Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-05
A NEW LINE FENCE.

II there amt them n2-s 2gaIn,' said
| Elias Long, setting down the milk-paiI on
| the kitchen porch with jerk. The stout
! pleasant-faced woman to whom ne spoke
| paused in the doorway with her bare
arms twisted into her calico apron, and
regarded the offenders mildly.
They were strangling through one OF
the numerous gaps in the broken down
fence which separated Mr.. Longs garden
| from that of his neighbor, Alvin Talcott
| "a procession of nine, clucking in a
grooming way and stepping high. They
came on with composed elaboration,
| pausing among the cucumbers with a con-
tenn plative air, skirting the radishes after
dissatisfied survey, and settling down at
| last among the tomatoes with chorus of
| victorious clucks.
at amt going so do" said Mr.. Long,
wiplng disturbed face with his old red
| silk handkerchief. 81 amt going to
| stand it!'
at amt likely he's thought of it," said
MS wife TRANQUILITY.
"He can't think of nothing but that
pesky croquet business" rejoined Mr..
Long, jerking his head towards his neigh
boris from which the sound of voices and
the click of mallets proceeded.
Ou laws EIaS. mTS. O6Sdls LII
easy remonstranse; but her husband had
seized an old tin dipper from the porch
shelf, ard was making for the tomato
patch as fast as his 50 years would per-
NIT. There was wild cackling and
scattering as he threw his dipper into the
midst of the scratching flock, pursued
them unrelentingly to the farthest pos
sible point, and leaned exhaustedly
lza of IA a nil q f.
ed fence. It was sunken with the weight
of the many friendly chats held across it
since the long ago period of its erection;
chats held at all dimes of day and upon
all subj ects-politics, moving machines,
fertilizers, sewing societies, corquet pat
terms, raised cake receips, etc.
Mr.. Talcott's croquet-ground was be-
fore him. Mr.. Talcott himself stood
neal, leaning the weight of his small and
wiry person on his mallet; his hat over
one ear, mis- cheerful, round face shining
with eagerness, his whole attitude ex-
pressive of watchfal and profound alb
sOrptlon.
Mr.. Long surveyed the scene with dis
pleasure. He had originally, strongly
disapproved of Mr.. TaIcott's croquet-
grounds. He had not been sure that
and gambling; and that a deacon of the
church ard member Of town council
should countenance and encourage such
iniquity was subject of grave reflection.
From this-after frequent glimpes and
occasional considerations of the game,
over the fence-he had softened to the
opinion that it was a waste of time and
pack of foolishness; falling gradually
into the habit, despite his convictions, of
observing it Notwithstanding from
the fence to Mr.. Talcott's doorstep, and
thus acc Uiring tolerable knowledge of
its baleful methods. He had even been
known to manifest an interest in the
game, to tender advice in crisis, to give
his opinion on disputed point, to join
in applause of a good strike.
But ne had always considered that his
presence was something of reproof and
restraint. Just now, as he stood frown-
ing down the long bewicketed ground,
nothing could have convinced him that
he had ever reiterated in the least from
his primal attitude of rigorous dis
approval.
Mr.. Long shifted his position nearer.
you'll have to keep them hens of
yourn to home," he said. "They're spoil
ing my garden jest about as fast as they
can manage IT,"
Mr.. Talcott's smiling face hardened.
1t was not the first time his neighbor had
mentioned the hens; though never hither-
to with so much decision.
II don't really know as it's any of my
concern" he said; "you can't just expect
for me to be chasing hens everlastingly."
81 don't know but what you better be
chasing hens than wasting time over this
here" responded his neighbor, surveying
the croquet-ground with sternness in his
long featured face.
Mr.. Talcott's small, bright eyes snap
ped.
EYou h'ain't no call, as 1 know of, to
give no opinion whatsoever" he retorted.
Mr.. Long turned his eyes upon his
irate counterance. He was slower TO
anger than his neighbor. "About them
hens" he said, 81 ruther guess this line
fence better be fixed up; needs it. They
couldn't get in then unless they should
go round by the orchard, and that amt
likely"
II h'ain't been calculating to lay out
anything on fences jest at present." said
Mr.. Talcott, bracipg himself on his short
legs defantiy.
Mr.. Longs thin face grew grim. ''You
better Jest think over about this here
fence,' said ne, as he turned stiffly away.
Mrs. Talcott had come out of the house
with little bowl in her hands; a thin
woman, with pleasing remains of sandy
haired prettiness.
81 want you to take in some of my ris
ing ito Hannah" she said. They had
known each other by their first Names for
some fifty years.
When Mrs. Long opened the kitchen
door at o'clock the next morning, and
stood looking out at the early August day
in the moment before the fried pork had
sizzled itself quite brown, and the coffee
come to bother faculties concentra-
ted themselves upon an unexpected cir
cumstance just beneath her eyes.
"Elias," she said, she's tearing down
the line fence. He's got JOB Dryer help
ing him." She was devoid of suspicious
concerning the fact; her voice was merely
inqairing.
Mr.. Long was tipped back against the
wall studying the city paper to which he
subscribed. He brought the front legs
of his chair to the floor at his wife's an
nouncemAut, and cane to the door rather
slowly. He stood there rubbing his chin
doubtfully; and then went down the steps,
ana towards MS nelghoOrs yaru. oome
inner consciousness prompted him TO
make a careless and indirect approach
to pause and inspect the garden, and
stop to tighten the empty clothes-line,
and to bring up at the fence in an ecci-
dental and unprecedented way.
Mr.. Talcott was @orking energetically.
A pile of worm-eaten posts, pulled up By
the roots, and broken pickets, lay before
him. little further down Job DByer
was amassing a similar heap.