| Show t t t 94 9 94 One Pair of Hands It wasn't often that anything anything- out of the ithe ordinary happened in Sterling Sterling- and the ordinary was a very regular ular routine indeed Men and women went through life with no more variation than the sun They just drifted from childhood to old age births marriages deaths making making- about as much difference difference difference differ differ- ence to them as a black cloud does to the bright sunlight An occasional circus or a trial of a a petty pilferer before before before be be- fore the country j justice ustice created as much disturbance as would a total eclipse At such wildly exciting times men gathered gath- gath ered on the platform in front of the little store in a larger larg-er group than usual the boys and girls played later in the moonlight and the women whisked about from house to house glad there was so much to talk about One day late in Autumn it was easy to see that something had ha happened that stirred the people through and through The men thrust their hands clear to the bottom of the pockets in their blue overalls and gazed about wisely while the women yom en could hardly manage to get their sweeping done there was so much new food for conversation con con- Mrs West visited Mrs Davis twice in one day and finally finaly came home in the evening so full of news she could scarcely wait until her husband had bad laid aside his hat before she began explaining all she had he heard rd Say Will she began you know about them dont don't you I think that's the saddest thing Well something's something's something's some some- things thing's got to be done You know that girl gir Laura she's only seventeen and she cant can't take care of her father and andall all aU them young ones Its It's a pity the old man couldn't have died instead of off Mrs Ricks Its It's such a pity I think dont don't you Yes it does it-does does seem a pity answered Mr West as he stood in the kitchen door wiping his hands on a coarse towel but lets let's have supper now and and- shook his finger at the baby to make make make-it it laugh But I wanted to tell ten you went on the little woman as she placed chairs at the table and gave various and rubs to the white cloth that everybody thinks it'd be better to send the old man to the county poor house and let lett the children live with different families and break up their own home borne That bat seems like a bad piece of business but maybe its it's the best they can do returned the husband putting the baby comfortably in a chair at the table Theres There's some people going down there tonight tonight- and they wanted me to togo togo go and talk with the old fellow and see see what he be thinks about it and kind of him over you know Wont Won't you go down too Mr West looked at the easy couch with a paper beside it and then at his bis I well Umer wife's anxious face ye-s ye I suppose I can cango go gohe h he answered Supper wa was soon over and the little family set out in the bright moonlight t to see their unfortunate neighbors bars They went up a narrow path to a vine- vine covered house where they found a number of th their ir friends already gath gath- ered Old Mr Ayers sat with his hands bands crossed on his bosom timid little Mr Dorans was gazing fixedly at atthe atthe atthe the floor Mrs with her mouth shut firmly checked the needles in her knitting and pushed them through the stitches with machine like regularity fi Mr Wilson wearing wearing- a broad smile looked about with an say no yes say air while little Mrs Davis chatted and laughed with the four neglected children crouched together by the side of their father who sat in despairing despairing- helplessness in his big big- arm chair Laura a timid frail young young- woman helped the new arrivals arrivals arrivals ar ar- rivals to some chairs and then sitting sitting- down by the side of her father took the baby a child of two years on her lap brushed back his uncombed curls and pressed the little head close against ag her breast Mrs Davis smiled a pretty baby you got there Yes knitted away Mrs only he needs someone to take care of him him and her mouth shut up tight again Laura blushed smoothed the baby's hair and looked tremblingly at her father The baby dont don't look as well as some and yet some put in Mr Wilson I 01 I you well Mr Ricks you do need some one to take care on you you now dont don't you he stammered 4 on Weve We've been o 0 o you yon lots and we thought thought thought-er-so so er-so many things We thought thought urn um you t tell em will you and he turned his r eyes toward Mr Ayres still sitting with his hands crossed on his bosom That old put down his hands rolled his eyes heavenward looked at Mr Dorans shifting in his chair and at Mr West folding his baby closely in his arms Then he crossed his h hands again and began speaking in a low solemn solem n voice Mr Ricks weve we've thought a great deal about you since your wife died died died- you so helpless with all your little ones We want to help you but we wei i aint very rich We thought ht if you'd go up to the poor house wed we'd take your children into different families families fam- fam I fam-I here and take care of em You You could rent your own house you know He stopped short almost frightened at his own voice in the intense stillness of the room The old almost like a corpse sitting in the chair He fumbled about for his cane then drew the little boy to his side and patted his head looked around the room and at athis athis athis his own poor crippled feet and trembling trembling trembling ling hands Yes maybe-may-be-it maybe might be the best he gasped out Nobody moved the feeling was too too- in intense tense Lauras Laura's face was deadly white and her eyes were shining brilliantly She choked back a little sob brushed a alock lock of hair from her forehead and androse androse androse rose stiff holding the baby You folks haven't let us try yet what we can do Im I'm bigger and stronger than you think I am While I can work well we'll all stay right here together and that's settled She sank down by her father and gathered the four little little- heads in her arms Mr Ayres rolled his eyes toward heaven again Mr Dorans rub rubbed bed his his- hands gleefully and murmured in a a. kind of joyful relief Good good lets let's try that way while Mrs looked more brittle than her name and Mr West wiped something something- from his eye and whispered to his his- wife We can help them a little cantwe cant can't we which brought back some very emphatic nods for answer She might try for a time said Mr Wilson we can know we can change There the subject was dropped After discussing the crops and the the- weather the little company broke up all all ll of them glad to be in the open airAs air air As As Laura shut the door when they had all gone she heard beard a gentle tap She looked out and there stood Ned Merton asking her to step outside They stood on the doorstep with the full moon sh shining ning down on them from between white clouds Laura he asked I they didn't do that did they No she answered and burst out crying Red leaves from the vine feland fell fel felland felland and nestled caressingly in her hair Then she raised her eyes and answered firmly No they didn't doit doit do doit it and they're not going to either Ned took her hand and looked at ather ather ather her proudly Laura he he said I Ican Ican Ican can help A little hand was vas rattling at the door Ill have to Ned knob go now v began Laura I you wont won't see me much any more No more sleigh- sleigh rides and her voice quivered as she called out Goodbye Ned goodbye and went in to her family Hardly a week had passed by when Mrs Davis passed the Ricks's cottage early one morning and saw Laura cleaning the front steps Why my girl youre you're at work early this morning she called out Oh yes I have so mu much h to do answered the smiling girl as she t tossed her head to throw throwback back the loose locks Im making making- making Lily Lily a dress dress' and I I think Im I'm going to make Archie some breeches out of fathers father's old ones Do you think I can Of cou course course e yo you can you'll do doit do doit doit it all right returned returned th the good good- natured neighbor an and nd Mrs P Davis Davis vis went off muttering Shell do all alright right I. I I.- I. know she will I believe Ill I'll just call callin callin callin in to see Mrs West and well we'll go over overto overto overto to help her this afternoon She 5 turned around and waved her hand just as Laura disappeared into the house bouse DELTA COLE |
