Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-07-06
LOVE IN ASHES.


out mused thrifty Mrs. Clutter a
she scrubbed the porch. "Deaoon, III
get you to set the big tub down cellar
il you will.
"Certain, wife, " responded the deacon
from his cart in the door-yard.
"There comes Kendall's new basket
wagon, with two women in it. pursued
the ady,wringing her mop. "Isn't tina
the horse that balkspn
Being in the act of emptying a four
gallon bucket of soap, the good mar
vouchsafed no reply. When the jellieC
mass had quivered and splashed int
the barrel in waiting he looked up just
in season to see the gay little pony shy
at the cart and 60 tearing down The
road.
They'll upset. they'll be killed. Run
after em! Do something!n shrieked
Mrs. Clutter
Don't get excited, wife; they're al
right now. That girl drives like q
man.
And picking up his bucket, the mod
crate deacon marched off fer a second
supply Of soap. But though the little
incident had failed to shake his nerves,
it did make him oblivious of his wife S
wash-tub poised ON the landing of the
dim stairway, and, as a natural conse-
quence, he put his foot in it, The tub
rolled; the deacon swayed like pestle
in mortar; there was a lively success
ion of bumps, followed by clatter and
II thud, and deacon, tub and bucket
strewed the cellar floor.
''Adab and Abhuln calculated the
fallen saint, with sinful energy.
"Whats up, uncle9" cried an anx-
ious voice overhead
81 can tell you what's down." was
the grim response. "Come and brace
me while | try to step
The owner of the voice, fine-look-
ing youth of one and twenty, was al
ready cropping his way among the de-
bris, his aunt in the rear with the cam
phor.
The deacon's attempted locomotion
resulted in a groan.
Il must have sprained my ankle,
Harvey. Ifpd postponed this tub-race
till after I'd been my rounds, 'twould
have been better calculation
"0h, / wouldn't worry about my
rounds, uncle. What's the hurry2n
"My customers expect me to-day,
that's the point. l hate masterly to
break my word. Now there sthe widow
Cleayes waiting for me to take her
ashes, so she can scrub after me with
the boiling suds, and up at Kendalrs
they're clean out of soap
''And not clean without it, ehp"
laughed the young man. "See here,
unclei since you are going to feel so un-
easy about disappointing the people,
why not send me in your steadPn
"You, in your fine elothesl | should
smile,n mumbled Mrs. Chutter, with
the stopper Of the camphor bottle be-
tween her teeth.
"Why can't my uncle's mantle fall
upon me, auntie? | was intending to
borrow the frock.'
"Well, if | do say it, you've got the
Vance ecommon-sense. Some young men
of your bringing up would be ashamed
TO drive a soap-cart y
"Humphl Some young men would
be fools, said the deacon, with warmth.
Nobody has any call to be ashamed to
deliver such soap as | make. If you've
a mind to run the team to-day, Harvey,
] shall be obleeged to you.n
Fifteen minutes later the worthy dea-
con was extending his aching length
upon the sitting-room lounge, and gaz-
ing through the open window after his
youthful proxy. who, duly initiated into
The mysteries Of the calling. was driving
away in the big blue cart. Behind
iounced and creaked an empty ash-bin,
flanked by two covered barrels Of soap:
but the swinging seat was clean and
comfortable, commanding a fine view
Of the surrounding country.
A half-mile and more the road wound
through his uncles fertile acres. for
Deacon Clutter was withal a farmer.
Farming. indeed, was his chief voca-
ton. soan-boiling being an accessory
venture growing out Of sundry exten-
sivc experiments in the use Of leached
ashes as a fertilizer. u was one Of
those tuneful mornings in early June
when al nature joins ina glad doxologr.
The newly arrived bobolinks. tipsy with
glee. caroled in the meadows. The
grioles. hanging their hammocks in the
elms. could scarcely work for singing
Gay hreezcs whispered love 10 the grace
ful Young clover. then danced away 10
firf with the COY hillside birches. Every
where were lie and motion irradiaied
~ the benignanf sun. For Harvey
vafcs's study-wcakened eyes there was
too mueh glare. TOO much nutter. He
lot no time IN putting on his blue Cog
Cles.
"Who cares II thev do make me look
Ike 4 frogf mused be. as be settled
Ihen asfride his srisiocrafic nose.
= Tharts 70 fhfm. andto change Of air.
InV poor optics are undoubtedly improT-
Inr. ] shan b. back 70 college bT fan. /
"a. ha. L the fellows couldollT sec NE
.ow
Ard terr. 70 he irfn'fs surprise d |