Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-12-29
Selsft Stnrg.
CUTTs SECRET.

JOHN QUITS SECRET.
"Is Mr.. Cuts in Z" asked a gentle
man who, having knocked at u door,
was saluted by q woman, from an uppei
window, with>"Well, what's wantin'
naow?n
.sYes, he's In, or about somewhere, l
suppose che replied: but Pm Mr..
Cuts when any LRsiness is TO be done.
He's Mr. Cults eatIn' an drinkin 7;
eleepin' sometimes"
well, my good woman" said the
gentleman, II think he will be Mr..
Cuts for my business, Loo. 1 wish TO
see him."
"What do you want of him :" asked
the shrew, thrus.ing her head still lar
ther out of the window.
"To do something for me. But musi
see HIMSELF said the man.
"is it real business, TOR ply, or only a
favor that you want? L can let youI
hoIs, have a peck OF oats, or can Ill
rect you the shortest road 10 the Foul
Comes or 1 can-I can-why, Ican do
anything for you that he couio; and d
good deal more! L take the money anu
write receipts, and pay the Inen, aud
take OF the produce! I'm as good d
Judge of stock as he Is, and on hor t
fissh can't be best"
But" said The gentleman, drawing
his face down solemnly, you can't take
his place now. Find him tor me al
once"
The shrew was bsffied. "LOok-a-
here, mister" she continued, may be
you do not now the circumstances oi
the case. This here farm is mlne, ana
it was my fathers afore me; and Cults,
he hnin't no more claim to it than that
hen down there has. And besides III
seven years Older tnsn he is, foot high
er, and weigh twenty pounds more!
. WHAT'S yoar business on my place, If
may make 30 boid?"
TO see and talk wi h your husband" !"
replies the gentleman getting outoi tie
chaise anu hitohing his. bsIse to post,
as though he meant to stay until he DID
c~e -hi.n--.---------
"Be you doctor? Cause there aia't
8 thing the matter with Cults. He's
the weilest man In the town, and 30 be
I,n said this woman for the times
mo, my good woman, I'm not a doc
tor. do you think your husband will
be in soon Send that boy to find him!"
said the stranger.
The boy looked up in his mothers face
but he knew his own interest too well
to start without orders.
"rhen you're a minister / suppose,
by your black coat. u ay ~ well tell
you, and save you time, thai We don't
20 to meeting, and don't want TO. 1t
ain't no use tor you TO leave no tracks
nor nothing-for I've lot big dairy i,
and hain't no time 10 lille away readlD'
aud / keep him about II SO early and
late, that when he's done wors he's
glad to go to bed and rest!"
I'm no minister, madam; l wish L
Yves though for your sake" said the
gentleman.
"Send for your husband; L cannot
wait mucn longer, L must zee him al
enoe."
Tne boy started to his feet again, and
looked in his mothers eye; but it gave
NO marching orders.
"Look here, mister" said the irate
female, now appearing at the door, ana
locking defantly at him, you're a
schooiInasier huntin' up districk
school, and you think he's commit
teeman; but he amt this year"
''I AN not a school master, madam, u
said the gentleman.
'Ms'am Quits, SIS the neighbors called
her, dropped her hands at her side and
heaved gIoan. She had found a mau
che couldn't manage.
''See here now, mister" she said, II
can read bedy right through. and l
knew what you was the blessed minute
clapped my eyes on you. l can tell
by your everlastin' arguin'' 'tnat you are
a lawyer. We hain't got no 'quarrels;
don't want no deeds drawed nor wills
made; SO if you're huntin' ajob OF NY
husband you may as well onhItch your
i4orse and drive on. We know enough
TO make a lite money and l kro"
enough to hold on to it. Z"
My good woman you entirely misun-
derstand my eFrand. / can tell no per
son but himself what it is, and must tell
him in confidence alone. Ii he CHOOSES
he may break it to you the best way he
can"
30, my goodness sakes a'ive!- Broth
er Lifts blowed up III the NJ .sslssippi
boat, | bet! o, la me, the poor fellow
He left little something, didn't be?"
II never heard of him, and nobody :
'blowed up that l know Of" replieu
the gentleman.
"I-now l know, you're the man that
wants to go to Congress, ha, and have
come here huntin' after votes. He shall
not vote for you! hate politicians, e.
pecially them that goes agin women ,anu
thinks they were made to drudge, anU
nothing else! | go in for free aud equa
rights for white folks-men and women
for Scripture says, there isn't neither
men or women: but all's one in politics.
believe the days comm when such II.
you and me will have TO bow the kne.
to women, afore you can get the big
places and high pay that's eating us al
with taxes! You can't see my bu band!
We are goin' to the polls on way IL
the mill, and I'll promis. you that hs
votes right"
"I'm no candidate, and don't know
who you're talking about. All! there
comes the man [ want!" And the
stranger went toward Mr.. Cutts, who
had just leaped pair of bars which leu
from the potato patch into tie lane.
Mrs. Cutts flew into the house for heI
sun bonnet, to follow them, but by tile
time she got TO the bars, her mysterious
visitor aud Cults were driving rapidly
down the road.
The strong-minded woman shouted
after her husband. you'd better com
back, tell you!n but the wind was the
wrong way, and carried her words int,
the potato patch.
"Sir, said the gentleman to honest
Cults, al havs o very simple question t.
ask you, but snail have to ask you IN
confidence. will give you i've dollari