The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-04-05
THE NEW NEIGHBORS.
Unpleasant Anticipations That
Were Not Realized.

'Well, now, Jed, what do you think old
Mr.. Sims has done, He has rented the lit
tie cottage next US. Manday Green told
me so this morning, and that amt the worst
of it, either. 1t is let to a man with a wife
and boy, and the boy is one of them smart
ones. They can't abide with him in the
city, and so they will bring him here to
worry the life out of honest and peaceable
folks
''Is that their sole object in coming here,
mother.''
''Manday says she is sure that is it, for
she heard the man tell Sims that he must
get his boy into the country, and what else
can you make of it? Sims would rather die
than sell you that property, Jed. Now he
rents it to man that owns harum-scarum
boy that will be our especial torment. 1t
does seem too bad," and the old lady set
down her cup, and looked as she probably
felt, completely put out.
Don't worry over it, mother; perhaps
the mother of the boy may compensate for
all his shortcomings, in being neighborly
and company for you. l am sure you need
something of that sort. Mr.. Sims family
being the only one near, and they choose to
feel so bitter toward US, that seems to me a
ine thing to have the cottage out here oc-
Cupied."
''Well here they'll be within a stones
throw of US, whether we will or wish it.
I'm glad its no widow to angle after my
boy"
The boy colored slightly and laughed
heartily.
There now, you have found crumb of
comfort, mother. No one wants to angle
after your great, awkward boy. am sorry
Mr.. Sims feels so towards US. L would like
to buy the little place, and add it to mine, as
it joins us so nicely. 1t would save me the
building of a new house, for this old one has
served others we'll and can not expect it
TO do duty for US much longer This dear
old home of my grandfather, feel like
clinging to its walls, humble as they may
seem to Others"
''Yes, the home of Amos johnson is good
enough for US, Jed, or them that come after
us''
''Did Manday say Mr.. Sims had rented the
cottage!'
''Yes, and the family will be here this
week"
''Well, strange to say, 1 know more of the
matter than Manday. The family have
purchased, not rented. Their name is
Orcutt."
hope Of their making q short stay,n sighed
the old lady.
Il don't know of only one leop hole,
mother, and that is with Mr.. Sims Joining
them on one side, and Manday Green prying
around and making herself generally OBJ
noxious on the other, they may get dis
gusted, and leave US to rural solitude again.
But now, really, mother, / enjoy the pros
meet of having near neiohhors even If Man
day has discovered an imaginary bad boy
among them"
''There you go at Manday again, Jed. 1
do wish You felt more like Christian should
towards her. There is not another woman
around here that comes in so often to see
how am gettin' on. Any other woman of
her age would be settin' their cap for you,
but that is not her way at all. She often
remarks that herself.n
Bachelor Jed smiled grimly, and rising
from the dinner table, strolled out into the
yard, picked up his broad straw hat he had
flung on the grass before going to dinner,
and whistling cheerily, took his way to the
barn, while Mrs. johnson looked after her
handsome son with fond pride.
1t was well known fact in the neighbor-
hood, of which the Johnsons formed a good
and prominent part, that the mother of Jed
watched with jealous eye all the unmarried
ladies, with the exception Of Manday Green
and as the aforesaid Manday had so often
declared to her that she thought it would be
so cruel in any one to osupplant Mrs. johnson
in the affections Of her SON, that good lady
believed Manday free from any designs on
her Jed.
s.Well, mother" said Jed few days after