The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-01-13

ye say what up:
'.Boy," ses he. .ye're actin like ,
man, bearin' yer trouble without finch.
in nor no whinin.' respect We all tn,
more fer it. But it must be hard feI
We. what's thort the world an all o. vel
wumman, to sec her head turned by
that city chap Yes. it must be bit.
ter pill. to see the mother ov yer child.
rim set We aside fer t'other. An it mus
be agonizin' an grindin' worm that's
gnawin' into yer vitals. when yer wum
man what's been yer partner so menny
years an has got her family mostly
raised
".By Jehosophat! old man, eff il
warn't fer yer gray hairs, I'd knock ye
clean into the middle o next week.
Seem yer plenty old enough to be my
father, l won't tech We, but see that ye
prove yer words, or Ill give ye law to
yer hearts satisfaction
ii expect l bellere.l them words loud
enough fer everybody to hear. cause
warn't in the right sort O. mood to be
soft an sweet-spoken, just then.
"'Boy.' ses Filkins, Il wouldn't say
nothin' fer ter harm We or Melviny, no.
not fer the world. We know that, an
when sed what did Jest now, it was
cause 1 b'lieved it; though I'm thank
full enough fer yer sake that there amt
no truth in it. But it S the community
talk. My wumman brung the news
home from the SEWN society yistiddy.
She hedn't been out o. the house fer
more n week, seein' she Il he'd the in
faoenzy bad. an to the society the
wimmin talked it over as eff it was a
old story, that yc an Melviny air livin'
Il perfect cat-an' dog life on account o
that ere city chap what's been visitin'
to yer house.
"'Uncle Filkins.' ses I, EFF I've bin
too hasty, I'm sorry, but twas enough
to rile up emmy man. But it beats me
who could ha' Matched out that piece o.
SANDER an how it could ha' started
| without nothin' but that inncrcent visit
to build on.
".Tnat amt hard to account fer.
| SAYS Filkins. 1T leaked out in the fust
| place that Mrs. POssumnOse told her
man that she'd bin botherin' Melviny
some about her city visiter. just to hev
a little fun. that Melviny got badly
comfiustered an acted as eff she'd bin
ketched stealin' sheep. that she pinned
her right down to it. and sure enough.
before she come away. Mclviny as good
rs owned up that she did like Reynolds
better nor We. cause he is smart an
city bred in his ways. Possumnose
must ha' told his hired man on it,
cause Betsy Sykes. that works to Mrs.
Starkweather's told it round to the
neighbors. Possumnose's hired man is
Betsy's Teller. We know. and its nat
terel he should tell her every thing he
hears
"'In that way it's found its way into
the SEWN society an that's where my
wumman got hold on it an brung it
hum to us
"An'. now. Melviny." ses Seth. with
that determined kind ov look that al
ways comes onto his face when he g
made his mind up that he's got to 60
ahead with something that goes agin
him, an still he's got to be done.
''next time Mrs. Possumnose comes in
here I want We to tell her that She S
kerr ed her friendship just leetle too
fur. an that she's goin' to too much
trouble tryin' fer to be a true friend
to you. an that We mean to take the
heavy an pressin' duties of her friend
ship off n her shoulders fer good an
always. An ef We won't tell her.
will"
1 could tell By Seth's looks that ten
yokcs o oxen couldn't ha' pulled him
out o his discrimination, and Gale late
l ken read his natterci dispcrsishun
middlin' straight. Besides, l wus
worked up myself, which amt to be
wondered a..
Howsumever. twas gOin' to come
tough fer me to tell my neighbor to
keep outside my door; yes. tough.
Seemed as eff l should never find the
right words to tell her in. not hevin'
no grit materially.
But l WIS helped out o my diflikilty
sooner'n l he'd expected, fer. jest as
Seth he'd got through talkin'. who
should pop in, but Mrs. Possumnose.
.'Bc We most dcad?' scs she, the fust
thing, cause that's what she most al
ways said. when she'd find me to work.
..N-o-o-o." ses l. in kinder hesi-
tatin' sort o way, fer l dreaded what
he'd to be said. wuss'n boy breads a
lickin'.
whats happened old gal, to-
night?' scs she. ''Yc amt ycrself,
that ken see."
''Oh, nothin' much" ses /, though
inwartlly l could ha' boxed my ears fer
bein' scch a coward. l don't b'lcive.
to this day, sure rs l set livin' afore
We. that could ever ha' told her what
knowed it my duty to be tod. an l
reckon Seth thort the same. cause all
on sudden he blurtcd cut:
'.Nothin' much has happened. did We
say, Mclviny? Eff that's nothin' much,
what on the Lords footstool is?''
1 see then that the hard piece O. work
that I'd bin drcadin' wus a goin' to be
took off'n me. an l wus on hand quick
enough to shirk it off onto Seth.
turned an cleared out. scampering
off up stairs fast as ever my feet could
carry me. Down stairs they wus havin'
it hot an heavy. as l could hear with
out tryin' to listen. and afore long 1
heerd the kitchen door slam. looked
through the winder jest in time to see