Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-01-07


in close to our house-it's my cousin
Vines (Malviny, you know, and She
the prettiest gal in the country, too. You
see if she ANTI Wouldn't you like to
go?''
Again that brilliant look.
ITO be sure l would, and I willr'
decidedly. care they going to dance?'
''Bet yer life. There's two fiddlers
and a Gordon man comm, and it S
goin' to be in Vines pas new barn.
Won't that be jollyp'
Decidedly jollyr' laughed Coachy.
but what'll you do with the Dukep'
pursued Jimmy, edging closer and drop
ping his voice to a whisper. We could
fix him up sort o throne with grand
pas chair and the buffalo robe, and let
him look on, s'pose, if he would-but,
you see, 'twould spoil all the fun-they'd
be so scarf of him that they wouldn' t
half dance, nor kiss the girls-nor moth
in'-don't you see?'
Eyes" said Coachy, laughing out
right, but quickly checking himself,
yes | sect is dilemmar'
"Say" with another hitch, '.couldn' t
you get the old dutfer back to the hotel,
somehow, and you stay with usP These
swells most alters can ride horseback
now, we've got an old army saddle he
could put on one o'them bosses. You
seem sort of q favorite with him. Can t
you manager"
well, I'll try" said Coachy, thought
fully, in spite of the broad smile on his
lips-a smile of satisfaction at the ap-
preaching pleasure, Jimmy felt sure
I'm suggest it, at least; he's generally
quite tractable."
DOT said the boy, ''there's our
shop, see?-the red one with the paint
most off, and that's our house down in
the hollow. Vine lives up on that hill
see the barn? Amt it a whopper?
Best barn in the county, everybody
says"
..Coachy'' smilingly agreed with this
modest opinion. and, bringing his
horses to sudden stop, sprang lightly
to the ground, the Duke" descending
with much celebrity, and stepping along
toward their heads.
my boy" said '.Coachy'' quickly,
'.hold the horses. please. 1 wish to
speak with-the Duke adding the last
words in a lower tone, and with sud-
den smile.
The two men stepped aside, and jim
my saw that ''Coachy'' seemed to be
giving his highness some very good adj
vice, for the latter nodded acquiescence.
touching his hat in his stately, high
| bred manner, and walking briskly
away.
live fixed him." said .sCoachy,"
turning to the boy, Hell be only too
| glad to get back to the comforts of the
hotel, and then, my boy, for fun
The bored look was all gone now,
while the laugh and tone which accom-
| panied these words were as gay and
| boyish as Jimmy's own.
s.First, well have dinner" said
Jimmy, with a business air, land you'll
eat at the first table, too-our hired
men alters do. You amt use to that at
home, be you?'
"Coachy's" lips twitched so convul-
| sively at this that Jimmy felt afraid he
| had offended him. and FASTENED to add,
frankly:
Not much loss, either, I'll bet. I'd
hate to have to sit up so solemn with
that old prig. and mince and bow and
chew an hour on every mouthful. No
stree! Give me plate chuck full,
plenty of elbow room, and five minutes
fore the train starts, and l don't ask no
odds of any duke-do yOu?'
| L L
L am now" was the spirited reply, and
they passed into the house. Jimmy S
introductions were original, at least,
but he made the family understand who
his new friend was, though upon asking
for his name, the latter had said, hastily
"Oh, call me Coachy, as you began;
it's as good a name as any, and Coachy
he was for the rest of the day.
l 4 1
the hired man in shirt sleeves, and re-
dolent of that honest but moist accom-
paniment to toll promised to sinful man
in the beginning; ma and Sallie in
curl-papers and calico, but in spite of
these the latter elected more than one
| glance from the newcomer.
Her curl-papers were not obtrusive,
but her dark, soft eyes, pale oval cheeks,
and sweet, grave lips, parting too sell
dom over the dainty teeth, like new corn
in the ear, most assuredly were.
| Her sad, listless manner and sober
loneliness excited a feeling of tender
curiosity in her vis-a-vis, who was, how
ever, hungry enough after his ride in
the sharp, salt air to enjoy his dinner.
and bravely attacked the baked pork and
| Z,
| johnnycake, doughnuts and cheese,
pacious plate.
Spose tibet juke o your'n hes a sep
rate dish fer every one of his victuals, -
interpolated PA" giving his knife an
instant's rest; at least I've heerd say
so. Wonder if them big-bugs really
thinks they hes compartments in their
stummcks? Pears so,' he added, with
fine scorn at the folly of this whim; and
Coachy only smiled meekly, eating the
round of his trencher, and enjoying
every mouthful with a zest that sur
prised him into silence
In fact, no one said much-all We're
| too busy-and in remarkably short
time the table was cleared and each left
| for his next affair without excuse or
apology.
SIS your cousin Malvina prettier than
your sister?' asked the visitor, in a care
less tone as the new friends strolled to-
ward the stables little later.
| ''Prettier? You bet! She's got no
end of fun in her, and the snappingest
| eyes you ever see. Sallie used to be
pretty, too, but she's no good any more
since Joe's gone away
who's Joe?" asked Coachy, select
ing superb cigar from a case whose
craven crest Immediately caught jim
my's quick eye.
| "Hullo! What's that?" he asked, Gu
riously.
s'Oh, it's the Dukes" was the imme-
diate answer. ''I-I sometimes carry ii
for him, and take cigar for my trouble;
it's heavy, you see.
.Knowed he was lazy, the old coon, -
| oanp the cOntpmptuouS answer