The Forrest City times., 1893-06-09

' mestic plots as this.
 I'm at your orders, num-" said he. And prices warn't never better for you nor wuss for me. Half cent pound is what we're a-givin' for old iron now"
 "Tain't much." said Mrs. Ralston.
 ''It's better than nothing" argued Moses. And really, now, ain't it wuth that to get lot of old truck out of the house?"
 "Well, I dunno but what you're right" said Mrs. Ralston.
 And while Mir. Ralston was yet cull ing out the ripest and deepest-colored of the apricots for an especial order for a dinner party at Dr. 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, jingling 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 it and was correspond ingly reluctant to leave it. Presently Comfort Ralston came in; a tall, rosy girl with limpid brown eyes and luxuriant auburn locks pushed off her fair, freckled brow.
 Am l late, mother?" said she. But they kept me longer than I expected"
 La. child, mo- Mrs. Ralston re- sponded. Il hain't but jest hung the kittle over. I'm sort O behindhand to- night. old Nose Minton has been he-e, but don't for goodness sake, tell your father. And I've sold the rags and all them old papers and the wood stove out in the she'd "Mother. The wood stove?"
 II got fortyfve cents for it." said Mrs. Ralston. And it wasn't no use to us, all rusting away there Has he gone, mother?"
 Your father? Why, no, he's busy with them apricots out by the orchard wall for
 No, I don't mean father, I mean Moses Minton. Has he gone?" More than half an hour ago." said Mrs. Ralston, scooping the tea out of a little iapanned tea-caddy with leisurely composure.
 Comfort turned red then white. She made a step toward the door, but al most instantly checked the movement. Its no use." she said to herself II must wait until tomorrow. | The morrow's sun was we'll sloping on toward afternoon, when Mir. Ral- ston hurried into the kitchen where his wife was priclling plums to preserve, piercing each purple sphere with re- lentless fork.
 Mother said he, 'be gettin' blind as well as deaf, or be l losin my senses? If l ain't, where's that old sheet-iron stove as used to be in the corner of the woodhouse?"
 Mrs. Ralstons guilty conscience sent the red in hot flood to her checks.
 ''That sheet-iron stove, Simeon," said she. 'Why-I sold it.' ''Sold it." shouted Ralston. "When? Why?" sssfs' Yesterday arternoon," said the old lady. 'To Nose Minton, as goes around with the rag-and-bottle wagon. It wasn't no use standln' there-and he gin me forty-five cents for it"
 "Forty-five cents.' roared Ralston. | 'F'or-ty--fce-cents." And he rushed frantically out of the house
 'Mercy on me-" said Mrs. Ralston. ''Is father crazy?" About that time, Mrs. Minton, the tall and gaunt ,helpmeet of the itinerant hero, was down in the cellar of her 1 house, roofing in the ash drawer of the identical wood stove which her husband had bought yesternight; while Comfort Ralston upstairs, awaited the result of her investigations with palpitating 1 heart.
 Here it is,'' said Mrs. Minton. "A 1 flat packet O papers. And it's a good 1 thing you thought of it afore Nose had carted it off,
 Quick, Give it to mel huttered Com fort, 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 i him.
 And away she ran, disappearing into the pine wood before Mrs. Minton could realize what it all meant. Well, I never!' said Mrs. Minton. ''Then it's true that she and Ben Blifil 1 are engaged ag'in' her fathers wishes, And these is love letters. Well, l do declare. Nobody needn't never tell me that there ain't no romance, even in the rag-and- bottle business.''
 Then entered Mir. Ralston, panting and perspiring with the haste he had made.
 Be you Mis- Minton?" was his curt address.
 ''Yes, please, sir" said the old wom- an, smoothing her stifiiy starched white