"I wouldn't for the world have you make a mistake as to
whom my letter is addressed. It goes to my brother Hiram Bates,
youngest son of Adam Bates, Bates Corners, Hartley, Indiana."
"I was going to give it to my son, so that he could take it to the
office," said Mrs. Holt.
"And I am going to take it myself, as I know your son is down town
and I want it to go over on the evening hack, so it will be sure
to go out early in the morning."
Surprise overcame Mrs. Holt's discomfiture.
"Land sakes!" she cried. "Bates is such a common name it didn't
mean a thing to me. Be you a daughter of Adam Bates, the Land
King, of Bates Corners?"
"I be," said Kate tersely.
"Well, I never! All them hundreds of acres of land an' money in
the bank an' mortgages on half his neighbours. Whut the nation!
An' no more of better clo's an' you got! An' teachin' school! I
never heard of the like in all my days!"
"If you have Bates history down so fine, you should know that
every girl of the entire Bates family has taught from the time she
finished school until she married. Also we never buy more
clothing than we need, or of the kind not suitable for our work.
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