HOW LIFE CONTINUES AND SUMMER COMES
When the faithful Trina returned to The Hill with the unopened basket upon her arm, a look of anxiety came over Mrs. Ritter's countenance. Trina explained that the mother was dead and that Wiseli had been taken to the home of her uncle Gotti. The news shocked the entire household, for none of them had realized that the sickness would terminate so suddenly.
"Here I have tried for several days to visit the poor, lonely woman, and now it is too late," said Mrs. Ritter. "If I had only gone I should feel more reconciled to the loss."
"It is a shame that Wiseli must go there," said Otto as he paced the floor with his hands clenched. "I tell you if I catch him abusing her, he will need to count his ribs to see if any are left."
"Of whom are you speaking in that fashion?" asked Mrs. Ritter.
"Of Chappi. Think of the mean things that he can do to her now that she has to live in the same house with him. It is unjust and ought not to be allowed. I'll attend to him if I find out that—"
Just then Otto's voice was nearly drowned by a loud stamping behind the stove, and he paused to say, "What are you making such an outlandish noise for, you Miez behind the stove?"
Miezi came out in sight of the others, her cheeks flaming red from the heat of the stove combined with her exertions in trying to get her feet into a pair of wet shoes which Trina had but a short time before taken off with the greatest difficulty.
She continued her efforts, but managed to say, "You can see that I have to do it; no one on earth could put on these things without stamping."
"Why must they be put on, when I have just taken the pains to get you out of them?" asked Trina.