The Happy End

invaded him at the announcement of her visit. He resented, too, the new element thrust into the Braley household, disrupting the familiar course of hi

his back the village-the brick Methodist church and the white painted Presbyterian church, the courthouse with its dignified columns, the stores at the corners of the single crossro

d up over the open road to the post-office. He got down and moved diffidently forward, seeing and recognizing Phebe immediat

a collar of soiled white fur. A straw hat with the brim caught by a short purple-dyed ostrich feather was pinned to a de

n Stammark. Your father or Hosmer couldn't meet the sta

familiarity. "I don't remember your name,"

s vicinity after she had gone and t

cheerful surprise. "Who'd thought Han

ather hand bag with a florid gilt top. Flooding her being with smoke she gazed with a

e of me, I'm kind of glad to see it. I used to dream about the mountains, and this is like riding in the dream. I'm glad you came for me and let me down

s? It's funny how I remember this and that. I reckon ma's temper don't improve with age. They kid me something dreadful a

o his, the reek of scent-all rasped the delicacy of his love for Hannah. The sisters were utterly different, and yet he would have realized instantly the

iches. I have a passion for them after the show. We do two a day and I want solid refreshment. I wonder if you ever saw me. Of course you didn't, but you m

ra in Harrisburg wanted to marry me-he played the oboe-but I declined. Too Bohemian.... This is where

ette in her fingers. Su

lot," she said. "If you hear me

ads, and Mrs. Braley and Hannah came eagerly forward. Behind them sounded Susan's racking cough. Sen

ly saluted her; and "H'y," she

d, "you hain't forg

s return, but when he declined uncertainly he wasn't pressed. Putting up

nt and bright woodwork were striking against the dark elevated background of trees. The truck patch would be dug on the right, the clearing widen rod by rod. From

re Hannah standing in the door waiting for him, to hear her calling him from w