Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-03-29
IN LOVE AND WAR.

The story of a country village is the
story of its store.
That wonderful place where the mali
and the molasses flow from a common
source, so to speak-where your inner
and outer man, your mental and phys
ical self. must get all their stimulus-is
the epitome of all the diffusely written
history of the lives that cluster around II.
What the store man cannot tell you OF
every passer by and every customer you
are not likely to learn yourself, except
by unusual fortune; and all he does tell
you has the delightful piquancy OF hay
ing passed through the medium OF a
rarely shrewd mind, gaining more than
one beauty spot in the transit.
That was what was thinking as sat
in 'Bijah's store, with the mingled odors
of calico print and dried apples, coffee
and the straw that crockery is packed in
fighting for supremacy in my notice.
'Bijah's broad back was turned to me
and he was sorting the days mail with
comments that made me as wise as him
self regarding its contents.
mis- Mi-randy Beal," said 'Bijah;
'thatll be abaout her pension, ! guess.
Ruther official lookin, thet is. Mr.. Asy
Fowler; his son John-gone down to
Pochemouth-he writes ter him nigh
onter every week-en nice, clean hand
he writes, does John. Here's letter
fer the schulema am. Now thar's
an'writtin fer ye! Putty ez she is, an
jest as-simple like"
The latch clicked and the door opened,
'Bijah looked over his shoulder and
grinned. was shut out from sight of
more than the visitors legs by slack
line of dangling towels, aprons and
socks but they were steady, reliable
looking legs, straight and strong, clothed
in heavy boots and blue overalls.
'Bijah neither turned nor laid down
his letters. He stood there grinning
and whether the person in the doorway
was grinning also, or plotting my assas
sination in pantomiime, was none the
wiser.
The heavy boots shuffied and turned
about, stepped outside and the dool
shut 'Bijah chuckled to himself and
looked back to his letters again.
Them papers is for young Thomp
son. He's TIL editor of our paper. He's
alive-alive an kickin. He's been out
west fur spell, an he thinks we're al
dead an buried. An he has made {
great change in The Bugler, | tell you
Folks say he'll be made ter smart ful
the way he muses. raound inter people:
affairs; but it's lively, it's lively"
The papers went into IA separate box
and 'Bijah resumed the letters.
"Mehaly Hopkins; she's got heap Of
money. Mazin haow fond yer folks is
of ye when yer got a pile and amt ne
heirs of yer buddy. She's good fer ell
though: she's a cute 'un."
81 suppose it is unusual for any one tt
make much more than their living away
up here, isn't it, 'Bijah?"
"Humph! yes, fer any one. Not fel
some on 'em though. Some on 'em i.
smarter n creased lightnin."
He put his head on one side ant
squinted at the letter he was holding.
Him, now, jeremiah Wilson. he's {
keen un. Nobody ever got the best O
tn ole man but jim. You saw Jim
came in here jest naow; amt no tate,
bugs on Jim; when he gifts up he's W
fer all day."
'Bijah grinned and wagged his head
Jeremiah Wilson, he remarked
and slapped the letter into its pigeon
hole.
The latch clicked again, the door
opened and the same pair of legs ap
peared in the very same spot where had
seen them before
'Bilah grinned.
Presumably the unseen grinned also
for there was too much of 'Biiah's grin
not to be offensive, if it were otherwise.
"Whut chu want?"
"Nothin."
I'VE don't keep that; or, if we do
were jest aout of it."
The big boots turned about SLOWLY.
sure ye do want no lamps, are YEP
Gals go with 'em?"
Not in this shop"
"Thet settles it, as fur as I'm con-
cerned," and he went away and closed
the door again.
'BlJah looked after him and chuckled
What's the joke, 'Bijahs"
"Dono' ez I'd orter say an'thin, aout.
side' but you know how it is, Mr.. Carson,
you never seem no stranger"
Hand over your story, you old gos.
np. answered. why, it would burn
your tongue off if you tried to keep it
in"
Bijah laughed heartily at this polite
sally.
"Well, take fer my tex, as Elder
Slocum says, that beautiful axum. All is
fair in love an war;"
de came around the end of the counter
ana sat ON an unopened sugar barrel,
with his legs crossed and his rough
hands clasped around his knee
"Ih' ole man, jeremiah Wilson. that
l mentioned back spell. he's Tartar
de DO know nothin but his own way: an
Mis- Wilson, she never know'd notlrin
out ter gin it to him. He's got a trick
er turnln relfnrad mn lnoly;,, I;l.. l. - -