The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-05-09

wore the most immaculate Of calicoes
and white collars. She was plain, but
her face was full Of character and good
ness. which even Mr.. Laxier could not
hello feeling, and his small soul seemed
70 shrink, as he looked ~ her, till II al
most ratified within him.
"What charming weather We are
having!" said the hostess
"Yes-good for punkins," admitted
our utilitariAn friend.
"How Is your mother nowp" asked
Miss Keturah. trying 10 keep the con-
versational ball rolling.
"She means business. sure enough, !"
thought the bachelor. with internal con-
sternation.
"She amt 80 young - she once
were," he answered aloud; after which
remarkable announcement he relapsed
into silence He was surmising what
Mr.. Riddle was worth when be died, and
calculating how much, At an interest Of
seven per cent, II would amount to by
this time.
Miss Keturah attempted to insert an
other conversational wedge. "Mr.
Lazier, !" she began. "are you calculat-
ing"-Mr. Lazier gave guilty start
"are you calculating 70 raise many
melons this year?"
"No," said the farmer, looking much
relieved. Melons are going to be q
rather slim crop this year, 50 far as
know"
81 have few vines, but they haven't
done much" pursued Miss Riddle. II
find it troublesome to get man to do
my planting when it ought to be done,
they are all so driven right in planting
time"
"There.- thought Mr. Lazier, feeling
in his pocket for the Prodigal Son; "she
means that for hint-women are 50
suspicious
"I've Yet my land out on shares this
year." went on the unconscious Ketu-
rah. "Mr. Jones has taken the gar
den, and hare all the vegetables l can
USE"
Our wary friend felt that 1t was high
time for an explanation
~ was just a-going by to look AZ
Jones's COW, and thought I'D stop in a
spell and see you, too, and I guess l
must be getting along now"
ats lucky none Of the neighbors
happen to be going by" he thought as
he walked out Of Miss Keturah's door
yard, ignorant that 1t that very instant
Cornelius Jones, Jun, was sweeping
the horizon with . spy-glass from his
fathers bzrn-window. swell. it's plain
TO be seen she's al ready to Jump at the
chance" soliloquized Mr.. Lazler. ~
believe she would have made me q pro-
posal herself il I'D staid there i've min
utes longer. t'sluckyI got away when
l did, for should hate TO tell her il was
on account of her looks. But il won't
do; she's too plain-favored. It's hard
on her, though; it's evident her mind Is
sot on me. Howsomever, do0'r know
As I'm beholden to make such . sacri-
fee Of my feelings"
He reached this conclusion and Mr..
Jones's barn-yard simultaneously. The
only visible occupant was q bantam
rooster, which crowed valiantly at Mr.
Lazier's approach, to whose over
wrought imagination he seemed TO be
saying, "Ke-fu-u-rah." The farmer
threw stick At the fowl, but, adroitly
lodging it, he reiterated, "Ke-tu-u-
rahl''
an Keturah you." exclaimed aloud
the irate bachelor, Selling q milking
stool. But barn-yards furn sh footing
as treacherous as the polished floors Of
palaces, and Mr.. Lazier found himself
on his knees in an emerald-hued pool,
while the rooster, perched upon the
gate, triumPhantly proclaimed. ''Ke-tu-
u-ra -ah!"
There was sort Of smothered ex-
plosion somewhere overhead in the
barn, but Hezekiah was too busy with
his own meditations were not
80 pious Is his attitude---to heed any
thing else.
IL swan. " he calculated, which Pc
culiar expression might have been sug-
gested BY his Aquatic adventure. He
was Fastening from the scene Of his
misfortune. but, as be turned the cor
ner, ran plump into Mr.. Jones, who ex-
claimed, !" Hello, Lszier i-come to see
her, eh?" Mr.. Lazier's intellect, never
over-robust, was becoming decidedly
confused. He stammered, swell, I've
just come from-that II, I've been to
See"
Ke-tu-u-rAh! y added the bantam,
helping him out. Mr.. Lazier turned
very red, and looked first 1t the milk
ing-stool and then ct the splashes on
his pants.
"Co-bossl co-bossl co-boss " called
Mr.. Jones, opening the gate which led
into the lane. Presently griddle-
cake-celored Attorney made her ap-
pearan;e, and walked solemnly toward
the two men.
Mr. Lazier proceeded to punch her
ribs in scientific manner.
"How many quarts does she give
now?" he inquired. q Not much Of q
mixer, I Judge. Attorneys never are, -