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"If you git down sick, it would be a' orful drain on me," was Miss Hazy's final argument, and the point was effective. As Lovey Mary trudged along the railroad-tracks, she was unconscious of the pleasant changes of scenery. The cottages became less frequent, and the bare, dusty commons gave place to green fields.
Bagby's grocery, it is true, conformed to convention, and presented a solid front to the railroad track, but Miss Hazy's cottage shied off sidewise into the Wiggses' yard, as if it were afraid of the big freight-trains that went thundering past so many times a day; and Mrs. Schultz's front room looked directly into the Eichorns' kitchen. The latter was not a bad arrangement, however, for Mrs.
Hazy's wind and his pluck blew out together. He tailed off. Wasn't I pleased! 'Good-by, Hazy, says I, as I shot by him and took up the running. My throat and all my inside was like an oven, and I was thinking of tailing off, too, when I heard the beggar puff and blow, so then I knew I must come up with him before long." "And did you, sir?" asked Jenny in great excitement.
They ain't but one thing to do with Miss Hazy's husband, an' we'll do it this very night." "What, Mrs. Wiggs? What is it?" asked Lovey Mary, eagerly. "Why, to lose him, of course! We'll wait till Mr. Stubbins is dead asleep; you know men allays have to sleep off a jag like this. I've seen Mr. Wiggs I mean I've heared 'em say so many a time. Well, when Mr.
Mrs. Reddin' is a fallen angel, if there ever was one on this earth. She sends all sorts of clothes to Asia, an' I warm 'em over an' boil 'em down till they're her size. "Asia Minor!" she called to a girl who was coming in the door, "this here is Mary Lovey Mary she calls herself, Miss Hazy's boarder. Have you got a dress you could give her?"
"You great big lazy boy!" scolded Lovey Mary, as she put Miss Hazy's bed in order. "I'll get you to behaving mighty different if I stay here long enough. What's this?" she added, pulling something from under Miss Hazy's pillow. "Oh, it ain't nothin'," cried Miss Hazy, reaching for it eagerly. But Lovey Mary had recognized the "spirit picture."
Wiggs, hopefully. Surely only a beneficent Providence could have offered such an unexpected solution to the problem of Miss Hazy's future. Miss Hazy herself uttered faint protests and expostulations, but in spite of herself she was becoming influenced by Mrs. Wiggs's enthusiasm. "Oh, shoo!" she repeated again and again. "I ain't never had no thought of marryin'." "Course you ain't," said Mrs.
Lovey Mary followed her up the narrow path, that ran between a mass of flowers. Snowy oleanders, yellow asters, and purple phlox crowded together in a space no larger than Miss Hazy's front yard. Lovey Mary forgot her troubles in sheer delight in seeing so many flowers together. "Do you love 'em, too?" asked Miss Viny, jerking her thumb over her shoulder. "I guess I would if I had a chance.
Miss Hazy's cottage, as has been said, was built on the bias in the Wiggses' side yard, and the little lean-to, immediately behind Miss Hazy's bedroom, had been pressed into service as Cuba's temporary abiding-place. After her first agonized fright, the old woman ventured to push the door open a crack and peep out.
Miss Hazy's arrival had changed their point of view. Mrs. Wiggs rose to the occasion. "Boys," she said, and her voice had an inspiring ring, "I'll tell you what let's do! Let's give a benefit dance to-night, an' buy Chris Hazy a new peg-stick. Every feller that's willin' to help, hol' up his hand." A dozen grimy hands were waved on high, and offers of assistance came from all sides. Mrs.
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