The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-04-05

the arrival of the new neighDors. Il saw
Manday sailing into the house over the way,
and suppose a call has been made"
i'Yes she dropped in here few minutes
and told me about it. do think Manday Is
the most neighborly of any of US. She Is the
first one to go in there, and 1t was not from
curiosity either, for she said So"
'It was very good of her, of course, F" drlly
remarked Jed
''Manday says Mrs Orcutt is dreadful
pretty little woman, and as pleasant ano
common like as need be. She says she don't
lock one bit worried over the idea OF having
bad boy to manage. She didn't see the
boy; his mother said he was not well, and
had kept his room the mcst of the time. MI
Orcutt will not be here often, for his busl-
ness keeps him in the city. That boy
will just run wild around here with his
capers, you may depend on it. for Manday
says Mrs. Orcutt looks too mild to hold him
in"
''If the boy is sick can not see any danger
OF our being overwhelmed with his pranks.
Do go over and see them, mother; don't let
her feel as if she was all alone with a sick
boy and we so near"
THAT / will l don't want to feel as If
they was intruders even if the boy is here.
Strange l should feel so put out about one
boy, for / well remember when you was a
Lad, and l dare say this youngsters mother
loves him as well as / loved mine, but then
you was an extra good boy. Jed"
"Why did you allow me to grow up such a
bashful boo5y then, mother!'
Now do Jest hear. Who ever would think
of calling you such a name as that, pray
tell! know you have always kept shy Of
the girls around here and am right glad of
that and Mrs. johnson spoke from the
depths of her heart then.
None of the rustic beauties in that quiet
farming district had succeeded in attracting
the attention of Jed Johnson. At the death
of his father he had come home from dis
tant college and taken charge of the farm.
As he found his company among his books
and with his mother, he was looked upon as
a bashtul bachelor, a title that would not
disturb him any if he knew it.
jed" said Mrs Johnson, 81 called on
Mrs. Orcutt to-day, and she is one of the
prettiest little women have seen for many
day. She seems dretful taken up with
her new home and says if Johnnie only i'm
proves, she will be perfectly contented. l
don't know which she meant, his health or
conduct. dare say it's both. She thinks
he will be out in a few days. l wonder if
called her name right: She opened them
big blue eyes of hers when l called her Mrs.
Orcutt, so wide and inquiring like that l
thought may be l was wrong about her
name"
''It might be, mother, for l noticed she
looked surprised when | used her name in
speaking to her to-day. A board was loose
on the fence back of the garden, and saw
her trying to nail it on so l walked over and
fastened it for her. 1t is my opinion we
have found some very nice neighbors."
In a few days johnnie Orcutt was out,
and, as nothing terrible seemed to develop
in the neighborhood on account of it, Mrs.
johnson quite lost her fear of being terror
lied by bad boy.
''Just you wait until he is well, before
you think him SO tame" was the quieting (.)
remark of Manday.
Things seemed progressing finely with
Mrs. johnson and her pretty neighbor, who
dropped in often and chatted so pleasantly,
that Miss Manday grew quite jealous and
told the old lady she was quite carried away
by a pretty face.
Dear, no, Manday, it's not her face as
knows on, but it's her bright CHEEKY ways
that takes my heart"
80, WELL" with toss of the head, ''Tm
no hand to lay aside old friends for new. as
you must know. How do you know she
amt fishing for Jed.'
Mercy on US, Manday! how you do talk
of Mrs. Orcutt''
'Hain't you ever heard of married women
firtingl have, if you hain't.''
'T'H never believe any such thing of her,
anyway; beside she never comes here when
Jed is about home, and they have not got
one bit acquainted yet"
''Well, why don't her husband come home
oftener, I'd like to know"
Il am sure l don't know, Manday; for
some good reason, dare say"
We'll I'd ask her, would, but it's no
affair of mine Good afternoon, Mrs. John
son.
The following afternoon Mrs. johnson
took her knitting and went over to sit with
her little friend the intervening hour before
supper getting. She found her busy mend
ing coat for Mr.. Orcutt.
I'm so glad to have you come in, Mrs.
1t seemed so quiet here, for John
ME is off to the woods this afternoon. l
could not go with him for had nearly for
gotten this coat needed mending, and Ed
ward is coming tomorrow. Johnnie can
scarcely wait, he is so anxious to see his
papa"
81 found it lonely to sit down without some
one to talk to. You are spelling me about
being alone. l am getting childish, l am
afraid, Mrs. Orcutt."
''Call me Jenny, will you please! 1 would
so much prefer it. l always allow Johnnie
to call me that
Il see he does, but it don't seem to me the
right thing for him, to be calling you Jenny"
HE always has since he could talk at all
Then too" and she blushing slightly, and,
laughing, said: lit does not make me seem
so old TO have Johnnie call me Jenny; l
don't mind telling you, Mrs johnson. l don't
like to appear older than l really am"
None of US do for that matter. How cozy
you look here. Young fingers have such a
knack for fixing up things"
And the old laoy's eyes traversed the room
with it's pretty adorning, and then rested OD
the fair form of her young friend, dressed
with good bit of taste, and then at the
sweet face bending over her mending.
''Do you know, Jenny, l have thought
great many times since you came here
how much have missed in not having a
daughter. Not that wish Jed had been a
girl, oh, no; can't do without Jed, bless
his dear. brave heart; but if he had a sister
of your age, what comfort and blessing
she would be to me now. l have been so
blessed that sickness is almost stranger to
me. 1 get to thinking nowadays over it,
and think a woman with no kin of her
own sex is not very well prepared for sick
ness"
''NOne of US feel prepared for that, 1 think,
let our surroundings be what they will"