Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-05-24

Peter, Cindy Evans; he's as good and
honest an old man as ever lived. Your
father thought the world of him. But
you can just set your minds at rest
about him, he amt no more idee of
marrying than have. The idee OF it!'
The girls went home in greater peace
of mind than they had known when
coming to see their mother, since they
now felt confident that their share of
the three thousand dollars their mother
had in the bank was not to be lessened
by the possible claims of step-father.
The smile on Uncle Peters face deep
ened the next day as he drew near the
Widow Newton's house while making
his daily rounds. He stopped singing:
Here we are but straying pilgrims"
and began on lively ditty about
"a lady fair,
With nut brown hair,
Oh, tummy vi yum,
Oh, tummy vi yum,
vi yum di de do"
The Widow Newton heard him COM
ing and bushes came to her plump
cheeks.
81 shan't let on that I've heerd any
thing of the scand 'lous mess of stuff
bout me and him." she said, as the
sound of the rafting cart wheels came
nearer and nearer; 'I'll just go out and
ask him how the folks are at home and
get me pound of paddock and come
right into the house SOS the tongues OF
the gossips won't have nothing to wag
about. There he is at the gate. Well!
what's he hitching his horse for? He's
coming in, too. Well, if that amt queer!
Dear me-"
Good morning, Calisty," Uncle
Peter said, stepping briskly into the
widows kitchen and standing, his old
hat in his hand, near the open door. He
had known her all her life. He had
carried her to school often on his hand
sled when they were children, and he
had always called her Calisty, but
somehow, she blushed when he called
her Calisty to-day. He went on calmly
and directly.
''Calisty, you heard the yarns that's
goin' round bout us?' he asked.
T-I-Yes, Peter"
She turned her burning face from him,
lingering her apron corners in con-
fused way.
did it make you mad when you heerd
emp"
w-I-didn't like it, Peter"
81 s'pose not-not at first, nohow.
was mad as a wet hen when 1 first
heerd 'em, but, Calisty, was glad in
the end; yes, sir, 1 jist was. Air you
mad now as you was at first?"
"I-I-hardly know They want
true, nohow, Peter"
mo, they want, Calisty, that's so;
| there want word of truth in 'em."
He came nearer and caught one of her
hands in his own as he said:
| Lets make 'em true, Calisty. From
bein' mad at first I've come to wishin'
and hopin' they might be true, that me
and you was goin' to be married, that"
the end of it all was that Uncle Peter
went away singing about the lady
fair" in louder and shriller but joyfully
triumphant notes, while the lady fair
went about her work hurnming an old
love tune forgotten for years until now.
A week later they drove quietly to a
neighboring town and came home man
and wife, Uncle Peter joyfully and
boldly proclaiming the fact to all whom
they CHANGED to meet.
They came back to the brides cozy
little brown house and settled down to
quiet and happy life, needless of the
fouts and sneers of their children, who,
as a matter of course, soon came to ac-
cept the situation with some degree Of
good grace and to make gladly-accepted
overtures of peace.
1--WE owe 'em a good deal, anyhow,
Calisty," Uncle Peter said, ''for if they
hadn't raised such a fuss bout what
wasn't so what is so wouldn't of come to
pass, and we wouldn't of thought OF
marryin' each other and being the hap
piest old bride and bridegroom on top
of the earth, now, would we?'-Zenas
Dane, in Household.