Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-01-08
be doubted, but she did not make il

The elder one had book of the Psalms
in very large print open on her lap. She
She appeared to be reading diligently.
The younger was holding Bible, but she
did not even make pretence of parus-
ing it. She was thinking that the fire
was ready to ''touch of" in the sett'n-
room stove, and wondering how long it
would be before the room would be
warm il Mr.. Smith would come. And,
if he came, what would he say? She
had done the barn chores full half
hour earlier than she had ever done
them before, and her mother had made
no remark.
If he came, what would he say2 This
question recnrred again and again. She
could not, by any possibility, put it
from her mind. II hummed over and
over in her thoughts.
It is pitiable to have to trelate that Me-
hitable had never had "Sunday-night
company" in all herlif She had hazy
belief that this was very sad TACT, and
she hoped that it might never be said
with truth again.
Surely somebody had driven into the
yard; somebody said "Whoa" very
loudly and emphatically.
M 'hitable," said Mrs. Green sweetly.
"You run right m light the sittin' room
stove, m I'll go to the door,"
While Mehitable was lighting the
stove, her mother ushered into the
kitchen Aiphonso Smith. He said he
guessed he nights we'll take out his
boss m STAN it In the barn, as It was
kinder bitin' out"
He immediately disappeared, and
was evidently "stan' in his boss in the
barn." When he returned Mehitable
was in the kitchen and he shook hands
with great cordially with both women,
and said with great gusto that he had
an idea that two women alone SO might
be lonesome like, m he jest dropped in
to be sociable.
He unwounc gray comforter" from
his neck, and as he did 80 one might
have observed that his overcoat was not
as long, by about loot, as the garment
beneath it. This kind of disparity in
length does not give an agreeable ap-
pearance to q gentleman. and when q
lover appears with this relatively wrong
position OF coat skirts it is very hard in
dee to bear. Not that Miss Green Was
fastldlous in such matters. Still she
could not control a feeting wish that
Mr.. Smiths coats had agreed with each
other better.
When, however, his outer garment
was removed, and she had hung it on a
nail in the back entry, where she used
to hang her fathers hat. she saw, as her
visitor stood rubbing his hands by the
cookstove, that she ought not to blame
him for not having anything long
enough to cover the immense extent of
his frock coat. The skirts of that article
of apparel were SO wide and long, they
waved and tapped so when their wear
er moved, that they were almost awe
inspiring. Mehltible, in spite of the
great sign ficance OF this visit, suddenly
found her mind almost completely oc-
cupied by the wonder as to where Mr..
Smith found that coat. Did they have
those coats ready-made anywhere?
Could any man 60 and get one?
AS for the rest of this persons dress,
his black pantaloons were very short
and small. as if all the cloth had been
used in the coat, and his shirt-front
bulged great deal, and seemed threat
ening to crack.
1t had an effect as if it were veneered.
Mrs. Green made some inquiries
about the hen business, and found that
MIR. Smith had permanently taken the
place of that young man who had "gone
up." He was only driver nov, but he
figured on gittin' in with the boss"
After a while Mrs. Green suggested
that the front room was probably warm
enough now, and Mehitable conducted
her suitor into that apartment. where
they both sat down somewhat awkward
ly. But Mr.. Smith was too much accas-
toned to this kind of thing" as he
would have said, to be much at loss.
He did not attempt the sentimental.
He t lked a good deal about what an
advantage it would be for them two wo-
men to have jest the kind of man he
was come there and set the old farm ter
goin' agln'. He said he should bring
his cow over, m his pigs, and NJ hitable
could take care of 'em while he was
pickin' up hens. His children were all
shirkin' Tor themselves now, though his
youngest was only r.
AS she listened to him Mihitable was
conscious of the most curious mixture of
disappointment and exultation. She
exulted over the mere fact that she
now had a ''gentle man friend" of her
own, and there he was visible before
her. Still there was an underlying
sense that this mere fact was not SO
very interesting, alter all. Was it SO
lacking in interest to every woman?
She tried to listen when he related how
much meal he gave his COW, and when
he expressed a firm convict on that
shorts did critier more harm than
good.
His upper lip was certainly very
dreadful, and it was particularly dread
tul when he smiled. She supp sed she
should marry HIM of course. It was al
most as good as an engagement that she
had allowed him to come on Sunday
night, and she knew he thought So
Her mind went forward to the time
when she should have to ask the libra
rian 10 change the name on her mem
bershlp card from Mss Mehitabie
Green to Mrs. Alphonso Smith. What
would be her sensations at a moment
like that?
Would her mother rule Parrot as she
had ruled everyone with whom she had
ever lived? Why did Parrot--lookiag
at his mouth she found herself obliged
mentally, to call him thus propose to
come to his BRIDES home instead of TAX
ing his bride to his home? She could
not know that foreclosure of mort
gage Was about to take place at the
Smith estate.
After her guest had conversed an
hour about critters and hens, and cot
t0n-saad meal and cracko1 corn and