The Van Buren press., 1895-07-20

wry we'll. an nkeht BE took siek t.
frxt thing l don't think -fn cvsr-
strong snyhsr.- - s1ded- plstptively-
I've got pain in ny back IDS min
ate.
..Sow. Amos.~ vas the deejded an
sxer. III we're goin. at Al. we're goin'
to-norrow. There ain,f any doubt but
what Cousin Ahbie's taken extra pains
an. has done q lot of cookin' already
Whatid she think not to see us7 Don't
you think you'd ought to do = you'd
be done hy. deacQnE
.wen. sinit aseoih- to do any argu-
in,.r was tie dignifed answer I'll
70 look after the cattle. an then well
90 to bed -
The sun rose bright and early the
next morning. and danced and
twinkled and fairly shook his sides
with laughter and goodwill as he
|shene with all his might right down
on the Simpson homestead But after
examining things carefully. and max
ing up his mind that all was not right.
he beckoned to little eloud, and
buried his head from sight
The old hefse and -double wagon
stood ontside the door. The 6ack seat
had been taken out 70 accoEnmodate
the small. hair-covered trunlk. which
Mrs Simpson had insisted should be
bound tightly down with . stout rope.
as she had once heard of q trunk being
left in the middle Of the road while
the driver logged contentedly on. Her
husband had thought this precaution
unnecessary. but after long discussion.
finally yielded. He now sat'o the
seat very stiff sd straight holding
the reins whil1 waiting for his wife to
appear. The deacon had slways had
strong desire 70 be dressy bat on ac-
count of his prOminent position in the
church he had not though bet to in
dulge this weakness, a been en-
couragcd in it by his wiH& hut now
thst he was going TO tho city, that
nhominstion of wickednpss he felt
no one xcuid be injured By his ex-
ample. and so be had given fun play to
his taste. Some few would haye ques-
toned it; but to the deacon's mind his
ent6t wasz absolutely perfect. His
long. lank form was encased in his
black broadcloth coat. thrown jaunti-
ly open to display the white vest. a
flowing plaid necktie and hair watch
chain. But the crowping glory was
his hat. the purchase of which had
cost him much consideration, but with
the most satisfactory result IL was Of
white straw. trimmed with blue rib
bon. and would have had quite an air
II it had not been fully two sizes too
large. and rested on his ears. Whena
boy, his mother, in making or buying
clothing for him. had always kept 4
little ahead Of his then present size. in
anticipation of his growing; and this
idea had become SO fixed in his own
mind that now, at sixty-five years Of
age. he never thought of buying any
ing anything to exactly fit him, al
though his object in SO doing was
somewhat indefinite. -
! "Ain't You never comm, Maria?- he
called ont; .'the. train won't wait for MS
forever" FL ,,s,a - $40 s,s.-.
just then Mrs Simpson appeared at
the door with a large bag in one hand
and the yellow cat in the other. She
was hot and out of breath from her ex-
ertions, and hurried look at her hus-
band completed her discontinue.
I'm mortified TO death at the way
Amos looks" she murmured to herself,
rs she turned to lock the door; but /
amt goin' to say one word to rile him,
but just keep prayin' that somethip'
will turn up to keep u.s." qaabinF8 q
The deacon appeared buried in
thought He felt that his wife would
not approve Of his hat, and SO had kept
it out of sight until now. After the
dreaded moment had passed he looked
over his collar and surveyed. her. w
What you goin' todo with the yaller
cat?" he inquired. la q -ilp"
We've got to leave her at Poliy's on
the way down. gGI wouldn't trust Joe
to feed her. There; you hold her while
/ getin." ! teR 7p itF fs.nW
The wagon creaked and groened as
Mrs. Simpson laboriously climb in,
and then visibly sank on her side When
she was finally seated.
well, you ready? Get up there!"
and Deacon Simpson and his wife had
really started for the citv. r1irssos'
They logged along for nearly .
quarter of mile in silence. When
they came to the turn in the road which
would hide the house from view he
stopped q moment and, turning around,
surveyed it.
You'd better look at it, Maria, ef
you want to see it for the last time.
It looks kind O. lonesome and he
choked a little as he fumbled nervously
at the reins. q1---. sBss hsta sx.
II think we'd better be goin' along"
was the cool answer, but inwardly his
wife's heart was wrung with pity for
him. "But l sha'n't say one word;
he's got to change his own mind" she
thought hi tsfftrq eos ,,see
l.Do you s'pose. the yaller- cat II stay
at Daughter Polly's?" was his next re-
mark. Tad TIA ! tao4 rus laf ~
mo; guess she'll run right back;
they generally do" itse4 asAo1d
e"Well-do you s'pose she'll starvep"
and his voice quivered perceptibly as
he asked the question, for the "yaller
cat was his SPECIAL pet. y, - =
s-"No;y don't think she'll starye; but l
kind o. guess she'll look peaked when
we get back; an then she'll sort o..
worry for us all the time. y. The dea-
con moved uneasily, and once more
they drove on in silence. Snfzag
At Polly's matters were not much
better. AS the deacon embraced each
of his grandchildren he visibly weak
ened, and his farewell TO the baby was
almost too much for him. He glanced
imploringly at his wife, but no help