Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-04-28

men, afOre you get the place anI
high pay that's eatin' us up will
taxes! You can't see my husband
We're goin' to the polls on the wa,
to the mill, and I'll promise that hi
votes right"
"I'm no candidate, and l dom
know who you're talking about
All! there comes the man | want.
And the stranger went toward Mr.
Cults, who had just leaped pair o1
bars which led from the potato
patch into the lane.
Mrs. Cults flew into the house fol
her bonnet to follow them; but by
the time she got to the bars, hcl
mysterious visitor and Cults were
driving rapidly down the road.
The strong-mindcd woman shout
ed after her husband: "You'd bet
ter come back, l tell you!' but the
wind was the wrong way, and car
ricd her words into the potato
patch.
"Sir" said the gentleman to hon.
est Cults, ~ have a very simple
question to ask you; but l shall
have to ask you in confidence.
will give you five dollars if you will
promise not to repeat my words un
til tomorrow"
"Well, sir" replied Cults, 81
should not like to answer any ques
tion that would make trouble among
my neighbors. l have my hands
full, l can tell you, to keep out Of
scrapes now; but I've done it, and
hain't an enemy in the world, as
know"
"But. sir, you need not reply tc
my question unless you are perfect
ly willing," said the stranger.
"Ask your question:" said Cults
'and l will not repeat it."
"Well, Mr.. Cults, l am laying
fences on the Belsley place, which
| have just bought, and | was di.
rected to inquire Of you where
could buy cedar post. a fellow in
the store said: Cults can tell you il
his wife will let him; but she won't
She'll insist on telling you herself.
and Perhaps offer to drive you
wherever you go to order Them ]
only told them that l would see you
and ask you only; and the fellow
bet on it. They are to give you ten
dollars, and two or three widows in
town cord of wood apiece if sue.
ceed in asking you this question
alone, and make sure your wife does
not know my business until after
breakfast tomorrow morning"
Cults knew his wife's "standing''
too well to feel very sensitive, and
taking the bill from the stranger, he
smiled and said:
"Ill go with you and look out
cedar posts and keep dark, for the
jokes sake, but l don't know as she
will let me stay in the house to.
night if l don't own it," replied
the good naturcd Cults.
Suppose you go to the place and
see to setting the posts. / will send
boy to tell her you had to 90 of
suddenly on little business, and
will be back in the morning." said
the stranger.
"I'll do that" replied Cults, "for
| never quarrel with her. but LEI
her have her own way. / DONE
want to worry myself about trifes. 81
"Good man." said the stranger
"there are no trifles in this life.
The smallest act is important and
that easy good nature of yours will
ruin your family. Battle that spiri,
to-day, and next Sunday take your
boys and go to the house of God
whatever she says, and be a real
man-at the head of your own
house and family"
''It is rather late to begin," said
Cults, shaking his head in way
that would have warned others from
the trap in which his feet were
fast.
"You see the purse is hers" he
added, "and that has been cruelel
fetter than her will to me. l will
try and begin anew, for her good
and the childrcn's."
The boy was sent with the mes
sage, but the boy was not SHARP
enough. Madam Cults discovered
the whereabouts of her liegc lord
tackled up and went after him.
All the way home, and far into
the night, she used her cloquence
both in pleadings and threatenings
to find out the mysterious crrand OF
that hateful town nabob that haG
come into the country to separate
happy families.
But Cults yielded himself to :
dumb spirit for that night, and nc
measure could induce him to tall
upon any subject, lest she shoult
pry the mighty secret out of him.
About midnight she wore herself
out and went to sleep; but at breal
of day she began again. lie thcr
vcnturcd to say: Gas soon as break
fast is over I'll break the news t.
YOU"
"You'll never eat a morsal in IN,
house, l can tell you," cried Kan
tippe, ''till you have told me wha
that man wanted of you!"
"Thcn you'll wait good while t.
hear it," said Cults, "tor I've vow &c
I'd never tell it till l had first eater
my breakfast" and with thes'
words he went out.
Madam Cults endured the torture
as long as possible, and then go
breakfast. She called to the dool
to no one in particular, "Comc."
But Cults didn't come. After :
while she went out to the barn ant
found him seated on an upturnet
half-bushel measure, calml y peelins
and eating raw turnip.
''It does seem as if this here MAJ
had possessed you! Your breakfas
is coolin'; do come in"
Here was point gained.
CUTS went in as requested, ant
ate his breakfast. When that wa.
over, madam settled herself back il
her chair, with her face full of ca
ger expectation, and said:
"Now begin. What did that err