Show 11 i J Jr y t i mi tk i it t 4 A kNew New England Village Story Stor 4 4 BY ABY MY BOLTON PECK PEC t 4 4 1 Miss Deborah Markham stood at her is Deborh Markam I kitchen kichen sink one morning washing a abote bottle bote it was wa one that had held an acid I preparation for removing fruit stains Almost any other woman would have thrown throw it i on the ash pile as as soon as it was wa emptied but to Miss Deborah the natural thing was to clean it and store it I away on a shelf In her woodshed cupboard with ith an army ary of ot other othe bot hot bottles bottles tIes large and small No article artcle ever seemed to t Miss Mark Markham Markham ham hm to have outlived Is its usefulness there was always alwa s a that it might come in handy sometimes and andI I It was treasured for the expected need The ell eli of the great white house on the main street of ot East Bast Est Elmore which had come into Ino the possession po ln of Miss Deborah at the death of her father more snore than twenty years year ago was a veritable junk shop but It I it differed diffee in one essential from ordinary repositories repositories tories tores of worn wor out and worthless s odds and ends end Miss Mis storerooms were scrupulously clean cean and weN weM or ordered ordered ordered dered they furnished no n retreat for moths or cobwebs and the floors flor and ad windows compared favorably favorably with ith any kitchen in the village viage in their freedom from dust duet People might by turns feel amused and exasperated by b Miss Misa Mis ex exaggerated e exaggerated love of or economy bt their tir comments comment upon her always en ew eD with wih after all al dreadful good go theres nobody in the Whole town more ready to lend a hand than Deborah Markham Markham and if she takes tak any oem com comfort cm fort tor in being so saving her own affair she can cn afford to be over par particular particular For Fo she had the finest finet house and the largest larget income in Elmore It I would be a pity not to keep this bottle botte she commented holding it I against the light its Us such a con convenient convenIent size and the glass glas is so dear olear oear I wonder what sort of o glue that label was stuck on with wih after all the hot ot water its is been in it started a amite amie amite I mite mie Ive Ive a good mind not Dot notto to scrape it off but keep the bottle botte just as a it i is like likeas as not trot I shall want a bottle botte sometime for holding poison polson and a d then this thi one will wI be all labeled and ready I Not long afterwards Miss Deborah decided that she must have the advice I of the village doctor All summer she had been bee tormented by b nervous head headaches hed headaches aches ach and sleepless nights she had hd d dec c herself and had tried one kind of or diet tore after another without and ad her one servant senant an old woman oman who had been kitchen kichen maid mid in the house hous since the days da s when Miss Is Deborah Debor had hd Markham had ex ox experimented been ben littly lt Debby e upon her mistress with all al althe the potent mixtures mixture she knew how heir to compound but she alie Se too had failed to work a cute CUtO Accordingly Dr Bascom Baom was sum summoned sm summoned The result relt of this professional visit was a slip elip of paper that tat Miss lg De Do Deborah Deborah Doborah borah twisted between between her fingers finers as she watched the doctor climb into his high buggy bug before her gate She no noticed noticed that Mrs Mr Prescott also was watching from her side piazza where she ghe sat sewing and the shutters in one window of Mrs Mrs Treadways s vault vaul like parlor were rolled open a sure indica indira indication inc tion ton that the lady herself was wa sitting behind them The neighbors wi will be running in to see Eee what is la the matter over ever here here so 5 I Ishall Ishall shall have to send Hannah to the drug drugstore drugstore store for the medicine thought Miss Mis I Deborah Doborah realizing that for fora a few tew hours hour she was to be lie the most interesting per person pr person Her prediction was wasa son In the village a sn true one vinge within half hal an hour Tx both th Mrs Treadway and Mrs Prescot Prescott were established in comfortable chairs in I her tier sitting room making anxious in inquiries Inquiries Inquiries about her health and going over the last lat bits bis of neighborhood gos gossip gossip i isip sip Other ladies Indies ladie followed them for tor forthe forthe the doctors team tea hitched before the house had advertised to every one the fact that either Miss Deborah Deborh or Han Hannah Hannah Hannah fat last callers did nah were ill i and ad the clatter over not leave leae until Hannahs catter that the theold theold I them the tea table informed old th woman considered com ider it time they thEY I were nore wel well out of the way and her mis mistress tress tres tr at supper It was after sunset when she found herself I at ater liberty to prepare the th medi medicine medicine cine for use lbert Dr Bascom ascom had hd informed her tier cne that it was a preparation of bro bromide bromide bromide mide which would come in the form of a white powder and ani would require solution To be dissolved dissolve in eight ounces ou of water she se reed read rd on the slip of ot instructions Then the first thing I want is an bottle she thought and that ought to botte be very easy to find in m inthe inthe that the shed cupboard The twilight was vas wa almost darkness in inthe inthe inthe the shed she but she did di not nt take te a light and ad her he hands bands hd groped gop about abt among tho the bottles in search seh of one oae Oe that the sense sn of or touch should tell tel her was of o the required size In the very front row she came canle upon one oat that she judged judge would woud answer awer the purpose pure The kitchen I was very dimly lighted by b its north I window but Miss Deborah did not nt stop to light a a lamp lap before sifting the powder through a little funnel tunnel into the bottle botte and ad filling it i with cold water Not until she Ehe was wa ready read to take the th first fir dose of ot the new remedy remey did di she discover deover that there was wa a small white label label pasted pt across acrs one on side aide of the hot bot bottle bt hottie tie tle te a skull above abye two crossbones and the word Poison ornamented the he label It was a startling occurrence ourene but buther buther buther her sense of humor humr came to the rescue Ive no doubt it I fits fit well wel enough she me remarked grimly Most Moat Mot drugs drug are poison polson 1 Li shall have haye to show shw Dr Has Bas Bascom B com corn the name I have given to t what ho he calls a harmless hale remedy rem She found foud the poison so efficacious that a week later late when Hannah Hanah came c down In the morning with wih white face and of sick ad dull dul eyes e o complaining a headache her first thought was wa of the t medicine that had helped help her own headache Go and lie Se down the sitting room G a le dow on rom lounge she commanded Ill rn give you youa a I spoonful of ot bromide and you U neut give a thought to the breakfast for tor Ill rl see se to that myself Hannah Hanh gladly allowed herself hersel to be tucked on the big lounge that was in fact a couch and she swallowed the te medicine obediently then lay waiting impatiently for the pain to abate but the headache was not to be routed so s easily Wen When Miss Deborah peeped pp in through the kitchen door dor after she had hd finished her breakfast expecting to see seethe se seethe the old od woman asleep asle she saw in instead Instead inS stead stead Hannahs wide open eyes e es gazing at her from rom a confused confuse pile pie of pillows and shawls One dose appear to be pp u enough enough you ou must mut take another ather was wa washer waher washer I her decision and if you dont feel fel j I much better in an hour I shall bl give gye you youa yo a third spoonful I When Wen Mass U Deborah returned to the kitchen kichen she found foun a barefooted boy b I standing on on the doorsteps The Th severe expression expresion on his hig freckled freckle face fae showed shwe I that he considered his errand one on of eran importance and ad the weight of upon him Mm gave gaye great gravity to his voice vole aa as a he said s Good Go morning I Miss Mis Markham Why Wh Joseph the matter she exclaimed Is your our mother sick Has anything happened to my dress For F r the boys mother mthr was the village ige I dressmaker dreser and she se had bd a new ne black blak silk sik for Miss Mis Deborah Deborh under uner way Vy in her he workroom Nom mother sick gick gk but my m sis sister si sister ter Julia Jula is and an mothers going to Sharon to see se her going gong to t start st before dinner and a she says s 5 please pl to t come down right away awa and a have be your dress ds fitted sos she can c take te it with wih j I her to work rk on cause c she may my be j i gone goe three thre or four days This was a message me e to be b obeyed ob ed at I once Miss Ms Deborah hastened hate to change her wrapper for foe a more me suitable 1 dress dres for the street and then looked le I into the sitting room rm to see s how Han Hannah nah ash nh was wa feeling Mrs Irs Pratt has sent for fO me m she s SaM said s going goin out of town this morning and wants to toft fit my dress tre be before be before fore rore she goes gos I shant be b away awa long and ad you ou must mut lie le still till tl I get back bc If anybody comes to the use us let them i irp I come rap rp till i they give it i up you are ar not to I Istir stir str Your Tour headache much better bette yet jet is i it I But its Is too r soon sn to give you i any more medicine Ill rn leave ive the th bet bot bottle b bettIe tIe tle te and spoon here on the th stand stan at the head hea of the lounge and you ou can cn see s e the i clock without moving when its is 9 ocl take another ather spoonful unless unions you ou get rid of the th pain before that I IBy By this time tm Hannahs Hanns opinion of her mistress much lauded lude medicine medIne I i was wag not nt a flattering one o Nothing in the th world but salt st and water she sh grumbled grumbl rolling rolo her be head ba restlessly on the pillow in search sh of o a a cool 1 spot gt I 1 guess ge gue Im rm not nt the sort of 0 person pern to work faith fath cures on en But at 9 she decided ded to 1 give the drug one on more mr trial trial She Se sat st i up on the edge of the lounge lone and reached for the bottle The Th motion mt made ma her head hed whirl whirl and an she sat st w wih with ith i closed cl eyes eye for foe fo a minute to steady sed I herself herset before trying to pour pu out the liquid When she ventured eur to open her eyes e she noticed ot at once o the white i ilabel label l l on the te bottle That Th tells how hw much to take tae I sup SI i pose ps she ghe muttered I don t hi i n Miss Mis Deborah gave pem ve me half eu Iu Ugh j i ia a 3 dose d and a she sh brought bt th t hit It paper close c to t her h r eyes e to t read N f r her herself herself self the directions The s Th next InStant she was w standing in th t the middle f froom t h room rm the bottle on O the th floor fr ai a rd ni t hi h headache entirely forgotten t ten Poison she gasped No Xo r g felt feK te worse wre and an worse wo all al the th m tim tn She ran to the window which Sh r th j 1 jinto t tinto into Mrs Mr yard y and wildly Help Help Hep and an wh n n it a startled stated face fAc appeared at an P a Im rm window poisoned pi added a ded Send Se for fo the UK d tr F r Mrs lIr Pratt lived lve at the i far f en r i f r the village mage ten minutes mimes mn walk wak f fr u th Ui Markham house ho 3 M tos Deborah t tn no n time tm on or the th w way y and the thE bu bus was aas transacted without delay d la tr t women WJ were anxious to t get gt it i 1 jn that th tb they y might be b free t for other m u t tern ter Mrs mg Pratt had ha a long l ride hf h her and a Miss MIs Deborah Deb did not nt lik uk I r t leave Hannah alone longer than Hanh an u a necessary n After Ater she sh left the t dressmaker drak r si h stepped stepp briskly along aln the t street It on he heway ht ii way home There was no in ic Wy wa n one sight ight ih except a man ma scurrying sumin along far m in iy front of her He disappeared some gateway not nt far fr from fr her ui wn but bt the th shrubs leaning over d r iri fences fene and a the th flicker dicker of lights ant ti mi shadows oa on the narrow sidewalk o th ob obscured sur the view lw and a deceived dived the ii in ins n so s that she could euld not nt be b sure sur house hou had been his hi destination I wonder If it that tt was WI Ezra Er Or Greens no Maybe Mrs Greene Gren is I having on one f her ber bad bd spells and an b has sent St for tor M Ms In Prescott If I in such suh I want a hurry hurr Id Id stop sop and see s she sh thought as a she h passed pass the Greene Green boone bouse h There Then wa wano Wa wano no sign of excitement about at the the plat however and an she se had hd no n time for fur further further ther thor speculations on Ezra Greene Greenes Grens s rea reasons ra rass reasons sons ss for haste hate for tor she sh saw sw the tb doctors doctor s steam teem team tM turn tur into int the t village ill street from the farming faring districts dirt Dr Baa nm was w on his hi way war W home h but bt in answer to a call cl from fr behind behin him he be stopped his horse hr and ad turned turne about abut on the sear Sa of ot his buggy bug to listen to the shouted summons sums Then Ten he backed his hi h hn horse re around aund and ad drove up to the side sid r rth th read ad where whre a man mn came out ut to tl 0 t of his team while he him as a Ezra Er Greene Gren had hd done dp Theres Thees trouble at the tb Prescott thought Miss l ss Deborah and an she began to to io run tIm n but she stopped stopp short when she sh came c caI in sight of the th Prescott house bouse Ot and her own for her neighbors premises were wee deserted while in her br own on yard ard several men were gathered about abut the th thedor doer dor dor talking earnestly ea ty and an it i was wa t ther ther to her hitching hiebing post pt the th doctors horse ho hows was ws tied ti Her pause pus of oC astonishment was a i brief one oe Then Ten she dashed dh into the yard y through the group of men ani ano gp into int the kitchen kichen A woman won was wa stir stirring sir stirring ring something over oyer the th tire fr and a hum of voices came caine cm from fr the te sitting room rm Miss ss Deborah did di not nt stop t tn question the occupant of the th kitchen who wh was wa so s interested hi In I the tb contents of her that she s did not nt notice nO te teis Miss is Markhams entrance Mrs Ir Prescott Pret was w standing over the lounge with wit an a empty empy howl bowl bwl in her hands had There if IC it i was wa an t acid cid youve you been taking theres a chance chan that the soapsuds spuds will wi save you she sh an answered a answered cheerfully and an the th sweet oil ought to t help hp you whatever the th stuff sor was Hannah Han s Dont you feel fe any ay hotter better yet A feeble feb groan gron was wa the t only oly reply rpy Dr Bascom Bac was wa at a window w examining ean ing log the th contents of a bottle Dt Suddenly Sly the look l of perplexity on O his hi fa ff face e changed to broad a bod smile sil looking I up door he saw Ii Deborah in the t kitchen This tastes like the bromide I pre prescribed scribed for you a few days day ai a ago o Debo Debe Deborah D salt rah rh How Ho did you OU happen to ticket it this way w Youve frightened r Hannah out ot of a years growth and an furnished furA f welcome the eJe whole excitement neighborhood with a 8 most mt Oh Miss Mis Deborah it ft I was w all al a 8 mis mistake mistake take tae Vat it cried |