Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-05-28

her hands and. tucking her skirts to the
tops OF her calfskin shoes. hurried out
into the yard, where Sam Grant stood
in the drilling rain The two picked
their way across the barnyard to the
pens, where several sleek-lOoking pork
ers We're luxuriating in their native ele-
ment- After considerable talking a
price was fixed and Sam agreed to take
| the pigs.
Tom Lisco's got back from Ne
brasky." he announced. as they walked
| back to the house.
What's he count on doin' here?'
He cackilates on buyin' stock about
here. if ne can get place to suit him.
The look on Nancy's face seemed to
| indicate that this bit of news was of
more than ordinary interest to her.
However, she made no further refer
ence to it.
| before feedin' time" she called anX-
| iously after Sam, as he quilted the
yard.
Seems to be sort o breakin' away"
| she remarked, awkwardly. as she went
back into the kitchen. There amt
| been nobody at the post Office this
week, an l wouldn't be surprised if
| there was a letter there from some of
| Cousin Sallie's folks l feel sort o
called to go down an see
| Mary Jane glanced keenly at her
mother. but, discreet young woman
| that she was, made no comment.
| No. there were no letters from Sallie
| Smiths folks, the postmaster informed
| her. There hain't been a letter from
Ohio this long time, only one that ole
Miss Lankers got yesterday. 1t must
a been from Tom
/ Mrs. Kalometer did not go directly
| home from the post Office, but paused
at an old-fashioned frame house on the
outskirts of the struggling town. Tom
Lisco, himself, opened the door for her,
/ and, after a hearty greeting, showed
! her into the sitting-room.
| u heerd You was talkin' O rentin' a
| place. she began, coming directly to
/ the point, AN l dropped in to tell You
/ that think some o rentin' mine
( Good gracious, Mrs. Kalometer, you
don't say
! yes. I'm sick of farmin'.'
/ You're goin, to try restin' awhile?"
| IL cackilate goin' into business,
| in the boardin-house line, down to Bos-
I ton" bringing these last words out in
an explosive fashion, as though startled
! at her own boldness. Lisco gave low
| whistle.
| We'll. Mrs. Kalometer. il we can
/ agree on the figures, l guess your
! place d suit me well enough" he re-
marked. mentally averring that, with
/ the cloSe-fiSted old woman. this would
/ not be an easy matter. On the con-
trary, however. Mrs. kalometer seemed
| disposed to be liberal. and the upshot
| of the matter was that, when she left
the house half hour later, the terms
| had been agreed upon.
When il became known in Pikeville
neighborhood that Nancy Kalometer
was going to Boston, great, indeed. was
the excitement. This the good woman
seemed to enjoy, and. with an air of
| ignored, as pleased her best. the ques-
tons of her curious neigh bors.
The first of April found herself and
| Mary Jane established in a dingy
clearinghouse on Dyke street. To
tell the truth. matters had not yet as
sumed the roseate hue of which Mrs
/ kalometer had dreamed. In the first
| place, the uninvi.ing aspect of the
| house. together with the exorbitant
rent, had well-nigh appalled, her; and,
| but for the dread of being laughed at,
she would have given up the plan alto
! gether.
AS the warm weather advanced. pat
ronage had grown lighter. and the
small fund they had brought with them
/ to the city was fast disappearing. On
| this particular morning, as she stood
| vainly trying to polish the battered
! woodwork. Nancy Kalometer acknowl-
edged to herself that she was thor
oughly disappointed woman.
| The bell tangled noisily. and min
ute later, Mary Jane ushered into the
room young man whom Mrs. kalo-
! meter recognized as the manager of the
| real estate office on the corner. Could
| she accommodate him with meals dur
| ing the heated term. he inquired. po-
| litely. He would wish special service.
and was willing to pay special prices.
| Some OF his meals he would take down
| town; therefore he would ask her to
| charge to him the meals he took. cred
| iting him with those he missed. TAX
| ing blank book from his pocket he
| began to explain more deliberately his
| meaning. As he did SO. he cast furtive
| glances toward the corner where Mary
Jane stood looking on in apparent indif-
/ ference.
NO, / won't tell her" she muttered
| to herself; shed tell me to mind my
own business: besides l reckon she's
| got to learn some way"
| In spite of the advent of the exquis-
| tie Mr.. Tyson, prospects did not brighten
| greatly. July came, bringing unusual
| heat To the two women, accustomed,
as they were, to the pure country air,
| each day was fresh horror. To her
| dismay, Mrs. kalometer found that she
| was growing weak and hysterical.
| The house was well-nigh deserted.
| The real-estate young man still came
| With tolerable regularity. consuming
fresh fruits. milk and ices galore.
ITS powerful expensive" Mrs Kalo-
meter complained: but bargains a
| bargain, an as long as hes willin' to
! pay double price, we can't afford to
| lose him
He amt paid none yet" Mary Jane
responded. dryly.
No, but I've got it all down in the
| little book
| It'll be four weeks next Wednesday
since he come here, an if you don't tell
| him he's got TO settle. l will
That afternoon Mary Jane wrote a