The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-06-15

her name 10 my club with pleasure
but mine are too valuable 10 len.l."
Away went Johnny, and Mrs. Holder
said. laughingly: '.Now, I've thrown
the first bomb!''
But she heard no dreadful result
nor was she troubled again until tn,
mex: Monday. when Ella Gordon came
over and asked for the loan of Mrs
Holdens. Sunday cloak. ''as ma wa.
goin' to a lecture.
TELL your mother my cloak fits n,
one hut myself" said Mrs Holden
calmly. And off ran the child to re
peat the message.
But Tuesday evening brought John
ny with a pla:e. asking for a pound o.
butter.
Tell her she has noe returned the
eggs ahi tea ye:, said Mrs. Holden.
"You can see the paper there. Inevel
lend the second thing until the FRS,
comes back"
Johnny departed. Presently in
bounced Mrs. Gordon. rcd in the face,
bringing the eggs and tea.
Here's your thingsT she snapped.
setting them on the table. That lit
tic idiot. Johnny. says you mark every
thing a body borrows down on pa
per. But don't believe it,.
See for yourself" returned Mrs
Holden. calmly. marking off the two
articles from the tacked-up paper.
'.It's the best way to keep things
square and avoid trouble, You know"
she added coolly.
well. l never!' exclaimed Mrs.
Gordon. She turned and bounced
out, without another word, and Mrs.
Holden hoped she was rid of her for
good.
But, in two or three days. Johnny
came over for the clOthes-linr. 1t was
given and set down upon the paper.
Early in the evening Johnny brought
it home.
''Scratch it off your measly old paper
nowv' said he PA says if ma ever
sends over here for another thing. he'll
lick her, that's what he'll do
'.Your mother is welcome to any
thing l have. except my clothes. Those
l don't Lend" said Mrs. Holden.
ma SAYS she wouldn't be seen in
your old duds!' snapped the retiring
Johnny.
Mrs. Holden smiled and felt sure
that she had gained one victory. and
her wardrobe would henceforth be I'M
dis:urbed-as it was.
Several days a-sed. and some callers
dropped in. Hardly were they gone.
when Mrs. Gordon appeared-by the
back door.
~ thought saw the Towards and
Mr.. Nicely just leave here" she re-
marked.
They were here. said Mrs. Hol-
den.
well. if l was you. wouldn't have
much to do with them Howards,"
said Mrs. Gordon. with i'm air of mys-
terry.
''lndeed! Is there any thing wrong
about them?"
"Well. folks do SAY all's not right.
Why. MIR. Nicely. he just goes and goes
there! At all hours, too. And his poor
wife alone at home! What he goes for
l can't say; but"
Il will ask them. when return the
CALL" said Mrs. Holden. calmly.
"Ask 'em?" and Mrs. Gordon looked
startled.
Certainly. You want to know
why Mr.. Nicely visits them. and l
have no doubt they viii explain it
ALL"
'.Mrs. Holden, you surely don't mean
to repeat what say:''
Il surely do. OF course. you won't
say what is not true. and. if is is true.
you won't object to have it spoken of.
l always tell onn ncighbor just what
another says of her. if tell any thing
ut all. Mrs. Gordon"
swell. l never did see such wo-
man. I'll let you alone, hereafter.
see if l doM't!' cried Mrs Gordon.
She bounced out. and this time it was
for good.
She told all tho ncighbors that she
believed ''that Holden woman" was
crazy. But they all. quite understand
ing the case. only smiled. and wished
they, too. had known earlier how to
get rid of y troublesome neiShbor,
while Mrs Holden enjoyed peace and
had no more trouble with the peOpl,
over the fence. Matte Dyer Britts. IN
Magazine.