Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-02-18


fell upon his adversary, and there was
grand connection created by the by
ISLANDERS, attracting the attention Of the
police. and our two friends were taken
TO the lookup for breach of the peace,
a fine imposed, the horse ard wagon
taken 10 livery stable for safe ke oping,
and tie affair talked over by the citi
zens Of b as good joke.
In the meantime, the day with its
home duties closed in. and Ruth, after
putting her little ones to bed, took her
knitting and went into Hannah Judd's
to watch with her the return Of the
business men.
Hannah's kitchen, with its pretty rag
carpet, its snowy tahleclotb, upon which
stood tempting supper, its bright
coal fire glimmering through the CRATE,
its kettle with its column Of wavy
steam, we'll trimmed coal.oil lamp, on
either side of which, on the high, old
fashioned mantel,pieco, stood two
highly-polished candlesticks, looked
cheerful and inviting. The two women
seated themselves opposite each other,
by the polished stove, and whiled away
their time with the following converse
ton:
odd you hear, Ruth, Of the great
revival goin' on at the church? Old
Simpkins is caught at last; the Lord
has got terrible sinner III the fold.
And Sally Maria Spriggins she's taken
in meetin'; no more paintin' of her
cheeks now, as she did to catch DR..
George Taylor Noodle. Law! he's not
smart to marry in such q family, but
You see he went there amusing Of him
self; but Betsy, she's sharper; she
Just gave him to understand she'd allow
no fltin or foolin'; so he had to do the
square thing or stand aside, and he was
nabbe1 afore he knowed where he was.
And there's no end to the airs Sally
Maria has been giyin' OF herself cause
she expects to git doctor, and the
whole family are well-nigh crazy about
it,"
."Well, 1 am surprised, Hannah,
cause you'd have thought genteel-
lookin', respectable man like him would
ha' wanted a lady for wife; but
there's no tellin what fools people will
make of themselves, partickler when
they're not over-wise. But Betsy has
been tellin' around that they are re.
lated to some big families, (but they
won't see it, and in the old country to
the Duke of York.
"Law me, Ruth, don't talk such
nonsense! There's many a mile be-
tween her and the old country, and she
can lie all she's a-mind to, and who
knows the difference? Related to the
Duke of York! Wouldn't he split his
sides a-laughing if he'd see his rela-
tions? Better think OF the time she
went out washin', and not be claimin'
relationship with big folks that won't
look at her. But don't you think it is
time our men was a-comin? I'll peep
out Bit"
She opened the door and looked about
into space. Above her she saw the
stars glimmering like diamonds in their
azure setting, for clear, frosty night
favors the kiualing of the stars; the
wind blew fiercely around the house,
but there was no sign of their return.
She closed the door and seated herself
in silence, looking ruefully at the I'M
tasted supper.
Don't fret. Hannah; something's
happened to keep 'em, and it's long
seven miles to B. They are good
men, their only fault little too much
love of rum, but they'll get over that
by and by, I'm sure. So kind of 'em
to give us the money for the pig.
What are you going to git with yours !?
I'll buy nice clock, and ii there's
anything over, some toys for the chill
dren for Christmas. It'll make the
little chaps so happy"
"Well, Ruth, I'll get set of china,
dishes, for Martha Ann is a good girl,
and is beginning to have company now
and then, and I want things to look q
little decent-like, 80 that she can hold
her head up like that pert Sallie Maria
Spriggins. Besides, I am expectin' Of
the minister to tea, (sich good, wise
man, and don't want old cracked
CHINA to set before him. La, me! I
forgot to tell ye old Mr.. Gonigle was
dead; s'pose well both git an invite to
the funeral"
/ "Dont say! How did it happen 2"
Swell, he'd been to the tavern as
usual, and come home drunk, late at
night; when he got to- Bonds spring he
opened the door and walked in, think
in, spect, it was his own house, fell
in and was drowned; next morning he
was found dead as mackerel."
"Dear me, dear me! What will be-
come of her and all those children
"There's one thing, Ruth; am very
anxious to git our men into meetin'.
Once there, Parson Jones will not let
them git back in the world again. I
coaxed Judd to 60 with me last Sunday,
and there was not a more respectable
lookin' man in meetin' than him, with
his Sunday clothes on, so Mr.. Swallow,
the deacon, said to me next day. I
said, 'indeed' I am no-wise inclined
to take it as praise, for where will You
see q handsomer man than Judd when
he's dressed up?"
Ruth was silent, not inclined to ex-
press any opinion, lest she might give
offense, not being an admirer of Mr..
Judd's personal charms. At last she
said:
Hannah, it's not the church will
save 'em, for you know Jim Brown?
Well, Mrs. Bunting left her clothes out,
one bright moonlight night, thinkin' q
good freeze would whiten 'em; we'll, in
the middle of the night she heard