Mary Ware in Texas

hem would have been laughable, counted singly, but taken all to

were soaking wet when she reached home, and as they were her only good ones she stuffed them carefully with paper and hung them over the little drum stove in the living room to dry. That e

string to which she had tied it by the laces, and was scorching to a crisp on the red-hot stove. Her old shoes were so shabby that the immediate need

drum stoves failed to warm the little cottage. Like most houses in that section it had not been built with a view to excluding the cold. The wind blew in under the north door, lifting the rugs until they shifted with a wave-li

nnet and perched it on her mother's head, pulli

then draw a picture of yourself for Joyce. Tell her that the Sunny South is a delusion. The mercury is only down to freezing, but I am sure that

a few minutes later, glancing into the empty wood-box whi

ruffles, which she had found such a comfortable shield from the draughts that s

safe to wait," she answered. "We'd be stiff and stark as icicles in no time if

stling changed to a long-drawn note of surprise and dismay when she saw

that fuel would be such a big item of expense, away down here so far South

that week. Both butter and eggs went higher, and Jack's rubber air-cushion sprung such a leak that it collapsed hopelessly. A new one was a necessity. Then the cold Norther

. She had some unexpected expenses at the studio which she was obliged to meet, but she hoped to send the customary amount next month. This information was

g to do?" she asked i

Then she went into her room for pen and ink to endorse it, so that Mary, who was going down into the town th

d at the first envelope which was addressed to Joyce

adylike." Then she gave an exclamation of surprise as she

"It's queer she never said anything about it, when we alwa

, and that she wanted to ask Mrs. Barnaby whom to call in consultation. Satisfied with that solution, Mary thought no more about the matter till the following Friday, when she came back from

lowing her mother into their bedroom. "She's so diverting. Wha

he back doorstep and laid on the bed. Mrs. Ware shook her head meaningly, and cl

er asking her if she had any fine hand-sewing that I could do. Sh!" she whispere

dle to the back door. Mrs. Barnaby understands. Something had to be done, and u

us when we were little, and I'm very sure we're not going to allow it now. Joyce would be terribly distressed, and as for Jack-I know perfectly well that he'd just rath

ttle woman used that tone of authority with her children, but on those rare occasions they recognized the force of her determination and the uselessness of opposing it. Mary t

ative mood. He was to start to the public High School the following Monday, at the beginning of the ne

e, so that Jack, who was taking his supper at the same time from a b

Bauer long enough to make it worth while for him to start or not. They came for the whole winter, but they say that they can't stand it at the hotel many more days if something

om the next room, "means the little devils

exactly the same size, and look so much alike everybody takes them for twins. They put a puppy in the ice-cream freezer yesterday mornin

gs all around in the other baskets so that the orders were hopelessly mixed up, and nobody got what he had bought. There was a ten gallon can of kerosene in the wagon, the kind that has a pump attachment. The boy stopped to talk a minute to Mrs. Williams, and by the time he

hen the other boarders are trying to take a nap, or they'll chase up and down hooting and slashing t

of anything. The little girl went into the livery stable the other day and swung onto the tail of one of those big white 'bus horses, and pulled a handful of hairs out of it.

over the glass wind shield of his new machine. They had climbed all over the cushions with their muddy feet, and tinkered with the clock till it couldn't run. He

ponsible for them?

't hear their noise and their saucy speeches. They're so quick that she never sees them making faces and sticking their tongues out at people. They do it behind her back. She thinks they are little angels, but she'll find out when t

fterward. All evening she brooded over her grievance, trying to discover some remedy. She could not take the sewing away from her mother and do it herself, for while fairly skilful w

t know that we need the money so badly. She did it because mamma asked her, and felt that she couldn't refus

f an "oldest inhabitant," was in a position to know each merchant's needs and requirements, also what wages he paid each employee. Most of them had no occasion to hire outside help. Their own families furnished enough. It was a necessary requirement of course, that any one applyin

she stopped at the post-office. The mail was being distributed, and while she stood waiting for the delivery window to open, the rector himself came

l needle in the haystack, but I must have it before sundown if possible. Some one as patient as Job, as tactful as a diplomat, with th

oing to do with such a wonder

that the real reason was to give some advice to Mr. Mallory about the children. The hotel refused to harbor them any longer, and he had been summoned hastily by telegraph. He

ss. His wife has never allowed them to be punished, and has foolishly humored them till they are past bei

o with them if their own fami

nd means out of his silk hat. Mrs. Mallory would like to have them taught to read and write if it can be done without crossing the little dears,

d to appear unconcerned, and asked him in a joking way, "And if you can't find this

rection will prove fruitless. It's a field for real missionary effo

ng towards it, Mr. Rochester lifted his hat and turned away. But befo

nervously-"last summer I partly tamed a young wild-cat. I could at least tell the children stories, and teach them all sorts of wood-lore that would keep them busy and interested out of doors. Besides," she flush

ams House. As they crossed the wide foot-bridge which spans the creek, and climbed the hill on the other si

evote my mornings to keeping her out of doors and teaching her in an indirect way that would not suggest books or study hours. Maybe the fact that such a man as Professor Carnes thought me competent to do that, and was willing

ahead of me I'd have worn my blue suit. I look lo

or answered. He spoke gravely, but the face he turn

ident air that some people acquire from the carrying of a fat bank-book. He ushered them into the room where Mrs. Mallory was lying on a couch. She was very young and blue-eyed and soft-haired. Curl

ey were lying on their stomachs with their heads towards the wall. Only their little black-stockinged legs and

he reached her mother's couch, she sat on the floor beside it and began studying the visitors with a quiet intense gaze. She was an attractive child, with rather a wistful little face. Her hair was cut short in

ot present, repeating their pranks and smart sayings as if they were too young to

n, and we almost come to blows over that," she said, smiling up at him till

f names. It has been a life-long regret with me that my mother burdened me with a name that I despised, and I made up my mind that my children should be allowed to choose their own. Little brother, there

ginning to feel that she had hastened to shoul

, and she gets simply furious if we don't remember every time she changes. That was one thing that Miss Edna fell out with us about. She kept calling her Bessie the week that she wished to be known as

Mr. Rochester, aghast at the prospec

oke the little head nestled against her couch. "I want my children to have it to remember

ty tableau, and Mary found it hard to realize that this affectionate little creature was one of the "kleinen teufel" of Norman's repor

e terms of a settlement, asking them to specify exactly what would be expected of Mary and what salary would be

omprehension, and there was something startling as well as uncan

o leave this room!

d shook her head as if to say, "Now, isn't that the smartest t

'clock till five, at the same salary Professor Carnes had offered her. She was to teach them anything she could in any way she cho

, "they will take their first lesson. Come out from under t

eard, but made no further response. S

us first? 'Cause if we do

e recognized this as a crucial moment. She could not hesitate long, for Mrs. Mallory's appealing blue eyes were fixed on her also, the while

what?" was the pe

. Mary caught eagerly at the straw of suggestion which the odor offered. At the same time some instinct prompted her that it was foolishness to address this child of eight as if she we

tell you this,-it is somewhat like a Jack Horner pie. Each day you'll put in your thumb and pull out a plum. But what that particular p

nd the small boy attached hastily backed out into general view. Planting himself in

if I want to, and nobody ca

and say, "Don't be so sure of that, Mr. Smarty!" But remembering the dignifie

y be one of the first things you'll need. And you'll f

n a thorough cross examination. But Mary, who had turned

ing as if she were deaf. "Wh

er, then said deliberately, "I've already explained that in a surpris

" he

hen lowering her voice as if she were imparting

e it, was so different from anything Brud had ever encountered before, that it took hi

ut they'll be on hand to-morrow all right. You've aroused their curiosity to such a pitch that a regiment armed to the teeth couldn't keep them from satisfying it now." After an instant's pause he

er spoke till they were halfway down the hil

he said. "It's a big undertaking. I must confess to a curio

e first thing that came into my head. I tremble to think what a long pause there might have been if the smell of those pies had not suggested an answer. I think the first week I'll just play with them as hard as I can. Play Indian

ad which was the short cut home, she started to thank him, but he s

ou may want to wreak dire vengeance on me before the

nsented to go as a missionary; that Mr. Rochester had persuaded her to take the step. She waited a moment to give them a chance to

I am going, I'm to be an apos

rst out laughing, but Mrs. Ware looked across at

say that she'd soon adjust herself-find something

imagined this-that her venture would be looked upon merely as an outlet for her surplus

to his other ills the tormenting thought that he had driven his little

Then Mary proceeded to recount it, giving a graphic and laughable description of her half hour in the gray cottage. But all the time she was talking and mimicking she was looking forward to the moment