Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-11-02
..What's, the matter?n called Mrs.

be all day about a thing. Of all the
| pokin' an useless waste O. time thai
| ever see, you're gettin' to be the very
beat. You're slower N cold molasses.'
By this time Mrs. Jennison had reached
the shay, and bent forward to see where
the difficulty lay.
sLawful heart! If that amt the pes.
kiest hen! An she's the one that won't
STAN movin' one inch, and her brood's
worth any three common ones. Run
and tell antoine to bring up the light
wagon, an I'll 90 in that, though
gracious knows how I'll ever get i'm
Mary started obedieptly. to return
shortly with the word that Antoine had
gone to Claremont, and would not be
back before night.
''Then get his boy to carry the bas-
ket.''
"The boy has gone, too"
Mrs. Jennison stamped with vexa-
ton.
GAS much as a man is worth. Always
under foot when you don't want 'em,
and not within gunshot when you do.
You'll have to take it, Mary, and I give
you lust forty minutes to 90 an come.
l know the length o. the road, and |
know 'Siah Perkins is workin' down at
the Falls, else wouldn't trust you even
that fur. Go on, now, and be back at
the minute say"
Mary's heart leaped up, flaming in
her cheeks, as she turned to lead back
Dobbin.
"You needn't go off in rage" Mrs.
Jennison said, happily mistaking the
meaning of the crimson flag just dis
played, and turned back to take just one
more look at the cake which should
show her supremacy in that as well as
in everything else.
Mary walked lightly over the rough
way, her heart dancing as she went.
ALI this long fret and forlornness was
near its end. Keen as were the sharp
eyes she dreaded, lovers wits are keen.
er, and Antoine could have told of many
a letter slipped into measure Of corn o,
lying deep in meal or flour bin. And
though 'Siah could not know of this
happy chance, at least she should pass
the house, and Mrs. Perkins would see
and perhaps speak. She looked visit
fully toward the chimneys, just visible
over the little wood between her and
them, then quickened her pace as she
heard step behind her, and remem.
bered how dark and lonely the wood
was.
"Mary," voice said, softly, and she
turned to meet her lover, who wasted
no time, but then and there took her in.
to his arms and kissed her with most
un-New-England-like ardor, and then
without word drew her through
thicket into an open space,
shut in absolutely from road or cow
path, and thus from chance of intrusion.
What words were said then there is no
need to write, events holding all their
substance, and these events being, first,
the emergence and then the disappear
ance of the two, who walked straight to
the minister's house, and then and there
were married, without question or pause,
by the old man, who knew the story
well, and who held his own youth still
so well in mind that even 'Siah had new
er failed to love and honor him.
.She didn't know she was maxim
the weddin' cake" the latter chuckled,
as the basket, being left on the way
home, Mrs. Evans, who saw the state of
the case, cut huge slices of each and in
sisted upon their being eaten then and
there, the girls rushing forward and
claiming bits of Mary's to dream on.
An hour later Mrs. Jennison, shading
her eyes as she looked down the road,
and vowing this was the last time that
gal should get out of her sight, turned
first red and then pale, and sat down
suddenly on the doorstep. Two figures
advanced toward her. one hesitant, the
other with calm assurance.
Hold your hosses!'' called the last,
as Mrs. Jennison, still sitting, opened
her mouth. but could give no other sign
of the Indignation and wrath behind.
" Hold your bosses, for sure as you
don't, Ill take her off this minute, and
you may 60 on then all you're mind
to-"
"She's under age. I'll have the law
of vel" gasped Mrs. Jennison.
"She'n be over it by the time you get
it, returned the imperturbable 'Siah.
"See here, now, you've had your way
with her for seven years, an that's as
long as the Bible lows for one term O.
service. She's goin' to give me turn
now, but she's too much conscience to
leave you as I'd have her do, and she
saws she'll stay till you find somebody
else. I've got her now, and kin afford
to be generous. But look out how you
sass her, or I'll have her away before
you can say Jack Robinson"
Still speeches., Mrs. Jennison rose,
closed the door, pushed the bolt, and. as
she lowered the window, shot through
it two words of final defiance.
"Git eout!"
"That suits me-" said 'Siah to the
girl, down whose cheeks a few tears
were running. "You beat all, Mary.
Even if was gal, seems to me |
shouldn't cry to be well rid of an old
like that
cit isn't her exactly, but it's the place,
and-and-Cropple-Cr own!'' sobbed
Mary, and Cropple- Crown answered
with cluck.
Many broods Clipped the shell and
grew from f1uffiness TO pin-feathers and
all the usual course of henhood before
Mrs. Jennison relented; but relent she
did at last, and had even been known to
smile at the curly headed 'Siah, Jr.,
who, in time, made his way fearlessly
into the old lady's domain. And, when
at last grim death took possession of the