Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-07-06

snufers on the table-all, save poor.
homely Tip, stole ray of grace from the
halo Of her loveliness.
Nancy discouraged the proposition OF
roasting corn, and otherwise deeply erieved
her visitor by intently working and think
ing, instead of taking part in the conyer.
satlon. At length bright idea occurred
to him.
!" Got slate and pencilY''
The widow furnished the desired articles.
He then found book, which happened to
be Testament and using the cover as a
rule, marked out the plan of game.
Fox and geese, Nancy; ye play?'
And having picked off sufficient number
OF Kernels from one of the ears of corn,
and placed them upon the slate for geese.
nc selected the largest he could find for a
fox, stuck it upon a pin, and proceeded to
roast it in the candle.
Which'll ye have, Nancy ?"-pushino
the slate toward her; ''take your choice,
and give me the geese; then beat me il
you can! Come, won't yc play?''
" Oh dear, Tip, what tease YOU are !''
said Nancy. Il don't want to play. |
don t want to play. / must work Get
mother to play with you. Tip"
!" She don't wanter'' exclaimed Tip.
"Come Nancy; then I'll tell ye suthin' /
heard jist fore come away-suthin' bout
you.'
And Tip, assuming careless air, pro-
ceeded to pile up the cars of corn, log
house fashion, upon the table, while Nancy
was finishing her seam.
About me?'' she echoed.
"You'd ha' thought sop said TIP.
slyly glancing over tn, corn as he spoke to
watch the effect on Nancy. "Cephe and
the old man had the all-fredest row-tell
you"
He hitchcd around in bis chair, and,
resting his elbows on his knees, looked up,
shrewd and grinning, into her face
William Tanslcy, what do YOU mcan?''
"As if you couldn't guess? Cephe was
comm to see you to-night-but I guess he
won't" chuckled Tip. "Say! yo ready
for COX and gocse?'' .-.-.. -. ,..
"How do you know that?'' demanded
Nancy.
"'Cause I heard. The old man stopped
him, and Cephe was goin' to ride over him !;
but the old man was too much for him ;
he jerked him off the hoss, and there they
had it, lickety switch, rough-and-tumble,
till Cephe give in. and told the old man,
rather'n have any words he'd promise never
to come and see you agin if he'd give him
three thousand dollars; and the old man
said twas bargain !" s
Is that true, Tip?" cried the widow,
dropping her work and raising her hands
''True as I live and breathe, and draw
the breath of life, and have livin' bein' ~
Tip solemnly affirmed. -..
ssJust as I always told you, Nancy ~
exclaimed the widow. Il knew how it
would be. | felt sartin he couldn't be de-
pended upon. His father never'd hear a
word of it, always said Now don't feel
bad, Nancy; don't mind it, It'll be for
the best, | hope, Now don't Nancy
don't, l beg and bescech."
She saw plainly by the convulsiyc move
mcnt of the girls bosom, and the quiyerirg g
Of her lip that some passionate demon
stration was threatened. Tip, meanwhile,
had advanced his chair still nearer, comfort
ing his neck, and looking up with leering
malice into her face, until his nose almost
touched her check. @
"What do yc think now of Cephe Box
ton?" he asked, tauntingly; ''hey?"
A singing blow upon the ear rewarded
his impcrtinence, and he recoilcd with such
sudden impetuosity that his chair went
over and threw him sprawling upon the
floor
'sGosh all hemlock!" he muttered,
scrambling to his feet, rubbing first his
elbow, then his car "What's that fur,
I'd like to llnow-knockin' feller DOWN."
What do you think of Cephas Box
toni" cried Nancy, 81 think the same
as | did before-why shouldn't I. Your
SANDER is no SANDER. Now sit down and
behave yourself, and don't put your face
too near mine, if you don't want your ears
boxed !"
"Why, Nancy, how could you?'' groaned
the widow.
Nancy made no reply, but resumed her
work very much as if nothing had hap
pened
Hurt you much, William?'
"Not much; only it made my elbow
sing like all Jcrewsalem! Never mind !;
she'll find out! Where's my hat p
"You amt going be yer said Mrs,
Blynn, with an air of solicitude
Il guess I amt wanted here, )" mumbled
Tip, pulling his hat over his ears. He
struck the slate, scattering the fox and
geese, and demolished the house of green
corn. "You can keep that; I don't want
it. Good night, Miss Blynn.''
Tip placed peculiar emphasis upon the
name, and fumbled good while with the
latch, expecting Nancy would say some
thing; but she maintained cool and dig
nifed silence, and as nobody urged him to
stay, he reluctantly departed, his heart
full of injury, and his hopes collapsed, like
his pockets
For some minutes Nancy continued to
sew intent and fast, her flushed face bowed
over the seam; then suddenly her eyes
famed, her fingers forgot their cunning,
the needle shot blindly hither and thither,
and the quickly-draw thread snapped in
twain.
"Naucy! Nancy! dont!'' plead Mrs.
Blynn; q beg of We, now don't. y
Oh mother" burst forth the young
girl, with sobs, q am so unhappy What
did | strike poor TIP fora He did not