Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

berry patch.
"Pfew!" she said, moving her chair a
little. "liow warm it's a-gettin'! It's
mighty hard to be vida, an siclsly at
that, an have your only means of sup
port took away from yuh by com
plainin' neighbor."
Mrs. Willis cleared her throat. Her
face took on a stern look.
Well" shc said, slowly, ~ don't
Just.agrce with yuh, Mis- Worstcl. It's
agin' the lazy to keep CHICKENS. I
don't see IS Mis- Arnspiker has got any
call to go a-complninin SO about hayin'
to git red O. her'n."
Mercy! She want complainin', Mis-,
Willis. She never said word-not a
single, breathin' word--ag'in' any.
body. She never even told me who It
were complained. That's what made
me feel so-the neck way she took it
In. She said she knew t were ag'in'
the law, anti want fright fer her to be
bother an u aggravation to her
ncighbors, anyhow-but that didn't
make her feel t any the lesser to rive
'em up. She said she knew most peo-
pie nd laff Mt the idee o. her fcclin' SO
about pa'cel O. chickens, but that
most people want all alone n the
world, an poor S Jobs turkey ut that.
! an so they didn't git their affections
set on dumb animals like hcr'n had
got. She cried g if her heart was
broke. The tears just run down her
checks She keep a-sayin' she didn't
see how she c'u'd git along 'ithout her
chick'ns, specially that little brown
hen. She ust to follow Mis- Arnspilscr
all over. Well, Iii have to be goin'.
How the afternoon has went. Now.
do come over and fetch your work.
My! how sweet that mount'n ba'm
SMELLS"
Mrs Willis walked with her guest
around the house. She answered in an
absent-minded way to Mrs. Worstel's
extravagant praises of her bleeding
hearts and bachelors buttons and
neutrality-suspicious.. She was lost in
thought.
At the gate Mrs. Worstel paused.
"Wcll," she said, with long breath,
seems to me yuh've got everything
heart c'u'd ask fcr!''
Who'd she sell 'em toe" asked Mrs
Willis, suddenly.
who? what? Oh. Mis- Arnspiker?
Why. she sell 'cm to Mr. Jones, right
down in the next block. Hes rot a
reg lar lot fer lseepin' ,em in. Well, be
sure yuh come ovcr!'
When her guest was out of sight.
Mrs. Willis put on her sunbonnet and
went out the gate. She gave a long
look down Mt Mrs. Arnspil1er's little
shabby house, with it's hard, white
yard, and the sun blazing into its I'M
shaded windows. Then she -ttarf
down the street in the opposite direc-
ton. ~ { - 7
s dusk that evening Mrs. Willis
walked into Mrs. Arnspil1ers back
yard. She carried box with Stats
across the top. Between these stats
arose the brown head of hen with
two very astonished and anxious eyes,
Mrs. Arnspilscr sat alone on the
porch, rocking slowly in crcalsine
chair. Why, Mis- Whilst" She cx-
claimed. She stood up Mrs. Willis
set the box down at her feet. Heres
your brown hcn," she announced, grim
ly. I've bought all your chickens
pack. Inc man'll bring the rest of 'em
tomorrow. had to pay once ag'in
what you got fer EN- to git EN-, but
I'd a paid three times ag'in but what
I'd % had emf
Oh-Aiis'-Willis.
Well, now, don't go to cryin' over
hen! iuh let your chick us run. Well
put some wire nettin' atop O. our
fence an keep EN- out" She half
turned to go and then paused. I'm
sorry acted up SO over them chick'ns,"
she said, ,peaking very fast.
She walked out of the yard before
Mrs. Arnspilser could reply. Mr.. Will
lis met her at the door. why. moth
err" he said, mildly, "wllcre yuh benz"
Now, father, don't 20 to meddlin'
with my cffairs," she answered, and
went on into the house. -Outlools.