River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-07-25

]
withsianding?"
oh. bless your lifel My wife
thinks the sun rises an sets in Mis-
tress Ordway. an / suppose nothing
less than a cyclone would disturb
their relations. Nevertheless, when
I'm done with the Ordways. my fam
ily's done with 'em. Tn free to ac-
knowledge, though. tibet Mistress
Ordway's a fine woman. I'm sartain
sure that our Maggie wouldn't be
Twin to-day If it had no been for her.
She came right in when we thought
she'd die of scarlet fever. when help
nor sympathy could no be had for love
nor money. Ny wife down sick, an
us thinkin' that our one girl was
slippin' away from US; an Mistress
Ordway came right in. an nursed her
back to life. an Maggie loves her now
next her mother. But" Strengthening
up. I'm done wi themi"
just then there was n rap at the
office door, and when | went to open
it, who should stand there but Ordway
himself
We shook hands heartily, as we al
ways did. and though the neighbors
spoke to each other, it was manifestly
forced courtesy and Mcdonald took
his hat. saying he would call again.
followed him to the door. and told
him had business in his neighbor-
hood The next week, and would come
to his house on Wednesday morning.
II was a happy thought, almost an in
spiration. that prompted the measure.
but he assented readily, only saying as
he turned TO go that he would pay me
ten pounds when the case was settled
either way.
When / had closed the door on my
new client ! asked Mr. Ordway if he
had been up to the house, or would he
go? That | should go with him and
get some dinner. and give Nellie and
the kid a chance to see him. He
laughingly interrupted me by saying
he came on business. but as Mcdonald
had forestalled him he had as well go
home.
why. Uncle Ordway,' said !, "are
you going to law?"
I'm obliged to-" he answered.
Acknowledge now. wasn't Mcdonald
wanting your services in a prosecu-
tion against me?"
just so. said /, Though we came
TO no definite understanding, and you
can at least state your case"
well. | wanted TO secure you 20 de-
fend me. but as he is ahead of me. I'll
90 down and speak to Jones about it,
and 90 home.
'.Oh, come now. don't like Jones!
I'd hate awfully to be beaten by him.
even If you did win. Sit down. and
lets talk it over"
We'll. Bailey. you know I'd rather
have you, but I'm sure Mcdonald can't
succeed in any fair way. though l may
owe him something. | can't be right
positive. We've neighbored for a
long time. I've kept account of every
thing. except once or twice in ease of
sickness. We've just kind of snapped
good turns. and / never dreamed OF
being drawn into lawsuit. 1t hurts
me. It's Just all raked up because we
had to deal with that wild Scotch lad
Archie of his. Little scalawagi Did
you ever think, Bailey. about that
Scripture; One sinner destrOyeth
much gOOd?' Here's Arch Mcdonald,
nOthin' much one way nor another.
only that he's full Of animal spirits,
an no liking for books, chip Off the
old block. and he's like to set the
whole neighborhoOd by the cars"
Are the other McDonalds hard 10
deal with?" I inquired.
NO. there are only Ned and little
Maggie. incest kind of a little girl. My
wife loves her nearly as well as she
does her own girls. And as for Ned
well, to he confidential with you, l ex-
pect to have Ned Mcdonald for SON
in-law some day. aud hes a good boy
in all respects. Takes after his mother,
though.
why. this does put a serious face
on the whole business" said |.
.'Of course it docs" said my old
friend I'm troubled about il, and
what's worse. my wife's troubled. too.
She sets great store by Mrs. Mac. who
Is weakly. discouraged sort Of wom-
an. Mac doesn't mean to be uukind,
{ but he Is rather coarse in fiber. and his
circumstances not being very good. he
hasn't supplied his wife with much
that delicate, refined woman covets.
Mrs. Mac is fond Of books aud litera-
ture. which he affects TO despise, and
he never supplies the means for little
niceties in dress that women prize. and
my wife aud girls. in their friendship
in the family. have met this want in n
measure They take as much pleasure
in little Maggie's fineries as they do in
their own"
Dear me. said l. lit is a pity you
should quarrel"
II say ~. too, replied Mr.. Ordway.
'.but. OF course. when auld Sandie Nc
Donald makes up his mind to be at
cots with me. that's all ended. can't
lat him pick my pocket, even TO crafty
his spite. If he must needs crafty
his iTI-temper. we'll have a hustle, and
had better 20 and see Jones"
had been formulating plan of
which | had thought when Mcdonald
was leaving. 80 | said: mir Ordway,
lct me tell you what we'll do. I'm
coming Down To your house early
Wednesday morning. Do you and
Aunt Ruth be ready, and 20 with me
over 70 Macs. Wen go to dinner.
You can put up with his GOODNESS for
one day. at least. Bring your accounts
along. and your own and your wife's
memories. and we shall see how we
-hull prosper in the character of peace
makers.
I'll do it," said he, slapping his
knee. He cant prosecute till you
get ready. and may be so" and his
eyes twinkled. may be 50 we can
arbitrator"
Ii was growing late. and he took his
leave without coming down TO the
house. much to Nellie'~ regret. when
told her If his visit On Monday
sent note To Mcdonald. telling him
10 ask Ordway 10 come over on
"Wednesday. and between us | fancied