The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-09
.enGanSett.
BY OPIE P. READ.
CHAPTER ".

SAhA4 k$N i've
 The old man and Len were still talking of the joke when Mrs. Gansett returned
 "Air you still pesterin' that child P she asked as she took off her sun-bonnet rolled it up and placed it on small shell over the door. "I declare, pap, it is g sin an shame for as old man as you air to carry on this way" she added a: she sat down. It does pear like you'd q ruther poster body then to eat the sweetest pie that was ever baked. It: joke, joke all the time. You never ker set down an talk like other folks"
 "That's fact, Sarah," the old man spontaneously replied. "I never talk like other folks because you won't give me chance you do mighty nigh all the talkin' yo'self. ain't pesterin' the youngster, that is, not now. had to pay him for maxim that chicken squawl an I've done it. Lenqubees, we'd better tell her, fur if we don't an she finds it out in any other way, we'll have to climb a mighty tall tree and strain our eyes fore we ken see the tail eend O it."
 Then the old man, occasionally assisted by Len, gave an account of the duel and the social affair which had followed.
 Mrs. Gansett did not listen patiently, but aside from exclamations of disap- proval she offered no serious interruption until the old man spoke of bringing out the jug.
 "My sakes alive, pap," she exclaimed did you let them good-for- nothin' men git drunk in my house2"
 "Well, they want exactly sober when they left here"
 "What made you let 'em drink here, sayr
 "Well, wanted to show Lenqubees that they ain't men O backbone. The mo- a man knows about his associates the better it will be for him in the long run. When a mans sober, he makes 1t his business to hide his natur': when he's drunk, he makes it his business to show his natur'."
 That's all foolishness," Mrs. Gansett replied. "Its all foolishness an' you know it. It's jest an excuse for gettin' folks drunk an you ought to be ashamed o'yo'self."
 "When did ever git anybody drunk befo'"
 That don't make no diffunce. The principle O one time is jest as bad as if you wuz to do it thousan' times. Len, yo' gran'pap acks like he never did have to die"
 That ain't It., Sarah," old Bob re- piled. l ack like know it an that l kain't hep it. When the Lord calls on me I'll go an not till then, an don't want to ack like l want the Lord to hurry 1t up. Lenqubees an me understand each other now, Sarah, an don't you fret about me pesterin' him. How air they all over at Braley'sw
 They air as pore as usual,n' Mrs. Cansett replied. "I declare l don't un- derstand tbat family. Ned Brayly peers to work hard anuff-an' goodness knows he's as strong as steer-but somehow they never have nothin' in the house. The chillun air mighty nigh naked an winter a-comin' on, too. hearn while over there that old Ben Hobdy is down agin with the rheumatic. He's a cussin' an a-swearin', an he ain't got stick O wood cut, nor mou'ful O meat, nor a dust O meal in the house."
 "'Nuff to make him cuss," said old Bob.
 "No, it ain't, nuther. It's anuff to make him pray. He's liable to drap of at any minit."
 By the way" said Len, @I met his daughter several days ago. She is a beautiful child"
 @Yis," replied Mrs. Gansett, " an she's as kine-hearted as she is putty. She does au the housework, jes' like a grown woman, an waits on her daddy jes' like he was chile. The old man never wuz much account that is, he hain't been sense his wife died. It makes my heart naead to think O Ned. Pore chilel Seok her some ln'ssy clothes tother day,