Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-07-31


see what possesses old Adam to stick to
his stony fields and mullen pastures so
tight, when the railroad people offer him
five thousand dollars for 'em. Guess I'll
go raound an see him about it. Lo-i-sy
Hill's too pretty gal and too good
one to be kept waitin' until Pete can dig
home out of the rocks for her. 1t amt
no patickler fun that l know of, doin'
housework at Desperation Hail."
And so, on the evening of the Widow
Bliven's masquerade party, Old Man
Mixall trudged around by the Putney
Farm to see his ancient contemporary.
Old Adam sat warming his venerable
bones in the sun. Sunshine was cheaper
than firewood, if less satisfactory, and
he returned his greeting.
$50 We won't sell the farm to the
Quantick Company" said Simon, sitting
cheerfully down on the wooden settee
beside his friend.
~ can't sell it," said Putney, drum.
ming his wrinklcd fingers on the win
dow-sill.
.'Why cant ye sell ita"
SHE won't let me"
"Who won't let you9"
'sMy Gran'ther Putney."
"Land alive, man, what ye talking
about2" cried Mixall. "Yer Gran'tber
Putncy, he's been dead an buried this
seventy yearsl"
81 dream about him every nigh,
said Adam Putney, in the same slow,
mechanical way. ~ see him a-settin'
on the old oak stump by the we'll. And
he's always a-sayin', Don't sell the farm,
Adama' can't go agiu him, can II"
''Wal, calc'late / should if was
you'll" declared Mixall. "Dead an
buried folks hain't no business meddlin'
that away"
az can't go agin him" repeated Put
ney, with the slow, settled policy of old
age.
''But here's your nephew, Peter, as
smart lad as ever stepped, and Lo-I-sy
Hill, the prettiest gal goin. They'd
have money to go to housekeeping if
you'd listen to reason"
II can't go agin Gran'ther Putney."
"And here you be, poor'n Jobs tur-
key, holdin' on to the rockiest farm this
side o. Serape Mountain, all jest for
consarned whim" persisted Mixall.
81 can't go agin Gran'ther Putney,"
dreariiy repeated Old Adam, winking his
blearedseyes in the sunshine.
And Old Man Mixall, fairly out of pa
tience, got up and trotted down the
road, muttering unutterable things as he
went.
.sThere amt such dumb fool as he in
all the foolish ward at Desperation Hail."
said he.
And it took good deal of the laugh
ter and merrymaking at the Bliven mas
querade to erase the disagreeable impress
sion from his mind.
Old Man Mixall was favorite every
where, and the hospitable dame in charge
of the refreshments cheered him with
hot coffee, newly Drowned wafiies,
chicken salad and frosted cake, before
he went in to see the young folks dance.
"That's Lo-i-sy!" he cried, shrilly.
CANT she jest as pretty as pink in that
Quaker gownd and the scoop hata And
there's Pete Putney cuttin' pigeon wings
III Old CquiTE boLi,tA ltCNoiutiouaiy
togs. Wal, never!"
And Old Man NIixall laughed until he
shook like mold of jelly.
Cap'n Elias Fotherindye was seriously
alarmed when his oldest boarder did not
return until the next morning.
"Why, swan to gracious" said he,
81 allowed suthin had happened t'ye!"
"No, cap'n" said the old man,
''nothin' hain't happened. But Pete Put
ney. he axed me, seein' was comm
right past the place, to leave his Revolu
toner rig to Squire Lomax's; an when l
got to Squire Lomax's, they axed me to
stay all night. Dre'tful sociable folks
them Lomaxesl"
And the Old Man Mixall went out
to water his marigolds and scarlet run
ners.
The sun was setting behind the to.
mato vines in the back garden when
Louisa Hill came breathlessly up the
path.
"Oh, Mr.. Mixall." said she, "Peter
has just driven away! He has taken me
for a ride"
sEh2"
Sand what do you think2 We're to
be married next wcek2"
I-want-to--.kno
s'And Uncle Adam is going to sell the
farm to the Quantick Company, and give
the money to Peter, and he's to live with
usl"