Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-09-30
A PECULIAR WOMAN.

II you amt spilled about quart! L
knew you would get it too full"
II didn' spill more than ten drops,
Cousin Silence How you worry over
the loss Of little grease"
Its one Of my principles to save,
rs you might o learned long ago"
~ believe in prudence, but what's a
few drops of lard more or less with this
farm, and nobody knows how much in
bank? You sllimp and screw as if you
think there were danger of your get
ting on the town"
'<Well, you are the frankest young
man ever saw" and Silence Withers
put her arms akimbo and gazed at her
young cousin, Tom Lowey, as if he
was curiosity escaped from some
museum.
''Yes; / was always noted for my
frankness," said Tom, coOlly, "and [
never hesitate to speak my mind when
duty urges. However, | don't want to
hurt your feelings, Cousin Silence"
mo danger" said Miss Silence, with
laugh of derision. I'm no spring
chicken, and my feelin's have grown
tough But the idea Of your duty
urgin you to speak your mind to me.
Perhaps you don't recollect the whip
pens | used to give you"
~ haven't forgotten" laughed Tom.
You used to make me do my duty in
those days. But [ wish L could CON
vince you that it would only be a
Christian act for you to send Il little
help to Mrs. Baldwin. You wouldn't
feel the sending of $50 out of your
$4,000.
"Massa SaIes! 1t seems as if other
folks know more about my business
than | do myself Fifty thousand!
Law? Who said was worth that much|'
ooh, its common talk replied
Tom.
'Well, it won't do YOU any good to
talk. You'll never see the color Of my
money after Pm dead and gone. I've
made my will, and since plain speakin'
plcases you, I'll make free to say you
amt mentioned init. So therew
81 calculate to take care of myself"
said Tom, fitting his chair against the
wall. "LeayG your money wherever
YOU wish; don't want it"
''Ihe day may come when you will
want it, Tom Lowey, and then you'll
remember them, and so will you when
your pride has its fall There's plenty
o things | can leave my money to; it
won't go begging"
Il guess not.
YOU'D moro'n guess if you were to
live here a spell and see the stream of
visitors | have There amt day but
| get nagged about my money by some
body. Deacon Bonny thinks it's his
bounden duty to advise me to leave it
to found an orphans home. Old Mr..
Craig wants it left to WoltbOrO Acade-
my; Squire Darby has his mind on it
for q public library, and the minister
thinks | ought to remember what
debts on the church. To hear 'em
talk, you'd think | had one foot in the
grave. | don't give none O them any
satisfaction, and then they say I'm pc
culiar Well, perhaps | am, but don't
see no prospect of any change in my
nature"
Tom laughed He was spending a
couple of hours ut the farm, which had
been his only home, until he began to
scratch for himself" to use his gaunt
cousins expression. Now he never let
more than Il day or two pass without
looking in on the lone spinister to see
If he could give her any help, and to-
day he was making himself useful in
lifting jars and boilers of hot grease on
and off the stove, for Miss Silence was
trying out lard.
Toms law practice, as yet, was not
very exacting, much to his regret, aud
he had more time on his hands than
pleased him.
But now do promise you'll send Mrs.
Baldwin something for Christmas, Cous-
in Silence" said Tom, returning to the
attack
Il never promise what don't mean
TO perform, was the characteristic an
swer, he received to his pleadings.
Martha Baldwin and amt been on
spealin' terms for these five years, and
I'd be maxim myself pretty small to
send her Christmas presents. I'd soon
be on the town if began to help all
the poor folks | know. 1t pears to me
YOU take mighty deep interest In
them Baldwins Tom, Melissa Bonney
let out hint that you was sparkin' that
Prissy Carroll"
Il wish Melissa Bonney would mind
her own business"
"Don't get riled, dare say its true
'Twould be like you to court a gal
without Il penny, because you've not
4 penny yourself Prissy CAROLS
been raised out of charity by her
aunt"
That don't make her less lovable,
Cousin Silence"
''Now, Tom Lowey," said Miss ST.
lence, brandishing the big iron spoon
with which she stirred the lard, don't
make fool of yourself over pretty
face Butter your bread before you
eat it. There's Melissa Bonney, whose
fathers worth"
''That's enough" interrupted Tom !;
and, before Miss Silence could stop
him, he was out of the kitchen door
and walking brisllly down the path to
the gate.
Law sakes! What peculiar creatures
men are. Talk of me bein' peculiar;
why, | amt circumstance to that
Tom Lowev. He'll marry that Prissy
Carroll, now, if it's only to show me
that he don't care for my money" and.
with sigh, Miss Silence went back to
her lard
christmas Gift, indeed" she NUT
tered, after standing for some time in
deep thought. II think l see myself
eating humble pie to Martha Baldwin. =
But, somehow or other, her conscience
did not feel quite so easy as it had felt
before Toms call.
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