Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-05-18
ME-. SphTTERD0CK'S MISTAKE.
[t'll rcVer DO neYrr."

It'll never DO nevcr.
Mr.. Spatterdock shook his head ar
some imaginary auditur. aS ho stood
warming himself with Lis back to the
fire
The blazing hickory logs snapped
and cracked. sending IA cheerful
warmth through the snug room. with
its heavy mahogany furniture. fresh
ingram carpet and gaiiy howered cur
tain
"Rob's likely young fellow, and
if he must get married, there's no reu
son why he should throw himself
away on poor girl, with nothing to
bless herself with but a pair of cherry
cheeks and coal black eyes, or what
ever color they are-I amt never sot
eyes on the girl. But Rob Greena-
ways my own nephew and it's my
dooty to look after him. Marrying,
indeed! What the dickens does he
take ch a silly notion in his head
for, anyway? amt never married
and look at mer'
And, truly, Mr.. Spatterdock seemed
an enviable man, if he was an old
bachelor. nearly forty.
His housekaeper was model of
thrift and neatness. Not crook OF
Granny of the big old farm house but
what was swept and secured and gar
nished. Not a pane Of glass but was
sheer and speckless as a French mir
ror. And you might dance a jig on
any of the carpets and not raise a
mote of dust to show in the brightest
sunbeam.
Wash-Gay came every Monday and
ironing-day every Tuesday. rain or
shine. week in and week out, from
years end to years end.
Look at me- continued Mr.. Spat-
terdock. still addressing his imagin-
ary auditor. I've never married. and,
what's more, I've never wanted to.
And Rob will get over this notion.
too. if only Let me see. It's no
use argufying with a young fellow
that's as sot rs mule when he takes a
notion: and the Grecnaways allus was
obstinate
I'll send him away awhile three
months or SO, anyhow There's sister
Roseanna, living over tn Sweetgum
Holler. I'll send him there for two
or three months, and he'll forget all
about her in that time. Or nebbe
kin see the girl herself, and sort of
buy her off, like. Yes. that's what I'll
do. Hillo. Rob. that you?"
Mr.. Spatterdock's greeting was sus-
r11n1n1ctx- l,,& ID L
to notice it.
"Goodmorning, nnclew he returned,
rather soberly. You wanted to see
me, l believe
''Yes. Rob"
A rather stormy interview ensued,
IN which the uncle, however, came out
successful.
X * = 3.
well. well, and SO that's settled,
anyhow"
MIR. Spattcrdock had come home
few hours later, having ACCOMPANIED
his nephew to the depot and watched
him speed off on the train.
''Rob's of safe and sound" he NUT
tered, punching the fire till it blazed
like young Nesuvius. He didn't
like !. the notion of going. at first.
Reckon he thought l was a-goin to
send him clear to Injy. Bnt. soon as
he found twas only forty miles away.
to Sweetgum Holler, he got as chirk
as bull-tarrier. He's promised not
to let soul know where's he's gone
an1ve promised, if they're both in.
the same notion three months from
now l won't say nothin' more ayin
them
But it's my business to see they
amt both in the samc notion. Imust
go and call on Miss Penny--Petti-
Whatever the name is--and try to fix
1t up somehow or another"
10 tell the truth. it was more tho
meddllnS Of the women folks tn. =
anything else which had set Mr. Spat-
terdock against his nephcw's choice.
'Real common sort of folks they
are. declared Mrs. Ruhama Chickpc
"and nobody knows where they Coz, %
from nor what they've ben. 7
shouldd't low IL, Mr.. Spatterdock"
But as Mrs. Chickpea's eldest
daughter, Rebecca. was knwon to be
setting her cap'' for Rob Greenaway.
perhaps her testimony should be taken
with some allowance.