The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-04-25

that forbade a recurrence Of the subject.
hc came home from his rounds one day
IN the mcrriest mood. lie had CLEANED
out his entire stock In trade and his
cracked old voice sang ANNIE Laurie"
In q perfectly cxcruciating manner As
no drove c~hccrily up the long lane lead
ing TO his house.
AZ the gate he met Mrs. Harriet Glib
hons. q woman from the village near
BY, whose highest earthly joy was felt
when II was her privilege 10 BIO first in
retailing q new Bit Of gossip Of unusual
interest. h was ono Of the few pco-
pie on the face OF the earth whom gooi
old Uncle Peter did not like: but he had
never given uttcrance TO this dislike.
and now he bobbed his head to and fro
and greeted her with a cordial .lIowdy
do, Mis- Gibbons. Folks all well 10
home? They be? That's right. Can't
ye stay 70 tea? II must be bout ready"
hut Mrs. Gibbons declined the invita-
tion somewhat stinly and wont on her
way.
When Uncle Peter went into the
house no noted an unusually severe
look on Rindy's always grim face. while
Becky looked reproachfully toward
him. His son William. who lived in
the village, happened to CONE in a mo-
ment later and VAS soon followed by mis-
married daughter, Mrs. Gibson Down
ing.
Uncle Peter heard them whispering
together as he stepped into his own lit
tie room for a scrap OF paper TO ''hgger
some IN" lie had noticed a peculiar
coldness toward him on the part Of all
Of them. and now he stepped to the
door and said:
whats goin' on here that all OF We
act 50? Your old pa hurt your feelings
some way?'
Miss Dorinda. after waiting a mo-
ment for some OF the others TO speak,
said coldly:
Yes you have done, or are going "a
do, something w can't help disliking,
IL all reports are true"
I'VE don't say?' said Uncle Peter. the
smile still on his face. ''Well, what Il
ite Out with it an see II your pa can
clear his skirts Of any thing SO YER,
hecnyous."
Miss Dorinda came out with it fatty
Its the talk Of the village and Tho
whole country that you're going to mar
~ the Wilder Newton
? Uncle Peter dropped into his OLE
! splint-bottomed rocking chair. his arm
! hanging Imply by his side and an ex
preston OF widc-eyed and opcn-mouthc,
amazcmento on his round. red face. Iii
whole manner proved his entire limo
cence OF ever ha wing even thought 0
Q such a matrimonial contamination.
"Me?H he gasped, staring blankly hrs
at one and hen the other OF his four &C
2 cusers as they stood before him. 'Me-
2 marry-the- Widder-Ncwton? Me, ~
ter T.. Pillsberry, a-goin' TO Marr
4 Calisty Newton
Its in every body's mouth" sal
9 Mrs. Gibson Downing. They say 70
stop at her home half an hour at a tim
2 every dav. said Dorinda.
= 20, pa.'' cried Miss Becky. The SO
said nothing. but looked volumes.
Uncle Peter stared At all Of them for
= moment and then said:
= you're hollcrin' fore you're hur
9 children; that's what you're a-doin'; Mi
Newton amt no more idee o marryil
' me thar she has o marryin' The man !
the moon. I amt never mentioned ma
rage talk to her nor TO no other woma
4 on top o the earth. but you're dead q
zone ma, an she amt on top o II
d earth now"
MI The fears OF the children were
2 once allayed, for they knew their I
!? Their TO be an absolutely truthful ma
= Their faces frightened As he rose 81
u turned to leave the room, and the
n didn't mind 1t much when he stopped
n the door and said, sternly:
70 s.But don't you try TO dictate 70 m
children: don't you ever try that agin
u. The injured look left his face SOC
after he reached the stable and beg;
in rubbing old Bally down. lie chuckl'
s. as he rubbed and patted the old horse
e.. .Mc marry Calisty," he said to hii
be self. well. I'D like to know who
creation started that pack q lies
m COIN. Old Hat Gibbons, I'll be boun
n Calisty wouldn't have me II ask
Is her. ] bet she wouldn't The idee Of i
to The Widow Newton was at that m
m mcntgreatly perplcxed and discourage
y, She was a neat, comely woman 81 MT
AZ and she lived alone in a coy little .
brown house with a few acres 81 groul
" around il. Her four married sons a.
. daughters lived in homes Of their o'
a near by. Each Of them had in turn
or vitcd and urged their mother 70 con
I'd and live with them. but she had persi'
t. emily refused. although she was a gent
d. mild-fac Of . somewhat yiel
ly ing spirit. .
s. ~ want d home Of my own 3
or would say; 1--WE been mistress 4
d. home, such as its, for morc'n thir
Of years and I'D never be satisfied TO hav'
a. home somebody else was mistress
no Here l can do as l please and there's :
H. body to say me nay. III want bait
cakes for breakfast or riz biscuits
Il tea. I has them. an may be ! wouldn't
nd somebody else's house. Its loneso'
"a sometimes, Ill allow. but there's wo'
Cd feelings than l-oncsomeness. Anyho
IA I've got plenty TO live comfortable {
lie and that's . good deal 70 be thank
nv for"
when her husband had died thu
~ years before the time our story begi'
T- Ill l.ft hta Wif0 Hi4 &