The Van Buren press., 1895-05-25

Henry, passionately.
At this moment. anyone who did
not know the two old men might have
feared, from their expressions that
they were coming 70 blows; but just
then the road bFanchcd Oh and they
went away quite peacefully on their
different routes
Soon after tho COWS made , rush In
st IN open gate- At the sound OF
their hoofs man came out OF the cow
house and opened the door TO let them
In As each one went into her own
stall. he addressed Ben: They didn't
got Oh, then! Well, I sort q tho't they
wouldn't"
mo. Market WAS vurry full. dun
no when I've seed It 20 full
They be proper glad to get home
again." said the man. with . back
ward glance at the COWS
"Ah! What be luck for the fox be
loss fur the houndsi" replied Ben, SEN
tentiously.
Ben's cottage. which was about .
mile away, was double one, his side
being the nearest TO the gate. The
other side had an almost deserted ap-
pearance, there were no curtains In
the window, only pot or two Of
pinched- looking dowerk A great con-
trast TO tho window next door. with its
cozy curtains and brilliant flowers In
their bright red pots.
How late you be, Benl" said his
| wife, hurryinR TO the door rs she heard
the tap Of his wooden leg in the path.
Il didn't like to begin without you; but
be dyiu' for cup o tea; the dust gets
down your throat 80 when You be
clcanin' up"
81 doubts II 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
70 call out: Don't you come in over
my clean door WI all that dust on yer
Ben meekly took the broom and
brushed himself. then followed her
Into tho room and seated himself at the
table, his rough face beaming as he
looked across at her.
"seed anybody you know" she In
quired.
"Yes, I seed . good few. Market
was uncommon full" he answered. 81
seed that old rascal. Harry Legge, too,
and he CHECKED me that there, that II
he haedn't bin such antient old man,
I'd a up'd wi my stick and het un on
the yead!'
'.Old, indeed" said MrA Creeth. HE
be good ten year younger nor youT
/ mo, he bain't: not more or nine year
and l be twice the man he be, wi his
appleplectic complexion and his husky
voice, like sheep WI the dust downs
throat! There he goes nowr' be broke
off. excitcdly, rising up and resting his
fists ON the table to lean over and
watch figure that passed the window,
"Drat un! The sight o un spiles my
vittals!' he continued, crsning his neck
what dye look at him fur. them
II can't help secin' un," said Ben
sinking back into his chair "What
call had he to coma and bide next dool
to me, should like TO know? cant
do nothen wi'out him folleren' me. Co,
| drives cattle he takes an does II, too
Coz lives here, be comes next door
Why, can't even hev one leg wi'out
him havin' one arm. What be laughin
at?"
II can't help lAughin'," said Mrs
Creeth. with an irrepressible chuckle
you be 20 foolishl You knows as wei
as / do. there warnt no other cottagt
when he come here; and what were he
to do WI only one arm, II he didn't
driver" rf
| ts'There be lots q things--" began
Ben, argumentatively.
i ''Well. mover mine X there be. Did
you see anybody else In town. said
i Mrs. Creeth, divertipg the converse
tion into more peaceful channels.
4 After tea Hen came TO the door and
stood there smoking his pipe. Henry
| Ieggc passed several times, fetching
water from the well, He was house
cleaning that Is 70 say, he had cleared
ell his. furnitsve out into the garden,
and was dashing buckets Of water over
the stone floor of his room. Il y 4
| Next morn ing. being Sunday, Ben
wag1esniig over stbe plasty, watching
Ilshis piHs A6sld orItwopoA 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
4 pig Dry weather we be havin'," he
remarked, after time.
''Sure. yes we be-" replied Ben.
"0ood far the sowin'," he continued
''they says: "A dry Fcbooary and wei
March fur the corn, and one fur
the grass. 4
yes; a fine pig" observed the shep.
\ herd after pause.
"Ah. I'll war'nt he do take kind "a
his vittals," said Ben.
Sure. yes. tits . fine Pig" repeated
the shepherd.
!, "All my missis' pigs thrives." said
Ben with pride. #
I Shouldn't a tho't IL, to look at ye,
came from the distance, where Henry
Lcgcc was walking round his part Of
of the garden, ostensibly looking al
his gooseberry bushes but really list
i ening to the conversation.
/ Ben looked at the shepherd with ar
expression Of contemptuous pity, and
tapped his head significantly; which
gesture being seen, as II was intended
to be, by Henry, he asked angrily
"Whnt be tappin' yer head fur? II
see II 'tis holler? I'll war'nt It's as hol
Ter as q empty beer barrel"
"wull, Harry, how be times WI your
inquired the shepherd hastily, wishing
to cause diversion. He moved up the
path as he spoke.
"Oh. pretty fair" replied Henry
but I've q middliug queer customer
afore long. Farmer Hoist's bull. they