San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-06-10

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at an open gate. At the sound of
their hoofs man came out of the COW
house and opened the door TO let then,
in. AS each one went INTO her own
stall, he addressed Ben: They didn't
got off, then! Well, sort o tho't they
wouldn't"
mo. Market was vurry full. dun
no when I've seed it SO full"
They be proper glad to get home
again" said the man, with a back
ward glance at the cows.
"Ah! What be luck for the fox be
loss fur the hounds" replied Ben, sem
tentiously.
Ben's cottage, which was about a
mile away, was a double one, his side
being the nearest to the gate. The
other side had an almost deserted APP
pearance. there were no curtains in
the window, only pot or two of
rinched- looking flowers A great con-
trast to the window next door, with its
coy curtains and brilliant flowers in
their bright red pots.
How late you be, Ben" said his
wife, hurrying to the door as she heard
the tap of his wooden leg in the path.
II didn't like to begin without you; but
be dyin' for cup O tea; the dust gets
down your throat so when you be
cleanin' up"
Il doubts if there be ever much dust
! in your house to get down your throat,
! missis!' replied Ben; whereupon Mrs.
| Creeth flung her head back and laughed
triumphantly; then stopped abruptly
to call out: Don't you come in over
my clean floor wi all that dust on ye!'
Ben meekly took the broom and
brushed himself, then followed her
into the room and seated himself at the
table, his rough face beaming as he
! looked across at her
Seed anybody you know?" she in
CURED.
Yes, | seed a good few. Market
was uncommon full" he answered. Il
seed that old rascal, Harry Legge, too.
| and he CHECKED me that there, that if
he haedn't bin such autient old man,
I'd a up'd wi my stick and het un on
the yead"
odd, indeed said Mrs. Creeth. "IIe
be good ten year younger nor you
! be-
No, he bain't; not more or nine year;
! and | be twice the man he be, wi his
appleplectic complexion and his husky
voice, like sheep wi the dust downs
| throat. There he goes now he broke
off, excitedly, rising up and resting his
fists on the table to lean over and
watch a fiUnre that passed the wiudor
"Drat un! The sight o un splles my
vittals"' he continued, craning his neck.
What dye look at him fur, them
Il can't help seem un," said Ben,
sinking back into his chair. What
! call had he to come and bide next door
to me, should like to know? can't
| do nothen wi'out him folleren' me. Coz
drives cattle he takes an does it, too.
! Coz | lives here, he comes next door.
! Why, can't even hev one leg wiout
him havin' one arm. What be laughin'
at?"
81 can't help laughin'," said Mrs.
Creeth, with an irrepressible chuckle,
you be so foolish! You knows as well
as do, there warn't no other cottage
when he come here; and what were he
to do wi only one arm, if he didn't
! driver"
There be lots O. things" began
Ben, argumentatively.
well, never mine if there be. Did
you see anybody else in town." said
Mrs. Creeth, diverting the converse
ton into more peaceful channels.
After tea Ben came to the door and
stood there smoking his pipe. Henry
Legge passed several times, fetching
water from the well. He was house
cleaning-that is to say, he had cleared
all his furniture out into the garden,
and was dashing buckets of water over
the stone floor of his room.
Next morn ing, being Sunday, Ben
was leaning over the pigsty, watching
his pig. A field or two off was flock
of sheep, and the shepherd coming up
presently joined Ben. He, too, folded
his arms on the rail of the pigsty. and
became lost in contemplation of the
| pig. Dry weather we be havin'," he
remarked, after a time.
Sure, yes we be-" replied Ben.
| Good fur the sowin'," he continued;
they says: "A dry Febooary and wet
March-one fur the corn, and one fur
the grass.
Yes; fine pig" observed the shep-
herd after pause.
All, III warnt he do take kind to
his vittals," said Ben
Sure, yes, It's a fine pig" repeated
the shepherd.
An my missis' pigs thrives," said
Ben with pride.
Shouldn't a tho't it, to look at ye,"
came from the distance, where Henry
Legee was walking round his part of