The Red Cloud chief., 1879-06-05

fatigable Mrs. Sslcbow.
Number three" asserted the pros
pective lover. "Jsne is a'most toe
ready. / mistrust she's been a-lookin'
ont for this chance for some time; shaa
asked after marm's Rheumatism twice
now within . week, aud ] make nc
doubt she's all prepared TO step In.
won't have q woman that don't wait fc
be asked" said Mr.. Lazier, decidedly,
as be Cancelled James hopes.
"Well, now, there's keturah Kid
de-" exclaimed Mrs. Selchow, running
her finger round the edge Of the par
10 loosen the cream. "She's as good
as gold, and neat a. q pin. There AIM
q better housekeeper in town, and sba
q sing like 4 lark, and hasn't any in
cumbrances either"
Sand they do say she has q pretty
little sum in the bank, too; but ther
she is uncommon humbly," objected
Mr.. L., rubbing his nos refectively
with the handle of his umbrella
Handsome is that handsome does
returned Mrs. Selchow. "Keturah has
a great deal OF sound good sense, and
her butter took the prize at the cattle
show last fall"
swell, here she goes--number four
reluctantly admitted Mr.. Lszier- "l'm
q great mind I'll go and @ her--if il
want for her bein' so prodigious plain.
featured. Well, I'm gretly obliged To
you, Sister Selchow, and I'll do as
much for you some time" said the
bachelor, with an innocence which up
set Sister Selchow's gravity, and with
/. the pan Of skim milk which she was
emptying into the pigs pail. The I'M
conscious author OF the mishap vas al.
ready ambling peacefully through the
Selchow garden, bright with phlox and
peoples, with a rear-guard Of melons
and cucumbers.
"Hezekiah Lazier, " said his mother,
a few hours later, 81 do declar' fort,
if you amt a-growin' deefl I've
bowed the horn e'ena'most times
enough TO bring down the walls o. Jer-
icho, and here ye be out behind the
house all the while!"
"Sho, now" protested her son, al
concluded you forgot to blow the horn.
l was a-calculatin' whether or no twas
best to buy another cow" he added,
in an explanatory tone. .
81 don't see but we shall have To, il
you keep on at this rate; here you be
a-helpin' yourself To butter again when
you've got three pieces on your plate
Already" remarked the old lady.
"I've a greet mindful 60 and sec
her this afternoon-the COW, l mean,"
hastily added Hezekiah, putting salt in
his tea.
"It's right on the road to Jones's,"
unused the same individual, after din
ner, as he leaned pensively over the
pig-pen chewing q straw. at wouldn't
bender much, as ! know of, and jest
now | may ketch her unaware. Wa'al,
anyhow, / can call, and if l don't con-
clude to take her, I'll 60 and see Jones's
COW, SO 'twon't be wasting time"
Half an hour later Farmer Lazier
and his green cotton umbrella might
have been seen vending their way along
the road.
"I'm e'ena'most q mind not to stop
to day." murmured Mr.. Lazier, as be
caught sight of the white cottage with
its porch covered by morning-glories.
Z" don't know as I'm afraid to go in
l don't know as l be-" he pursued,
wiping his face with the Prodigal Son.
While he was deciding this question
a burst of song floated through the
open window. 1t was an old fas hioned
hymn /; the words were homely, the tune
was common place; but the soul of the
woman who sang seemed to fill and
overflow both song and words. I'm
consciously the listener drew nearer;
before he knew it he had passed up the
little walk bordered by verbenas and
clove-pinks, and reached the dazzling
row of m~ilk-pans set to dry upon the
porch.
ell ketch her unaware" repeated
the bachelor, with a triumphant
chuckle. But alas for his precautions!
his green cotton umbrella slid out of his
hand, and, with a crash worthy Of one
of Jove's thunde --oolts, knocked down
the whole row Of pans.
"Why, Mr.. Lazier, how do you do?'
said Miss Kidd.e, coming to the door to
send away Mr.. Jones's dog. as she sup
posed, and looking somewhat surprise
to find the intruder of q different order.
"Yes, it is an uncommon dry SPELL"
remarked the visitor, absently.
The kitchen had not q suspicion oil
dirt any where, the dinner dishes ap-
peared to have been washed ages ago,
the stove shone like a star of the first
magnitude, and Miss Riddle herself
wore the most immaculate of calicoes
and white collars. She was plain, but
her face was full of character and good
ness, which even MI. Lazier could not
help feeling, and his small soul seemed
to shrink, as he looked at her, till it al.
most ratified within him.
"What charming weather we are
havingi" said the hostess.
"Yes-good for punkins," admitted
our utilitarian friend.
SHOW is your mother now?" asked
Miss Keturah, trying to keep the con-
versational ball rolling.
"She means business, sure enough
thought the bachelor. with internal con-
sternation.
"She amt SO young as she once
were," he answered aloud; after which
remarkable announcement he relapsed
into silence. He was surmising what
Mr.. Riddle was worth when he died, and
calculating how much, at an interest OF
even per cent, it would amount to by
this time.
Miss Kcturah attempted to insert an.
other conversational wedge. "Mr.
Lazier," she began, "are you ~calculat-
ing"-Mr. Lazier gave . guilty start
"are you calculating to raise many
melons this year?"
"No," said the farmer, looking much
relieved. Melons are going to be 8
rather slim crop this year, SO far as
know"
81 have a few vines, but they haven't
done much," pursued Miss Riddle. "l
find it troublesome to get q man to dc