Through the pasture she flew with the speed of a deer.
The tall sunflowers along the fence seemed to throw a
light in the gathering gloom.
A night hawk circled in the air above her, and a clumsy
bat came bumping through the dusk as she crossed the
creek just below Jim's shanty.
Bottles, Jim's dog, jumped up and barked, at which Jim
himself came to the door.
"Come back, Bottles," he called to the dog. "How will I
ever get into society if you treat callers that way, and
a lady, too! Dear, dear, is my tie on straight? Oh, is
that you Pearl? Come right in, I am glad to see you."
Over the door of Jim's little house the words "Happy
Home" were printed in large letters and just above the
one little window another sign boldly and hospitably
announced "Hot Meals at all Hours."
Pearl stopped at the door. "No, Jim," she said, "it's
not visitin' I am, but I will go in for a minute, for I
must put this flower in the box. Can ye go to town, Jim,
in a hurry?"
"I can," Jim replied.
"I mean now, this very minute, slappet-bang!"
Jim started for the door.
"Howld on, Jim!" Pearl cried, "don't you want to hear
what ye'r goin' for? Take this box to Camilla--Camilla
E. Rose at Mrs. Francis's--and she'll do the rest. It's
flowers for poor Polly, sick and dyin' maybe with the
fever. But dead or alive, flowers are all right for folks,
ain't they, Jim? The train goes at ten o'clock. Can ye
do it, Jim?"
Jim was brushing his hair with one hand and reaching for
his coat with the other.
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