wag'n back
again em'ty , " Interrupted Mrs. Frazer , in a
perplexed tone. "I can't Imagine where
that trunk went to. Mr. Drown told mo
ycsto'day that Mis' llrown wa'nt comln'
homo fer a week ) but mobbe she just tele-
grafted an' como right on. "
"Hut when you want reel scandal , " said
Mre. Hosteller , In a low tone , "you have
to go on a pleco ftirder 'n Mr. Davenport , "
Mrs. Frazer's pillow sham sank rustling
Into her lap.
"Is there anything worse ? " asked Mrs.
Dean , breathlessly.
A little emllo wrinkled Mrs. Hosteller's
face. "Yea , " eho said , briefly , "there's
Bomcthln' worse. "
' 'What is It ? " asked both women at
once.
Mrs. Hosteller wns tantallzlngly slow In
replying. She looked out of the window with
an ulr of myslery glooming over hor. "I
don't know aa I ought to tell you If you
ain't noticed , "
"I ain't noticed a thing. "
"I ain't , cither. It can't be In this
neighborhood. "
"It's In this neighborhood. ' It's within an
ary of two blocks. I've see it a-goln' on for
three months. I've BOO It with my own
eyes. "
The olher two women sat silent , crushed.
"You can both o' you look out o' thla
window without over a-lcavlng your seats
an' eee the front door o' the woman It's
about. It's as Innocent lookin' a front door
as you'd flnd a-goin' frctn ono end o' the
street to the other. It's a llttlo you can
tetl about people by their front dooors. "
The other two women had etarled and
looked out the wlndowi The glance of each
went jumping along from ono door to an
other. There WHS a yellow door , and a glass
door , and a grained door , nnd a dove-colored
door. They looked at each other ; then at
Mrs. Hostetter. "Mis' Mayhowl" they ex
claimed as ono woman.
Mrs. Hostotter halt closed her oyea.
"Unh-hunh. " she eald.
The ellenco was Inlense. The two
women's faces were working wilh startled
conjecture.
"A scandal about her ! " brcalhed out Mrs.
Frazer , at last.
"W'y , you'd think sugar wouldn't melt In
her mouth , " said Mrs. Dean.
' 'Sho sings in the choir. "
"An's on the llberry board. "
"An1 the executive committee o' the Co
operative society. "
"Sho's the treasurer o' the Red Cross. "
"An secretary o' the 'soclated Charities. "
"Used to be , " put in Mrs. Hostetter ,
amiably triumphant. VAln't you noticed she
dropped everything about three months
ago ? "
"As I live an' breathe ! , " sold Mrs. Frazcr.
"So she did. " - -
"It hadn't made an Impression on me , "
said Mrs. Dean.
"Well , when you see a woman that's been
a-runnln' everylhlng In town , " said Mrs.
Hostetter , loftily , "got up an' drop It all of
The other two women sat on the edges of
their chairs and neither moved nor epoko
while the minutes got themselves by. Their
faces were pai'e of suspense , their breathing
was nolseleEBi Their backs ached of leaning
forward ; their eyes of watching.
Suddenly a man canio out of the depths
cl the wood and walked rapidly toward the
houso. He kept among the tall ferns and In
the shadow of the trees. Ho was a joung-
looklug man. His hat was drawn down over
his eyes and there was something furtive in
his movements. Ho ap'proached the dove-
colored door , whclh opened at once , and ho
disappeared within the house.
When the hearts of Mrs. Dean and Mra.
Frazer succeeded In pumping a little color
back Into those white , shocked faces , Mrs.
Hostcttor burst out laughing again.
"Who is It ? " sold one woman , in a whis
per.
" 0 , I don't know who It Is. He goes there
once or twice a week. It's been a'goln' on
for three months. Ever since she letit off
church , an' choir , an' llberry board , an'
everything else. That ain't all. I've see
for a long time that there 's some cool feol-
In's between her 'n Mr. Mavhnw "
"An" Mr. Mayhew such a nice man ! "
"I never hear a word agin him vet. '
"An' It seems to bo on his sldo. My
mercy ! She ust to como to the door -with
him every tlmo ho went down town , an'
last thing ho'd do he'd up an' kiss her. Llko
a alr o' fool lovers. They'd been mar
ried a long time , too. Ho spent all his
ovenln's at homo with her , unless there was
eomothln" to go to , on' then ho'd always
take her. An' If eho sung a piece , or
played on the piano , or declaimed mv
mercy ! ho Just set an' couldn't take his eyes
off o' hor. I never see his beat for odmlrln'
a woman an' lettln' his admire stick out all
over him , so's everybody with ha'f a eye
could see It. Ho fairly carried his admire
around on his sleeve ! An * when he como
home to dinner she'd run out to the gate ,
an' first thing he'd do he'd up an' kiss her.
Well , It's all changed now. He never goes
a step with her anywheres. He never
spends an' evenln' at home ; an' if she comes
to the door with ' 1m , ho just walks off with
his head down , kind of slow an' thlnkln' ,
an' never eo much 's looks back once. "
"Meblje somebody's give him a hint , "
breathed Mrs. Frazer.
Mrs. Hostetter smiled and cleared her
throat.
"Mebbo somebody has , " Bho said , mys
teriously.
"Mebbe somebody's sent him an anony
mous letter. "
Mrs. Hostetter fixed her unexpecledly with
a slern gaze. "Mebbe somebody has. "
"Well , my land ! Don't eat a body up
with your eyes so. I wa'n't aceusln' you. "
' "We'll , you can if you want , " said Mrs.
Hcstetter , undaunted.
"W'y , yo'u never , did you ? " exclaimed
both women in a breath.
"Yes , I did. " said Blrs. Hostetter , proud
as a peacock with an unfurled tail. . "I give
' "WHAT IS IT ? " ASKED BOTH WOMEN AT ONCE.
a sudden you Just look around you an' keep
still. There novor's very much smoke
without a fire. "
The ether two women eat staring at the
dove-colored door. Who would ever have
euspected a scandal behind a door of such
a color ? The ono door on the whole street
to suggest Innocence and reticence
Mrs. Hostetter broke in on their thoughts.
"Mebbo you have see a bird cage hung out
on her front porch frequent , If you ha'n't
seen anything cite. "
They drew shivering breaths. They had
seen the bird cage , ,
"Well , then , mehbo y < vu have seen that
BO mo days it "was hung on a hook on the
left side o' that dove-colom ! door , an' some
days on the right ? "
They looked at each other and cleared
their throats simultaneously , pach face re
flected back the mortification on tha other.
They shook their heads , honest hut ashamed.
They would toll the truth though the heav
ens fell for It.
"AVe-11 , you might- , . If you'd- had your
wits about you'flald Mrs. Hoatetter. "You
needn't equirm so. You both dceervo to
have It rubbed In. A-llvIn' right In ranjfo
o' Iier door , the two TO' you ! " Her tone
was bitter with reproach' ,
"I have seen that eho'a looked mighty
pimpin' when abe did go out , " said Mrs.
Dean , recovering slightly.
"Au' It's "been " long spells between her
goln' outs , " eald Mrs. Frazer , with lofty
eyebrows.
"Sho's had a pole , scared look. , I have
eeen that she waa ti-concealtn' something. . "
"She ain't hardly made a call , She ain't
even called on the minister's wife on' her
with a teothln' baby an' another on the
way ! She ain't been to see a soul. She's
made excuses every tlmo I've asked her to
run In an fetch her work. She's even made
excuses when I've offered to take ralue in
an1 set a spell. "
"She don't want company , " said Mrs.
Hostetter , "I'm gfad you've see something ,
if only that much. If you bad watched that
dove-colored door a leetle closer you'd of
sco that wheu the bird cage was hung , out
on the "
"O , my lftndlM cried out Mrs. Dean , In a
great > olce for eo j.hln a ucaian , She started
forward in her chair. Her face was as gray
OB ashos. Her eyes had a wild , etralned
look ,
"W'y , forever , " gasped Mrs. Frazer ,
terrified. '
"What's got Into' you ? ' ' demanded Mrs.
Hostottor , unmoved.
"O , my land- ! * . /
"illb1 Hoatettert She's a-goln' Into come
kind of attack. Git a doctor ! "
"Some kind of fiddlesticks , Mis' Dean ,
what'e got Into you ? "
" 0 , don't you see her oyca 's alt set out
the window. She can't speak she can't
even utter. "
Mra. HoetoUer turned and looked out the
window. She threw back her head and burst
out laughing. " 0 , that's what 's got Into
you , " she eald , and went on laughing as It ,
she couldn't stop.
Mrs. Frazer's eyes followed hers. The
three women sat staring at the dove-colored
door. Mrs , Mayhew had como out on her
front porch. She had a bird cage In her
hand , She stood recking off toward a fir
grove that approached the houao clwcly on
one sldo. Whllo they etlll watched she
turned elowly and hung the cage upjin the
right side of the door. Then she went Into
the house and closed the door behind her
the most innocent looking door In that ncst-
orn town. '
Mrs. Hostetter settled comfortably In her
uhalr. "Now you'll we , " she said , She
drew a gold watch out of a pocket crocheted
on her noble bust , and opened It. "In Just ,
about fifteen minutes by the watch you'll
see. " I
I him a hint in an anonymous letter Just the
mildest kind of an intimation "
" 0 , what did you eay ? Tell us what you
said. "
They were a-quiver with excitement.
"Well , I just said" she leaned back anil
Imlf-closed her eyes "that when the bird
cage hung on the right side of the door n
young man went there early an1 stayed all
the afternoon. I told him "
"O. good for you ! "
"I glory In your spunk. You are grit. "
"Good for you ! Nerve unh ! "
"I told him" Mra. Hosteller swelled out
her bust superbly "that he didn't need to
take any anonymous letter's word for it ,
All ho had to do was to ittitch for hlssell
any Tocedny or Friday , "
"An' did ho ? "
Her countenance fell. "Woll , no , he
didn't ' , I must eay , "
"What ! Didn't he never ? "
"No , not a once. "
"W'y , how do you know ? "
"I've set here at my window every Toos-
day an' Friday since. I've sot a llttlo back ,
so's I couldn't be seen , but I've never took
j my eyes off o' that house. It's strained my
eyes so , a-keepln' 'em set right on ono spot ,
almost without wlukln' for fear I'd mlsa
somethln' , that I've had to keep a-batnln'
'em in etrom ; salt water. It'a terrible good
for the eyes. Well , If her husband had
nj-watched ho'd been sure to eoe the man ,
an' lien , of course , he'd of gone straight
to the house to well , to er hum beard
him , " she added , In a deep voice , "In his
or hum den , But he never went there
once. But I see him the day after he got
the letter , " she continued , with a return
to triumph , "an1 be looked as gray as an
aohpan. I bid him the time o' day an' ho
could hardly speak. 0 , he felt It deep. It
was pitiful to see him try to smile an' all
the gray wrinkles a-tremblln' around bis
mouth , " she added , cheerfully ,
"I don't see what ailed him , not to
watch. " eald Mra. Dean , helplessly , not
knowing the meaning of the word honor ,
"I don't * ee , eilher. "
"Well , walch or no watch , he's been a
mlghly pick-looking man ever since. Ha
looka aa if he'd been pulled through a knot
hole. A man with a cancer or a case of
appendtkltls couldn't look much worae. "
"Tihat'a o , " said Mrs. Dean.
" 0 , mercy , my bread , ' " exclaimed Mrs.
Hoslotter , getting up excitedly. "I must
run , or it'll be spoilt. "
"We'll have to take this here dove-color
door In hand , " called Mrs. Dean after her ,
"If ho can't put a stop to It , I guesa we can.
Wo can't have Any such soln'-on * In thl *
neighborhood. "
Mra. Frarcr closed the door carefully after
Mra. Hosteller and returned to the Bitting
room. She sat down and looked at Mrs ,
Dean. Mrs , Dean looked at her. Both
smiled.
"It takes lots o' folks to rnako a world , "
said Mrs. Dean. "Tho Idee o' her a-makln'
out so about other people's actln-ups. Look
at her husband. The whole town a-talkln'
about him. I reckon It women knew nil
that's bcln' said about their husbands , they
wouldn't bo so frceh n-talkn' ! about
others. "
"Yes , " said Mrs. Frazar , slowly , "but
ain't that awful about Mis' Mayhew ? I
can't git over her o-havln1 such a virtuous
lookin' front door. I'll ' never trust dove-
color again as long as the Lord gives mo
breath. It you'd of told mo to hunt up
the lenglh an' the breadth of this hull
town for an innocont-lookln' houee , " she
added , with great solemnity. "I'd of
pointed out that ono. "
Mrs. Dean arose slowly. "I do' know but
what I would of , too , " she eald , with a
deep sigh. "Well , I've got to go , too. I
ain't got a week's bake ready to go In tha
even I get mine nil done on the proper
baking dny but I've n plenty to do. "
Mrs. Fraror went to the door with her.
She bade her good afternoon there , but
when Mrs. Dean hart reached the gate Mrs ,
Frazor ran heavily down the Bteps nut ]
etood on the walk. She slood with hot
body balanced backward , holding one hand
arched over ( her eyes. The wind was strong ,
It streamed her light gown out in flapping
folds and gave bold glimpses of her thick
ankles. " 0 , say , Mis' Dcnn , " she called out ,
lifting her voice Importantly , "I'll drop In
tomorrow sure , nn' lot you know where
that trunk went to. "
It was nn afternoon in spring. The firs
had pushed out their now pushy growth
of pale , delicate green. The sapa had
mounted through swelling veins and blown
their spicy fragrance through the air. The
nhadbush was In white and frlngy bloom.
The wild currant hung her red clusters
of beauty over the creek that went foam
ing down to the Sound. Out in the woods
the salmonberry's crimson bells swung fairy
music for those "W'ho were born with tha
gift of dlvlno hearing. In shallow ponds
and marsh places the mellow-throated frogs
murmured day and night. The red-vested
robin rocked In the dappled alder's toil
and sang his sweet but few-noted love lyric
to his sweolheart. The beautiful skunk
cabbage had lifted Its pale waxen candles
from out the broad green leaves. The ferns
wore thrusting their bent heads through
the moist earth , llko mottled sliver ser
pents. The meadows and the hillsides hart
run to jellow with dandelions and butter
cups.
You are very , very pretty ,
You are very , very sweet !
called the red-vested robin , and Mrs. May-
hew , hanging up her bird cage at the light
of the dove-colored door , thrilled with sud
den Joy and lifted her eyes to the toll alder
tree. Surely that was spring herself tip
toeing across the hills in her pale green
gown , with blown golden hair about her ,
and the laughter of rills following after
her footsteps. There was a wreath of etar
flowers about her brow , and about her waist
a buttercup zone. Her breath hart the
sweetnefs of a wild rose thicket and she
bore the attar of lost ecstacy In the pink
cup of her hand. And ah , the Irresistible
lure of her
Then a cloud fell upon Mrs. Mayhew's
face. She turned with a sigh and entered
the house. Her brow "Was lined deep with
caro.
caro.A sweeter-faced woman than Bho had
never come to that weaiern town. She had
laughed and sung herself. In sheer happi
ness , Inlo every one'sheart. , The men ad
mired her , the women loved her , her hus
band adored her. Fojntwo * years she had
been the envied leader of all the most
beautiful , thamost , gracious , the most , ac
complished of her sex. \
Then the change came , The choir , the
church , the Red Cross , soclety knew her no
more. She was not well , she said , and her
white face and dark-colored eyes were silent
witnesses In proof of the assertion. At first
there waa wonder , then curiosity , then a
putting together of heads and gossip.
Mrs. Mayhew suspected nothing. There
were other things to occupy her thoughts.
Life was holding another cup a new cup to
her lips , and she was drinking It without a
murmur. The gravest frin ono can commit
against her neighbors Is to bear a trouble
In silence without taking them into her
confidence. This sin Mrs. Mayhew had com
mitted. People of a certain belief , endeavor
ing to explain their conception of sin and
its inevitable punishment to unenlightened
minds , usually assure us In childlike argu
ment that "if we put our hands into the
fire we will be burned. " When Mrs , Mayhew
' 'kept things" from her neighbors she waa
unconsciously putting her small hand Into
a hot fire , A day was to como when she
would take It out , only to learn that It was
too late for remedies to be of avail.
On this spring day , then , she hung tha
bird cage on the right eldo of the innooont-
looking door. A few moments later a man
came hurrying from the dark wood. She
opened the door at once and admitted him.
Twenty minutes later Mrs. Dean , Mrs.
Frazer and Mrs. Hosteller stood before the
same door and looked at each other. Their
hearts had pumped the blood all away from
their faces.
"Shall we knock ? " questioned Mrs. Doan ,
In a thin whisper.
"Knock ! " eald Sirs. Hosteller's uncom
promising basa. "An1 give him lime to hide ?
What's the use in coming If wo don't taka
'cm by surprise. Lot me git a-holt o' that
door handle. You both look as white as
pillow slips. I'll lead the way , I ain't
afraid. "
The door swung open readily and they
rustled and swished into the wide hall.
They closed the door behind them and slood
llslenlng. The hall ran clear through the
houeo , with rooms opening Into It on both
sides. From a room at the farther end a
murmur of voices came faintly through a
closed door. They Ipokcd at each other and
nodded their heads silently.
Down the hull , huddled together like
frightened sheep only sheep are Innocent
things and harmless went Mrs. Hostottor ,
Mrs. Frazer and Mrs. Dean. They opened
tbo door and peered into the room , and this
is what they eaw : A large , eunny room ,
having an air of comfort , Easy chairs and
ruga , and In the windows blooming ; plants.
In the center of the room Mra. Mayhew ,
stern and white , meeting their gaze wllh
undaunted eyes. In one corner of the room
n bed , and , silting up In It , propped with
pillows , a miserable old wreck of a womau ,
leering at them with wild , cunning eyes.
Her cheeks were sunken ; her nose nnd her
chin almost met ; her body was bowed al
most double. The awful light of Insanity
shone out of her face like phosphorous.
At the wholly unexpected sight of her
the three women huddled closer together ,
horrified and aghast.
"Hey , hey ! " cried the old creature , wllh
a dreadful laugh. "Why don't you give the
ladles a cheer ? I3o they ladles , or beun't
they ? If Uiey be , why don t you give 'em
a cheer ? "
Then , with her heart beating til ! It
seemed to shako her ellght body , Mrs. May-
hew spoke. "To what am I indebted for
this unexpected visit ? "
Mra , Hosteller's1 speech hod been long
prepared and commuted to memory. But
not a word of It came. Whatever the three
women had expected to flnd behind that
dove-colored door , it wes certainly not that
bed and Us dread occupant , The room
seemed whirling around them. Mrs. Hos
tetter endeavored to give utterance to some
of her carefully prepared sentences and
failed dismally. Finally she faltered out ;
"Wo we that la wo wanted to have a
talk with you. "
"Well ? "
"We we've seen for a long ttmo that-
somethln' waa a-goln1 on right under our
very noaes" her Tolco strengthened ns she
wont on "an * wo concluded wo'd como an *
have A talk with you "
"Well ? "
"We've ceen you hang that birdcage out
on right-hand sldo o' the door ; an * then
we've see that fellow como an' stay an' stay.
Wo don't propose to have such goln'ons
right under our noaca. You've got him hid
here som'ers , now. If your husband can't
put a etop to It , wo can. "
She paused , and there was Intense sllonco
for a moment. Then the old woman cried
out ; "Why don't you give 'cm a cheer ?
Bo they ladles , or bcan't they ? "
"I don't know , " eald Mrs. Mayhew , and
laughed out scornfully. Uut almost In
stantly her face showed contrition.
"O , I didn't mean that , " she cried , turnIng -
Ing Imploringly to the women. "I beg that
you will forgive me. I know you mean this
in kindness , but jour words cut my heart
llko knives. "
" 0 , wo didn't calculate to bo received
on two chips , " piped out Mrs. Dean. "Wo
pupils were llko little blue-black bullets.
"Why don't you glvo 'em a cheer ? They
don't look llko ladles , but glvo 'cm a cheer
anyhow1. "
"And now , " concluded the young man.
walking to the door of the Inner room and
throwing It open , "my sister's husband will
eay a few words to you , and then wo will
rosrotfully tiernilt you to depart. "
When the three women became convinced
that it was really Mr. Mnyhew who wns en
tering their faces were things lo behold
and rwnembcr. Mrs. Frazer confessed
afterward that she had a "giddy feeling as
If she'd let all holts go ; the very carpet It
self went up and down In waves under her. "
Mrs. Dean shrank back against the wall for
support. Mrs. Hosteller's flno fighting
feathers dropped , but the stood her ground
bravely
Mr. Mayhow advanced and stood beside his
wife. Ho was pale nnrt worn-looking. He
spoke lu aulot , even lunes.
"I have heard all that mj wife said , al
though she did not mean for mo to hear It ,
and 1 am glad. She spoke the truth. I
"AS FOR YOU WOMEN "
braced up to do our dooty like Christians ,
00 matter how hard wo might bo Insulted. "
Her voice was an sharp as her face.
"You can't deceive us an atom , " put In
Mrs. Frazer. determined to have her lau
rels , too. "Not an atom. We have set
everything. Wo have even see the cold
feelln's betwixt you an' Mr. Mayhew a man
that this hull town , from ono end to the
other , looks up to. Everybody has seen
the cold feelln's that's come betwixt you. "
Now , Indeed , Mrs. Mayhew was llko n
white Illy , smitten and crushed by a Btorm ,
She cluns , trembling , to the chair , and
looked at them with dark , terrified oycs.
"This this Is my mother , " she faltered.
"She is old and feeble , and she she had
trouble. It affected her mind. I had her
brought here , so I could care for her as n
daughter should. " She gathered courage
as ahe went on. "He my husband did no1
wish it. Ho thought It would be too much
for my strength would make mo 111 But
It would have killed me to see her taken "
She burst out into wild zobblng. "I couldn't.
But he was angry O , ho made It hard for
mo to do my duty to her. I almost went
mad myself. I gave up everything , and
there was so much work I could not have
even one servant. I could not bear that
any one should know She was my mother ,
my dear , faithful mother ! My heart has
bled nltht and day , but I have done my
duty to her Ho has made it hard for
me , but it has been hard for him , too. Ho
does not see It In the right light. Ho lovea
me so tenderlv that he feels my duty Is to
him only. Then there has been trouble
between us because of it. Have you not
seen thait he looks 111 "
"Wo liuve seen that , " Interrupted Mrs ,
Hosletter , deliberately. "Ho looka mighty
ill. Most men would to got anonymous let
ters a-tellln' 'cm that their wife hung out
bird cages on the right side o1 tioors , an'
that then men come a-sneakln' there "
" 0 , surely , " said Mrs. Mayhow , gazing at
her with wide , fascinating eyes. "No one
would bo so cruel ! Why , he know all about
It. Ho Is in the house now. And then , to
hurt him with such a letter. To let him
. * * And he
know that I was suspected.
never told me ! Ho bore that , too , for my
sake , In sllencel"
"Oh , he's In the house now , Is he ? " cried
Mrs. Dean , in her shrill staccato. "You'd
llko us to believe that , would you ? You'd
llko to make ua believe he knows all about
the man you've got hid eom'ers here now. "
"Nothing would make us believe your
husband Is in this house now but seeln' him
In the flesh and blood , " said Mrs. Hostetter ,
solemnly. "May the Lord have mercy on
you for a sinful woman ! Your onfy hope
of salvation is to make a full confession of
your Bins. Bring 'out the partner of your
guilt , " she exhorted In a loud voice. "Bring
him out , an' let him suffer the awful effects
of his secret sin. Nothing con save cither of
you but beln' purged with fire. Mobbo you
think it was pleasant for us to come here an'
bo insulted ? We've done our duty like
Christian women , an' we're ready to leave
It all to the Lord. Bring out the partner of
your guilt "
Her voice faltered. The door of an inner
room had op'ened. A young man came
slowly toward them.
Not greatly like a Irlumphant lover looked
ho. Ho was pale and haggard. The three
women started and grasped hold of ono an
other convulsively. He faced them with an
air of desperation.
"Youwent to know who I am ? " ho Bald.
"She'd dlo or lose her refutation forever
before she'd tell you , but I'll tell you. I'm
her brother ; the son of her mother , I llvo
In a hut up In the forest , and I don't dare
to show my wretched face to man. I'm an
escaped convict from the penitentiary ,
where I went for forgery. I wns guilty , too.
It Is my fault that my old mother sits there
In bed a jlbberlng idiot. It Is my fault that
this awful burden is on my Bister , Yet
twice a week for months the has been let
ting mo come here , because my mother
knowe mo and Is calmed by my presence.
Only an angel would have clung to such an
abandoned wretch as I am and tried to make
a man of him. She has never once reproached
preached me ; never loet faith that I will
yet bo a man. Her husband , modest ladles ,
knows oil about my coming , The birdcage
was not hung out to Inform me that he was
not at homo , but that none of her kindly
Interested neighbors were making afternoon
visits. Since you have known of my visits
for six months I am almost stunned with
wonder that you did not drop In before , I
marvel , In fact , that you did not take up
your bed and board in this unhappy homo.
Your delicate self-repression fills me with
admiration. "
Ho paused for a second , in absolute need
of breath. When he spoke again a glance at
bis etster'a face , which showed signs of
deep suffering , bad changed his look and
tone. "WelL" he said , deliberately , "you
have invaded the tacrednees of my sister's
home. You have wormed out her eorrowful
secrets. You have tried to estrange her
husband from her. You have hounded down
a guilty , repentant wretch , who had nolh-
Ing left but to be near his mother and
sister , whoae lives be had ruined , and who
must now start out again on hla lonely wan
dering with no place In which to lay his
head. You belong to the church. You caJl
yourselves Christians. Are these the things
Christ taught you to do ? Are these "
"Hey , hey ! " cried the old creature on tha
bed. "What's all this fusa about ? " She
peered at them with dreadful eyes ; the
have been jealous of her devotion to her
mother. It made me miserable , and I , in
turn , made her miserable by my hardness
and coldness. Until this hour I have been
unable to appreciate the unselfishness nnrt
nobility of her character. Her brother , too ,
has spoken the Iruth. The letter whlcli ono
of you must have been BO kind as to write
me made me feel more bitterly townrd my
wife for having placed us both in false posi
tions. I brooded over it without telling her.
But , foreseeing that sooner or later the
author of the letter would make the visit
of dnvestlcatlon which you are now doing
us the honor to make , I have remained at
home every Tuesday and Friday since , to
protect my wife when she noe.lfnl me.
My wlfo" without looking at her ho
reached out for her hand , which eho gave
him quickly and silently , drawing nearer to
him "Is a woman who will let mo atone
and make her so happy that she will forgive
mp. Henceforth I shall bear her burdens
and help her to do her duty. Now you know
all. And now as you have gratified your
curiosity In what you arc probably pleased to
consider a truly Christian manner and spirit
wo shall bo glad to bo left alone , to bear ,
as best wo may , the bltterncEs and the
humiliation which you have heaped upon us. "
They got themselves out of the house
somehow. Their faces were of a dull red ;
their breathing was somewhat hurried. "If
I ever , in all my born days ! " said Mrs. Dean.
She cast a baffled loqk up at the bird cage
as she passed. "I declare I most wish to
mercy we hadn't gone. "
"I don't believe a word of It , " cried out
Mrs. Frazer , lifting her dress high on both
sides. "There's something a-goln' on. The
brass of 'cm a-tollin1 a story Hke that to
our faces ! I guess wo'd betler not breathe
It to a eoul "
"Breathe It ! " said Mrs. Hcstottcr , in a
deep voice. She was walking on ahead , leadIng -
Ing the retreat with great , high stops , even
though her skirts were trailing a little. "I'll
lell It to the length an' the breadth o'
this hull town. "
It Saved Ills Ilnby.
"I take great pleasure in recommending
Chamberlain's Colic , Cholera and Diarrhoea
remedy to the peopro of this vicinity , " says
Mr. J. H. Doak , Williams , Oregon. "When
my baby was terribly sick with the diar
rhoea wo were unable to cure him with the
doctor's assistance. As a last resort wo
tried Chamberlain's Colic , Cholera and
Diarrhoea remedy , and I am happy to say
received Immediate relief and a complelo
cure. "
A Trying Situation.
When the car had stopped at the corner a
poor looking woman got on , relates the
Detroit Free Press.
"Please take a seat further forward , " said
the conductor , and he. waited for her to do
so. The woman paid no attention. The
conductor repeated what he had said before ,
adding that she was in the smoking scat.
But the woman did not budge.
The conductor said It all again with
greater emphasis. The woman looked eome-
what uncomfortable , but did not stir , nor
did she say a word. The conductor wns
getting exasperated , as the car had been
waiting at the corner all this time. So ho
went along to where , the woman sat nnrt
helped her to alight. It became evident
then that she did not know what she was
expected to do , as she started for the curb
stone , to wait for another car. But the
conductor motioned hrr to another sent na
helped her on. Then she snld her first word :
"Ion fcraiehe nleht 13nRllche. "
All wcnk places in your system effectually
flo < , ? d ngnlnst dlecnso by DcWttt'a Llttlt
ilarly KUors. They cleanse the bowels ,
promptly cure chronic constipation. reRUlnti
the liver and fill you with new fife and
vigor. Small , pleasant. Ruro : never crlpe.
What n 1'ornonnl
Detroit Journal : "Will you kindly My In
your paper that Mr. William Jones Is visit
ing in lioston ? " asked the man ,
"Wo charge 10 cents a line for personals , "
replied Iho ertllor.
"Very well , " said the man. "H will hardly
take moro than ono line , I suppose. "
The editor wrolo , and read aloud as ho
wrote
\Mr. William Jonra Is visiting friends In
llonton. The William Jonre who Is visiting
friends In Dcctton Is not William Jones , the
grocer , who has Just got In a carload of
fresh cucumbers , which ho will sell at your
own price ; or Dr. William Jones , who euros
deafnttts by electricity ; or Prof. William
Jotica , the palmist , who tolls your past and
future for $1 ; or Hon. William Jonra , who
Is being urged by his friends to run for
congress , or Bill Jones "
Horc there Intervened the sound of , scurryIng -
Ing feet. The editor was alone.
Irritating stings , bite ? , scratches , wounds
and cuts soothed 'and healed by DcWIU'n
Witch Hnzcl Snlvc a sure and safe applica
tion for tortured 'Josh. Bewaru of counter
feits.
Wont I'roimrnl.
Chicago Tilbune : "Have I got to wear a
full dress suit , " nsked the guest , "In order
to ivit dinner at this hotel ? "
"That Is our Invariable rule , " Bald the
llunkoy Who had stopped him at the door
of the dining room.
"Ah ? Then excuse me ono moment ,
please. "
Whereupon tht\ lightning change artist or
the Sure Thing Vaudeville company stepped
behind the door , nnrt In six seconds emerged
therefrom , to nil appearances a gentleman
nnd clearly entitled to admission.
Per Infants and Children.
iiio Kind You Have Always Bought
Boars the
Signature of
OF OMAHA.
DRY GOODS.
H
Ieipert f i and lobb r * of
Dry Goodst Furnishing Goods
AND NOTIONS.
ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES ,
W esiorn
Electrical Supplies.
Bleotrlo Wirinc Bolls nnd GIIH LlpKtlnt
a. W. JOIINRTON. Uitr 151" MowtfiJ "I
HARDWARE.
Wholesale Hardware ,
Bicycles and Sporting Ooodn , 121K-Z1-M Hu >
ney Street.
SAFE AND IRON WORKS.
toha Safe
G. ANDRKEN , Prop.
Makes a pocliilty of
KTTPTS1 E911AI'E8 ,
* -If \ -t .
- - - - hllUTTKIta.
fcnd Durzlnr 1'roof Kafnb an j Vuult I'nnrs , eto
010 0. lltli ft. , Ouiobn , Neb ,
Digests what yon eat.
It artificially digests the foot ! and aids
Nature iu strengthening and recon- '
Btructinff the exhausted digestive or
gans. It Is the lat" t discovered dlRcst-
ant ana tonic. Ru other preparation
can approach it In efficiency. It in
stantly relieves and permanently cures
Dyspepsia , Indigestion , Heartburn ,
Flatulence , Sour Stomach , Nausea ,
SlckHeadacheGastralgiaCrampsana ,
all other results of imperfectdigestiou.
or oarsd by E. C. DcWItt ACc. . Cblcaao.
to the woman who secures between Sept.
1st and 15th the greatest number of Whit *
HUH : Ian soap wrappers. No wrapperi
turned in before Sept. 1st nor after Z o'clock
p. m. Sept. 15th will be counted In this $10
contest , but each and every wrapper , no
matter when turned In. will count In the
grand prize contest endlnp Dec. 20th , 1693 ,
when the woman having the greatest num
ber of
WHITE RUSSIAN SOAP WUAPPERS
to her credit will receive as a present n
J230.00 Alaska bealnkin jacket made to meas
ure. There will also be nine additional
prizes Two valued at $25 each and seven
of $10 cash each.
These contests open only to the women of
Nebraska and the city of Council Bluffs , la.
Bring or send nil wrappers to Jan. S. Kirk
& Co , , 300 S. 12th St. Omaha.
I-rtlUe A. Kagatz , Columbus , Neb. , had
the greatest number of W'hlto ' nusslnn soap
wrappers up to noon , Aug. 31 , and receives
the $10 cash prize.
o
The proof
1H 1 Pudding of the
1I is in the
I Eating.
Have you tried
o a Bee Want Ad ?
KB
They
brltiff results.
iOBOaOnOBOZOBOfflOBlOHOHGIODIOH
HARNESS-SADDLERY.
Jii Haney
U'fr *
, HADDLKt ANI > COLKAllt
fobbtrt of Leather , Saddlery Jlardieart , JEta
W solicit your order ? . 313-31B-317 S. 13th ,
BOILER AND SHEET IRON WORKS
> ! Wll on & Drake.
Manufacturers boilers , tmoko stacks nnd
treechlngs , pressure , rcnrterln * , ehoep dip ,
lard and -.rater tanks , boilov tubes con-
ttuntly on bond , second Jmn-J bollem
boupht nnd POM finrrlal nnrt prompt to
repaln In city or countrv joih mv1 plorrt
BOQTS-SHOES-RUBBERS ,
moriGmiEland
Sowed Shoe Go
M'frs \ Jobbers of Foot Wear
Tha Joseph Bauican E.ubber 00.
CHICORY
fee America
IB
Orowtn and mmuf cturtr or all loraa |
I