The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-10-11
CHAPTER XXI.
rnY TnpnRas MrETr

Although having said, in his letter TO
Erastus. that he expected his wife and
daughter soon and must prepare for
their coming. John Parsons didn't
really look for them yet for some
hours.
It was fifteen miles to Phippsburg
over hilly road. and it re Iuired the
whole of long day to make the trip.
dispose Of the articles taken, and re-
turn; and it was not yet the middle Of
the afternoon when the letter was fin
ished. Yet John Parsons had no inten-
ton of telling . falsehood. Liars and
towards were his especial deteststion,
and this slip Of his from the path Of
truthfulness, like nine-tenths of the
white lies 80 common among all
classes, was the result of an inability
to readily command language in which
to express his thoughts.
He had given the '.hint" which was
the purpose of his writing. and could
think of no proper way in which to
close his letter and at the same time
tell Erastus not to mention. to Lucy or
to Mrs. Parsons, the fact of his having
been written to. The whole affair was
macy ny which the father hoped to re-
unite those whom he loved, and whom
he believed were warmly attached to
each other, without wounding the mod
esty and self-respect of his daughter.
It was dusk when Mrs. Parsons and
Lucy returned.
The husband and father met them al
the gate which opened into the incios-
ure where the shanty stood. and kissed
as he helped them, dusty and tired, to
des end from the wagon. Then he
handed out the bundles and package:
which they had purchased, after which
he cared for the horses while the women
entered the house.
They found the fire burning brightly,
the tea-kettle simmering on the stove,
and the table set. The ink spot on the
table cloth was not visible, for it had
been carefully covered with . broac
dish; and il Mrs. Parsons noticed il
when she removed the cloth and shool
out the crumbs that evening. she wa,
| wise enough not to mention it, and in
the morning . clean one was substi
tutsd and the stained cloth thrown into
the wash.
| johnny was Of course anxious to set
the various packages unwrapped, bu
was persuaded to defer seeing all ex
espt the articles purchased especially
for him, until they had eaten and cleared
off the table, when they would oil take
| . look at them.
As the family sat at supper they
talked Of tho days journey. the price:
received for chickens and eggs and
vegetables. aud what they had pur
chased with the proceeds; Of what those
who remained At home had done. anc
of what they would do with the money
to be obtained from the next bit o.
produce which they would have Il
spare.
.Just IS soon az possible we mus
put up the addition to the house o
which We have been talking" sale
Mrs. Parsons. 1T won't cost much
and will add more to our comfort thar
anything else we could get with tina
amount Of money"
Ibid you ask the price of lumber .
the landing" asked her husband.
why. no; did not suppose we coul.
buy i now. and SO did not think +
ask"
well, d'know; we've got few
dollars laid up now, and by sellin tn
calves we might scrape up enough t
buy the lumber and get it home befor
the rains set in. The roads II be to-
bad for haulin' after that II we hat
the lumber home, then we'd get tn
nails and other things along - we@wu
able. end l could do the work mysel
during clear spell in the winter"
'.But can We sell the calves for fai
price? Who is there to buy themp"
Bob Meeker, over on t'other side Z
the mountain bout four miles. said h
other day he'd buy 'em. an pay cash
Of I'd bring 'em over any time within
week. ! guess we'd better let hir
have 'em an git the lumber. It'll b
mighty unpleasant bein' cooped up her
all through the wet season agin. an
We had tho lumber I'd manage the rsa
Of 1t some way"
| ITO BE CONTINUED