The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-10-11

that nd fetch him. 'Ras amt the fel-
low TO get over that kind Of 4 thing in
. hurry, and know he loved her dcs-
| prit an it seems no more'n fair that
i she should take the first step towards
maxim mp. under the circumstances
His manner Of saying this showed
that he intended it to be an argument
TOO strong for his wife 80 rebut. show
ing reason why Lucy could. and should.
| let Erastas know that she had changed
her mind and was ready TO marry him
| ifhe still desired it.
When lie paused he felt that no had
not made the case as strong as ii should
be. but not knowing exactly how TO
| make it stronger lie waited for a reply
from his wife. still keeping h,s back
towards her and his hoe going vigor-
| ousiy.
But Mrs. Parsons knew that her hus-
band had not lin shed what he wished
to say. and she remained silent. Pretty
soon he began again:
You see. Marty, it holds to reason
that Lucy should be the one to speak
first. 'Ras!us loved her. an she knew
il; leastwise he thought she did; an
knowing it she went an engaged her.
self to that ar fellow from New York
an SO gave 'Ras to think she wouldn't
have him no way it could be fixed. So
he went off to git away from the sight
of EN-. An now. though KNOWN that
Annelsey's got his walkin' papers, he
don't know rs I.ucy'd have him no
more'n she would afore; an 'Ras amt
the kind as goes spoonin' round beg
gin for what folks don't want to give
him. II amt right. an it amt fair,
when know the girl 'ud give every
thing she's cot in the world to have
him back. that they should be kept
apart jest because it's customary for the
man to speak first. He has spoke first
once an now it's her turn"
All the time John was speaking
Martha Parsons was thinking. She be-
lieved that Lucy loved Erastus and was
secretly in hopes that he woa.d yet
return to her, but she was not sure, and
she saw the dclicacy Of the situation
more clearly than did her husband. who
had never been able to discover Ivy
true feelings Of either party to love
affair.
When her husband had ceased speak
ing she was silent for moment aud
then said simply:
Are you sure Erastns knows that
Lucy has broken with Mr. Annelsey?'
John Parsons suddenly stopped hoe
ing and turned quickly around facing
his wife.
Didn't you write him that. when
the girls first come homel' he asked
in surprise.
mo. l did not: was not certain
that she cared for him and feared to
awaken anew hopes that. after all
might be useless. 1t was not certain
that Lucy S engagement with Annclsey
. might no; lie renewed, or that because
she dismissed him she loved Erastus,
and | thought it best TO let him learn
of it by accident supposed he would
find il ont through Jennie or some one
else, but do not think he has"
Her husband made no reply but 10.
sumed his hoeing and the subject was
not referred to again. Indeed very lit
tie further conversation occurred be.
tween them during the entire afternoon,
both appearing busy with their owl
thoughts.
At the supper table that evening Mr..
Parsons proposed that the two women
should 60 to town the next day with
some butter and eggs and such other
articles as they could spare, and make
an exchange for family supplies.
johnny and nell keep house while
you re gone" he said; we're capital
at keepin' house. amt we, johnny?
And mother'l II bring you some candy Of
somethin'."
There was nothing very unusual in
this proposition. Mrs. Parsons and
Lucy had made similar trips on several
occasions, leaving Johnny aad bid
father at home.
John Parsons hated to 'peddle," o
he called it, and his wife always got
better prices for the butter and egg.
and chickens than did he; besides which
she knew better how to invest the pro
ceeds economically in necessities fol
the family, and there was need o
: economy now. And as neither of tn,
: women liked either to go to town alone
or to stay clone with Johnny while tn
: other went with the husband or father
it had become the rule for both to g
' and leave Johnny to the care OF hi
father. and SO they decided to do now
J. Accordingly such vegetables as the,
E were to take were gathered and place
. in the spriag wagon. A hunt was mad
for eggs. which were carefully packed
). small end down, in oats, to proven
|. their breaking. and the bit Of butte
which they had saved was taken fror
Il the well where it hung by rope, an
e rewrapped in white cloths.
When it became dark they went wit
j. lantern and caught two dozen chick
o ems and put them in crate, previousl
:, made and kept in which to take fowl
g to market; and bright and early th
Y next morning the horses were hitche
up and they started.
8 When they were gone john Parson
d washed the dishes, which the wome
= had not stopped to do. id:ed up tn
!, house the best he knew how, talking {
y Johnny all the time, aud then weE
It into the garden to work, taking til
/ boy with him, as was his almost invar
II able custom when the weather Wa
q fine, and placing him. in his wheele
. cot. where they could talk together q
i the father worked.
The fresh air and sunshine did tn
child good and he amused himself j
e many ways The chickens and turkey
i learned to regard him IS friend an
9 would come around him, often iumpin
upon his cot for some bit of food whic
: he hal brought. some Of them becon
! ing SO tame as to permit him TO handl
! them.
When noon came the man and DO
returned to the house, where the fathe
prepared and they ate dinner. Their
! when the dishes had been washed an
Johnny had dropped of to sleep, as h
always did after dinner in the lon
days, John. ST, went to the bureau an
3 rummaged around until he found som
!. writing paper and finally q pen and
: bottle of ink.
These he brought to ths table. dre'
UP chair and sat down.
"rll jest give 'Rastus hint" be VIZ
!, saying to himself, AN il he's still {
!, the same mind az he used to be, he
- be here in less'n two weeks an mothe
: an Lucy II never know what fetche
him.
:. ..Wimiu's curis about some things;