The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-11-16
.AEE IN MAZE
The Two Found a Resting Place
Together at Last.

The woman was holding the door SO
that her figure might just fill the
opening, and as she had very thin
figure the door had an inhospitable ap-
pearance. Before she gave any an
swer she craned her head forward and
examined space for few yards about
the man.
Il don't see no dcrg," she remar ked.
20, you can't Gee him, he's out to the
corner OF the house, settin' down.
told him to Sc down N wait for me"
Having said this, the man adjusted
his crutches so that he might rest on
them more comfortably while he
waited. He was used to waiting.
He was watching the woman's face.
She had pressed her thin lips together
while she was considering. and when
Mrs Darte's lips were pressed to-
gether it was as if she had only sort
of cut in her face through which
she might take her food.
Il don't expect we're called upon to
support no dorgs.r she said, at last;
''the town don't provide nothin' for
dorgs, anyway. Besides here she
paused, but added, almost immediate-
ly--'our cats dretful 'fraid Of dorgs.
She brustles all up horrid. She'd ike
" s not run away. m / a. know what
we should do. She's reg'lar ratter,
n the rats we hev here are jest be-
yond words. don't see why the town
don't do sumthin' bout EN-. / tell
Abram If he tended to things S he'd
say sumthin' bout them rats to town
meetin'. tell him l wish the select
men could see our hog pail most any
time when it's settin' out there By the
pen. Its jest sight with them rats
tails in ring right round the top os
it, N they with their heads down in
the swill.''
This seemed irrelevant, but the man
did not interrupt. His faded old blne
eyes were fixed on the woman's lace.
Somehow those eyes made her uneasy.
She wished they were not 50 mild and
so gentle.
When she stopped speaking he said
that he knew some folks didn't like
dorgs; they were afraid they'd rim
mad in the summer cause twas hot,
n in the winter cause twas cold.
But amt 'fraid to risk that, . he con-
clnded.
There was silence for moment dur
ing which Baltimore oriole in the
cherry tree close BY Huted ont his song
and then few of, making swift line
Of brilliant color as he went The old
man turned and gazed after the fiy-
ing beauty. He smiled slightly as he
gazed.
Them birds are lot OF company for
me this time Of year." he said. Il
guess they've built up in the top
branch-though mostly they like ell |
lums for their nests
As ne still continued to stand there
Mrs Darte could not quite make up
her mind to shut the door on him. |
Presently he turned toward her again.
This is the almshouse where i |
b1ong," he began, hesitatingly. sim
f0wned here, anyway, n I've bout
made up my mind | can't take care Of
myself no more. I'm gittin' Old
Mira Darte just now heard a Kissing
sound that told her the dried apple |
stewing on the kitchen stove was boil /
ing over. She felt sure that the half /
witted pauper inmate that she hal
LEFT to watch wonld spill the apple
when she tried to move The kettle
back
But here was old Lemmy Little, who
didn't seem to know enough to 10
away. Of course they couldn't tcke
his dog. 1t was ridiculous. lust Ike
him to think they could. and har
mother had always said that good.
sized dog cost as Inach to keep as
pig. She told herself that she hadn't
any right to nse the towns money to
provide for q useless animal like that.
7 don't see how / can, no way" she
said.
II tell you what" exclaimed MI.
Little, Frightening, '.you Jest come
out'n see MAZE, a. p'r'aps youll change
your mind. He's such good teller.
You can't help ikin' him, nobody
can't"
4 guess I've seen him, was the re-
sponse, the speaker showing no enthu-
siaam at the prospect Of making ac-
inaintance with 8iaje. i.I've seen him
yoin' along with yoIr
''But you N ust come outH-the old
syes were still bright--,'n' speak to
aim He'sthe best feller you ever seen.
Nhys-here the stubily, weak chin
slightly-.tI amt BEN 'thout 3
iim day nor night for ten year, m ten
rear ago this spring he was a pup
rhey YVES goin ter drown him. / saved
lis life ! got him way from them !
wo cusses OF boys It0ok Off the roDe. /
4 the rock they'd tied to his necl.
Twas the best job / ever done
aved that pup. He's ~
ince. Ny wife = when I
In'ly died zen minc eyer
be : .le died. n, my son he
Of that wound be got when
factory blowed MP, you know. M
amt ben fit for nothinl for / d,know
how long. Iiye got ter give up ped
din on count Of my back and le.,s. II
knew this was the pporhonsc where
blonged- LID come here fore only
KEEP tliinkin' how 'twouId er made nv