The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-07-20
as'in' partin' with anything. rts kind

o. second nature to him to hoard up
things; and as he gets further on in
years, he's more set in his ways than
ever. jest you come round the back
door. He's out and Comfort is out,
and now's first-rate chance TO get rid
of the old wood stove as has been
rustin' in the shed for hull year"
Moses Minton's eyes twinkled. II
was not the first time he had become
an accessory TO inst such harmless
domestic plots as this.
'Tm at your orders, num-" said he.
"And prices warn't never better for
you nor wuss for me. Half a cent a
pound is what we're agivin' for old
iron now"
"'Taint much" said Mrs. Ralston.
'It's better than nothing" nrgued
Moses. "And really, now, amt il wuth
that to get a lot of old truck out of the
Louse?"
well, dunno but what you're
right, said Mrs. Ralston.
And while Mr.. Ralston was yet Gull
ing out the ripest and deepcst-colored
of the apricots for an especial order
for dinner party at Doctor Jessup's
on the hill, old Moses loaded up his
cart with the rusty wood-stove in the
center of the bags of rags and bundles
! of old newspapers and drove away,
i:ngling his bells through the purple
twilight to the infinite disgust of the
gray horse who knew an Eden of
clover and DAISIES when he found il
and was corresponingly reluctant to
leave it,
Presently Comfort Ralston came in
tall, rosy girl with limpid brown eyes
and luxuriant auburn locks pushed
off her fair. frecked brow.
''Am late, mother?" said she
"But they kept me longer than I ex.
pected."
LIN, child, no." Mrs. Ralston re-
sponded. 81 hain't but just hung the
kittle over I'm sort o. behindhand
tonight. Old Nose Minton has been
here, but don't for goodness sake, tell
your father. And I've sold the rags
and all them old paper and the wood.
ssove out in the she'd
Mother The wood-stove?"
81 got forty-hye cents for IT," said
Mrs. Ralston. "And il wasn't no use
to us. all rusting away there"
"Hns he gone, mother?"
"Your father? Why, no. he's busy
with them apricots ont by the orchard
wall for"
~, / don't mean father, I mean
Moses Minton! Has he gomez"
more than hnlf mn hour ago, said
Mcs. Ralston, scooping the tea ont of
IA little japanned tea-caddy with leis-
urely composure. Comfort turned
red, then white. She made step
toward the door, but almost instantly
checked the movement.
''lt's no use," che said, to herself. |
81 must wait until Tomorrow"
The morrows sun was well sloping |
on toward afternoon, when Mr.. Ralston |
hurried into the kitchen where his |
wife was pricking plums to preserve,
piercing each purple sphere with
, elentless fork. ~
Mother" said he, "be I cettin'
blind Ms well as deaf, or be losin' nv
senses? If l amt, where's TINT old
sheet-iron stove as used to be in the
corner of the wood-house?" 2"
Mrs Ralston's guilty conscience sent
the red in a hot flood to her cheeks.
That sheet-iron stove, Simeoa?"
said she. WHY sold it,!
Sold it," shouted Ralston.
when? Why?"
Yesterday AFTERNOON" said the old /
lady. 'To Nose Milton, as goes around |
with the rag-and-bottle WAGON. It .
wasn't no use s,andin' there and he .
gin IN" iorty-ivc cents for it.
"Forty-iiyc cents T. roared Ralston.
For -ty- fvc-ccnts
And he rushed frantically out Of
the house
Mercy on me'" said Mrs. Rqlston.
is father crazy
About that time, Mrs. Minton, the
tall and gaunt helpmeet of tho itin.
Grant hero, was down in the cellar of
her house, roofing in the ash-drawer
OF the identical wood-stoyc which her
husband had bonght yesteruight;
while Comfort Ralston, upstairs
awaited the result of her inycstigG.
tions with palpitating heart.
Here it is :" said Mrs. Minton. "A
flat packet Of papers And it's II good
thing yon thought of it afore Nose had
cgrtcd il OIL -
Quick Give il to me !" fiuttered
Comfort, as she caught sight of her
fathers figure trudging up the lane.
Let me get away before father comes
Mind, Mrs. Minton, not word of this
TO him !"
And away sac ran, disappearing into
the pine woods before Mrs. Aiintop
could realize what it all meant.
"Wcll, / never, - said Mrs. Minton.
Then it's true that she and Ben BliRl
are engaged gin her fathers wishes
And these Is loye-lettcrs. Well, do
declare! Nobody needn't never tel! ,
me that there amt no romance, even t
IN the rag-and-bOttle business :"
II