Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/477

1905.] Nothin’ said ’bout any answer to me.

Then it’s death. That’s the only thing there ’s no answer to. I ’m all of a tremble. Tommy, you call Mrs. Raven to read it. [Exit, calling, “Mis’ Raven!”] You better wait, boy. P’r’aps there’s an answer.

I can read it for you, if you like.

No, I ’ve sent for Mrs. Raven now, and she might be offended if she come in and found you readin’ it. Mrs. Raven does all the readin’ for the house. You know Mrs. Raven? [ shakes hes head negatively] Well, you will when you see her, ’cause she allus dresses in black. No matter if she ’s buyin’ jest a calico, she never gets anything but black. I guess I ’ll open the telegraph and see if it looks long or short, It’s these short telegraphs that ’s so dreadful. [Opens sheet and looks at it] It ’s a long telegraph; ain’t it, boy?

[Glancing at telegram] It’s a ten-worder, ma’am.

[Hands telegram to ] I am perpared for the werst. I think it must be from sister Sarah—that she has telegraphed she has passed away.

[Takes telegram and reads, her eyes and mouth opening as she does so] Why, Mrs. Tubbs! Who ’d ’a’ thought it!

[Faintly] Is sister Sarah alive?

I guess so. I don’t know, [ gasps and closes her eyes| This ain’t from her at all, but it’s a piece of news as must be broke gentle. It ain’t your sister Sarah that ’s dead. This is from your daughter Roweny.

Roweny dead! [Steadies herself on table, then falls back into chair]

Bring a dipper of water, Tommy. There! [Throws some in ’s face, then in loud and measured tones] Roweny ain't dead. Nobody ’s dead.

[Faintly] Why didn’t you say so in the beginning? You said it was bad news.

I said it was news as must be broke gentle; that ’s what I said, It takes just as good management to break good news as to break bad news; not that I say this is good news. I don’t think it’s wisdom yet for you to know just what kind o’ news it is. But even if it was good news, people has been known to faint and go into fits and have apperplexy and rush a’ blood to the head, and strokes even, over gettin’ good news, and I don’t intend none of these things shall happen to you. Tommy, let your mother drink some o’ that water. [ ''obeys meekly. Then to'' ] You ’d ought to run right back to the telegraph place. You know people say you boys waste a deal of time on your errands.

[Points to ] She asked me to wait and see if there was an answer.

[Relenting] Oh, did she? Well, there ain’t none. An’, if there is, Tommy can take it.

Somebody ’s got ta sign my book. [ takes book and shows her where to sign]

I can’t never sign in a little place like that. Ain’t there a blank page somewhere? Right in here, you say? Why, look a-here, that’s Mrs, Donnell’s name! Mary Donnell. But she never wrote that, know. Why, that’s real pretty writing.

There was a young lady there a-callin’ that wrote it for her,

What’d they get a telegraph about over there, do you know?

No, ma’am; I don't.

[Signs in slow, clumsy, labored way] Well, they ain’t got any news equal to Mrs. Tubbs’s news, I can tell ’em that.

I think I ’m strong enough to hear it now, Mrs. Raven,

No, you ain't. You ’re trembly as can be.

Well, let the boy have the pleasure o’ knowin’, He 's been very kind to wait. Tommy, bring him a doughnut. [ brings doughnut. whispers to, who opens his eyes and draws prolonged whistle]

[Delighted ut the impression made] I guess you better stay an’hear it. You better set down, too, an’ rest—you little boys has to run so hard over the whole city with all these telegraphs. [ seats himself., with telegram in hand, keeps her eyes on Reads] “T.P. Form I. Pacific Railway Company’s Telegraph, Terms and Conditions.”