Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-20

| dumO1eS au' StarVln. cnlpp1eS an lame
rabbits, an she amt love-cracked nc
more'n other folks"
Mrs. Carey carried away by affection
and indignation, almost spoke in poetry
| Her small face glowed pink, her blue eyes
were full of fire, she waved her arms On
der her shawl. The little meek old woman
wss Verjtable enthusiast.
The two men looked at each other The
deacon's handsome face was as severe and
grave as ever, but he waited for the mini
ster TO speak. When the minister Gid
speak il was apolog etically. He was a
gentle old man, and the deacon was his
mouth-pieee in matters of parish d1ci
pline. If he failed him he betrayed how
feeble and kindly pipe WIS his own. He
told Mrs. Carey that he did not doubt
everything was as it should be; he apollo
gized for their presence; he praised
Christmas Jenny. Then he and the
deacon retreated. They were thankful to
leave that small vociferous old woman,
who seemed to be pulling herself up by
her enthusiasm until she reached the air
over their heads, and became so abnor-
NAL that she was frightful. Indeed,
everything out of the broad common
track was a horror to these men ano to
4
shadows that their eyes could not pierce
lay upon such and they were suspicious.
The popular sentiment against Jenny
Wroyne was originally the outcome of
this characteristic, which was remnant
of the old New England wltchcraft super
stition. More than anything else, JennY's
eccentricity, her possible uncanny devia-
ton from the ordinary ways of life, bad
fTtn Tn
meaning, although not sven in self
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, it was witch hunt
that went up the mountain road that
December afternoon.
They hardly spoke on the way. Once
the minister turned TO the deacon. 81
rather thin there is no occasion for in
reference" he said, hesitatingly.
81 guess there amt any need of it," al
swered the deacon.
The deacon spoke again when they
had nearly reached his own house. 4,
guess I'll send her up a little somethin,
Christmas" said he. Deacon Little was q
rich man.
maybe it would be good idea," re-
turned the minister. an see what 1 can
do"
Christmas was one week from that day.
and his wife, dressed III their best clothes,
started up the mountain road to Jenny
Wrayne's. Old Jonas wore his great-coat
and had his wife's cashmere scarf wound
twice around his neck. Mrs. Carey wore
her long shawl and her best bonnet.
They walked along quite easily. The ice
was all gone now; there had been light
fall of snow the day before, but it was
or chn
with the little tracks of Jenny's friends,
the birds and the field-mice and the
rabbits, in pretty zig gag lines.
IJonas Carey and his wife walked along
comfortably until they reached the cart
path, then the old mans shoe string be-
came loose, and he tripped over it. He
went on. Pretty soon he stopped again,
teri" said she. "a
"Shoe string united" replied old Jonas
in a half inartIculata grunt.
"Don't you want me to tie it, Jonas?"
Jonas said nothing more; he tied
viciously.
They were in sight OF Jenny's house
when he stopped again, and sat down on
the stone wall beside the path. "Oh,
Jonas, what is the matter?'
Jonas made no reply. His wife went
up to him and saw that the shoe-string
was united again. Oh, Jonas, do let me
tie it; I'd just as soon as not. Shan't
Jonas?"
Jonas sat there in the midst of the
snowy blackberry vines, and looked
straight ahead with a stony stare.
His wife began to cry. ''Oh Jonas"
she pleaded, "don't you have tantrum
to-day. SLan't I tie it? I'll tie it real
strong. On, Jonasw
The old woman futtered around the
old man in his great-coat on the wall, like
distressed bird around her mate. Jenny
Wrayne opened her door and looked out,
then size came down the path. "What's
the matter?" she asked.
"Oh, Jenny, dunno what to do. He's
got anOther-tantrumw
"Has he fell DOWN."
"No; that amt it. His shoe-string's
come united three times, an he doh't like
it, an he's sot down on the wall. I dunno
but he'll sit there all day. Oh, dear me
SUI, when we'd got most to your house,
an l was Jest thinkin' we'd come long
real comfortable! I want TO tie it fer
him, but he won't let me, an don't darse
TO when he sets there like that. Oh,
Jonas, jest let me tie it, won't you? I'll
tie it real nice an strong, so it won't I'M
do again.
Jenny caught hold of her arm. "Come
right into the house." said she, in
hearty voice. She quite turned her back
upon the figure on the wall.
ooh. Jenny, can't go in an leave him
a-settin' there. I shouldn't wonder if he
sot there all day. You don't know nothin'
about it. Sometimes havo to stan an
argue with him for hours afore he'll
still"
Come right in. The turkeys most
done, an we'll set right down as soon as
it's. It's bout the fattest turkey I ever
see. l dunno whe-e Deacon Little could
ha' got it. The plum puddin's all done,
an the vegetables is most ready to take
up. Come right in, an We'll have dinner
in less than half an hour"
After the two women had entered the
house the figure on the wall cast an un-
easy glance at it without turning his
head. He shifted little.
1t was quite true that he could smell
the roasting turkey, and the turnip and
onions, out there.
In the house, Mrs. Carey laid aside her
bonnet and shawl, and put them on the
bed ia Jenny's little bedroom. A
Christmas present, new calico dress,
which Jenny had received the night be-
fore, lay on the bed also. Jenny showed
it with pride. cts that chocolate color
I've always liked" said she. 81 don't
see what put it into their heads"
Its real handsome" said Mrs. Carey.
She had not told Jenny about her visitors:
but she was not used to keeping a secret,
and her possession of one gave a curious
expression to her face. However, Jenny