Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-04-19

Uncle Peter mad several married sons
and daughters living near him, and oil
of them, being thrifty like their sister,
kept their eyes fixed ION their fathers
possessions. which aggregated several
thbusandd dollars. They had even sug-
gested toiihim the propriety Of dividing
the property among them before his de-
mise and allowing them, in return there
for, to "take care Of him" the remainder
Of his life. 20
But Uncle Peter was wiser and firm
er man than he seemed. He had q
strong, logged will, Notwithstanding
his childish manner and his smooth,
round, effeminate and ever smiling face.
He met this suggestion with a smile,
and dismissed It with joke, but there
was look in his faded old blue eyes
that forbade recurrence Of the subject.
He came home from his rounds one day
in the merriest mood. He had CLEANED
out" his entire stock in trade and his
cracked old voice sang "Annie Laurie"
in perfectly excruciating manner as
he drove cheerily up the long lane lead
ing to his house.
At the gate he met Mrs. Harriet Glib
bons, woman from the village. near
by, whose highest earthly joy was felt
when it was her privilege to be first in
retailing new bit of gossip Of unusual
interest. She was one OF the few peo-
pie on tho face OF the earth whom good
old Uncle Peter did not like; but he had
never given utterance to this dislike,
and now he bobbed his head to and fro
and greeted her with cordial "Howdy
do, Mis- Gibbons! Folks all we'll to
home? They be? That's right. Can't
we stay to tea? 1t must be bout ready"
But Mrs. Gibbons declined the invita-
ton somewhat, stifly and went on her
way.
When Uncle Peter went into the
house he 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 come in mo-
ment later and was 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 scrap of paper to "fgger
some on" He had noticed peculiar
GOODNESS 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 so? Your old pa hurt your feelings
some way?"
Miss Dorinda, after waiting q mo-
ment for some Of the others to speak,
said coldly: '.-
"Yes, you have done, or are going to
do, something we can't help disliking,
If all reports are true
I'VE don't say?" said Uncle Peter, the
smile still on his face. well, what Is
it? Out with it an see il your pa can't
clear his skirts of any thing so very
heenyous.
Miss DOrinda came out with it fatty:
Its the talk of the village and the
whole country that you're going to mar
ny the Wilder Newtonw
Uncle Peter dropped into his old
splint-bottomed rocking chair, his arms
hanging Imply by his side and an ex-
preston of wide-eyed and open-mouthed
amazem ent on his round, red face. His
whole manner proved his entire inno-
cence OF ever having even thought of
such matrimonial consummation.
''Me?" he gasped, staring blankly first
at one and then the other Of his four ac-
cusers as they stood before him. "Me-
marry-the-Wi dder-Newton? Me, Pc
ter p. Pillsberry, a-goin' to marry
Calisty Newton"
''lt's in every bOdy's mouth" said
Mrs. Gibson Downing ''They say you
stop ut her home half m hour at time
every day." said DOrinda.
20, pa" cried Miss Becky. The son
said nothing. but looked volumes.
Uncle Peter stared at all Of them for
moment and then said:
You're hollerin' fore you're hurt,
children; that's what you're a-doin'; Mis-
Newton amt no more idee o marryin'
me thar she has O. marryin' the man in
the moon. ! amt never mentioned mar
rage talk to her nor to no other woman
on top O. the earth, but you're dead an
gone ma, an she amt on top O. the
earth now" tA,t
The fears OF the children were at
once allayed, for they knew their IA
ther to be an absolutely truthful man.
Their faces frightened as he rose and
turned to leave the room, and they
didn't mind it much when he stopped at
the door and said, sternly:
but don't you try to dictate to me,
children; don't you ever try that agin."
The injured look left his face soon
after he reached the stable and began
rubbing old Bally down. He chuckled
as he rubbed and patted the old horse.
me marry Calisty," he said to him
self. well, I'd like to know who In