Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-08-30
LUKE JUDKIN'S CHEERFUL [
END.

cem'tery with Luke, tell We. am II
use waitin'''
The undertaken moved quid of Tobacco
slowly from one side of his long lantern
jaw to the other as he replied, obviously
The new cimetery folks say thet the folk
to East Village amt respondin as they he'
ought to the new enterprise"
''Waal, they hedn't ought to callate ol
old Luke, anyhow"
The speakers sat on the steps of Enocl
Johnsons store in East Village, and look
ed across the green to where two old mel
were playing croquet-a game not yet ex
tinct in the mountain farming districts o
Vermont Pretty soon quarrel seemed
to spring up between the two players; loud
| words rang out under the elms, then came
fierce interchange of blows. The under
| taker and Enoch johnson stood up on the
| store steps to watch the contest at better
| advantage. Presently Enoch said, as il
apostrophizing: Tibet Luke Judkin's the
consarnedest, cussedest, peskiest old crit
ter! Henery is hurted, an here comes
Luke with broken mallet. Shouldn't
wonder eff he'd say Henery was all to
blame spryf Amt he spry! Dye ever
hear about his dogl He's cutter than old
| Luke himself Here the old reskill comes.
H'lo, Luke
''H1o Enoch How's folks."
Luke Judkin briskly walked up to the
store, holding the parts of broken mallet
handle in his hands. He was a picture OF
that agile, athletic old age which so often
obtains at the present day among the chill
farms" in Vermont. His nose and chin be-
trayed ludicrous intimacy. His back was
bent with the weight of years. His hands
had grown into long unsightly claws. The
day was hot, and it was midday, but the
sun at 10 degrees only sufficed to pleasant
ly warm the bald head of the old man,
whose sharp little eyes in their cavernous
sockets cleaned up at the store-keeper in
keen recognition.
''Been a-playin' croky?" answered Enoch,
not replying, according to East Village
etiquette, to the old mans inquiry concern
ing his ''folks."
''Yas; beat Henery Green three games
runnin'," said Luke. ''Would "a beat a
fourth, only Henery, he said | cheated.
'Twa'n't no sich a thingw and his eyes
blinked savagely, like the eyeballs of an
antiquated parrot. ~ didn't cheat no
more an no less than he did,"
''Come to blows, ehf"
''Yas. 'Twa'n't nothin'. Struck our
mallcts together a leetle. Say, Enoch,
measure me out cents wuth O glue
Henery broke my handle"
'Td like to see that cent" drawled
Enoch, slowly rising and meandering with
in his store for the glue.
Luke took seat on the ste ps, near the
undertaken, and proceeded to wipe his per-
spring face with his shirt sleeve. The un-
dertaker looked him over professionally a
moment; then said. musingly: "Luke, what
is your measure! Five foot seven an harf
or five eight an harfs' He put the ques
ton casually, as if not pers onally interest
ed.
''Mr. Staples you got money in thet
new cem'tery enterprise, 'ain't yer
Mr.. Staples allowed he had-"a few
hunderd"
''Waal, 'tan't nothin' to you what
measure. | caPlate | ken tire out any
cem'tery enterprise as has started to East
Village, an when decease purpose helm
buried to Weston
''Sho!" Mr.. Staples leaned over and
picked up straw, to conceal his feeling of
disappointment and vexation.
'I'm agin all them new tangled patent
iron Monuments an iron fixin's, an agin all
this ere fummery folks is talkin' about.
The old-fashioned marble head-stuns is
plenty good 'nuff. Theirs altogether too
much fancy fixin' to the new cem'tery. I'm
agin fountain play into mtery-yes l
be! and eff the old berryin' grounds full, as
they say, I'm a-goin' to Weston.
"Sho" again calculated the undertaken,
in an undertone. Shouldn't think you'd
like to make yourself so unpopular"
whats folks to East Village ever done
for me! l amt agoin' to do nothin' for
them-no | ain't"
eve he'd hoped" urged the undertaken,
''that you'd open our new cimetery, an we
cal'lated to have the Weston band"
''Tain't no use argufyin'" said Luke,
stubbornly.
"a band an address by the Methodist
an Presbyterin minister's" softly smiled
Mr.. Staples,
Luke moved uneasily on the step.
"a adress maxim mention of your noble
carrickter, an praisin' of it, an maxim out
as how you were great plilanthropeed, :"
smiled Mr.. Staples affably.
"A what is'tl" asked Luke, quickly turn
ing his sharp, dscrediting eyes full upon
the undertaken.
"a phi-lanthropeed-I cal'late one
what is a sorter magnit."
Old Luke began to chuckle well within
himself. "Me magnit n East Villager'
he grinned. "Why, l can't get trust fer
bag o oats,'
Enoch came out with the glue done up
in bit of brown paper. "Guess We hurted
Henery, ye old sinner" said he, looking
across the green. There's Marier a-doin'
his head up in hanksher. Looks though
his skull was cracked-darn me eft don'tr'
''Hope It's" said Luke. '"He'd no biz
ness to say | cheated. Why, croky amt
no fun onless ye cheat some; an Henerv.
he's wuss n be-"
"Waal," said Enoch, slowly, 'folks
know yeoul and 1 guess Henry's mostwise
in the right. Say, Luke, here's the glue;
now where's the cent?"
Old Luke folt about in his breeches pock-
cts for some moments, apparently to no
purpose. Then he felt in his boot top, and
pulled out Il dirty and much -mangled five
dollar bill.
''Here, Enoch; give me four dollars and
ninety nine cents change"-and Luke
handed up the bill.
Enoch laughed sickly laugh. ''Yeou
know | hain't got the change" he said
'but I'll cabbage onter this bill, and yeou
can let it go agin our akount-thet there
forty whine dollars and eighty-six cents fer
store produce as has stood fer-le's sec
three year and over"
Luke quickly thrust the bill into his
trousers pocket II call ye to witness,
Mr.. Staples, rendered the cash. Yes /
did; and now Enooh, les have the glue +"
LES hev the bill, Luke. Guess | ken
get the change up to the savins bank"