The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-25

have wrung her neck to begin with
II en- spare you the eggs, was the re-
ply, still in the same reserved manner.
"All right. How do you make it here
sence your father died?'
Mr.. Dill's eyes wandered about the room.
Very WE'LL
'Git any money off the farm?"
manage to live and pay my taxes.
DO? Much over?''
"A little"
Ruth's voice was growing more and more
frigid.
That so? The Avery family always did
know how to manage. Your farmd be
more valuable if twas more snug to the
mo answer, Ruth was studying the
mans face. and thinking that 1t bore
strange resemblance to a gimlet.
MY wife never was no kind of a man
ager," he said. discontentedly. When she
died, of course, mourned her; but she
want no money loss TO me"
Again no answer.
Mr.. Dill gazed hard at closet door and
appeared to wish to open 1t that he might
examine its contents. But he gave up that
idea and soon rose to his feet.
Il amt ben down here sencs your our faf TN
go over the farm, if you amt no objections.
/ reckon some women do know how TO farm
it. but. they're mighty few Make much
sugar last sappin time!
Consider ble. ,,
Did? How many men do you usually
II have Joe Monk and Killup Little in
the busy season; other times / git long
alone"
Ruth now shut her mouth as if she would
not be likely to open 1t again. -,
do? Monk m Little are real gopo
workers. Yes. I guess I'll go over the
farm, if you amt no objections. ,
1.-The farm is free to folks to walk on
Mr.. Dill left the house. Ruth saw MIN
go down first toward the EngHsn nay nSlu
Having watched him thus far. she took n thr
broom again. She was sweeping the
kitchen for the third time when Mr. Diil
came back. He merely put his head in at at
4 rxylNt oh he hod
enough to admit of the insertion of that
portion Of his physical frame.
Farm looks tirst-rate,' he said i sid
almost say you'd better keep more sneep'
Think it's going to SNOWY?
Ruth shortly expressed her ignorance as
to the intentions of the weather and Mr..
Dill drove away.
Ruth stood about aimlessly for few
moments. then she hurried to the barn and
wagon. She let her old brown spaniel sit
on the seat with her, and. thus accom-
panied, she drove the three miles to the
store. Having reached this place, she and
her spaniel walked in and. as she had ex-
pected, at this time in the day, the store
was deserted. save for the presence OF the
proprietor, who came forward swapping his
fingers in conversational manner at the
dog, who paid not the slightest attention to
him.
What is it to-day. Miss Avery? Sugar
and spice m everything nice for Thanks
No said Ruth promptly. Il didn't
old Paul Dill n Adoniram Winsor, We're
bettin' about here; -, s'pose you KNOW
Mr.. SCOTS ingratiating expression in
stantly. left his face; his jaw dropped. He
II s'pose you know, don't your insisted
Yes" at last. 1T guess most of us know.
But, law, you needn't mind what mess
OF men say
Mr.. Scott began to laugh. He plainly
made violent effort to smother this laugh,
choking to the extent of purple face in
the attempt. While he was thus engaged
there entered a small man very much en-
velcped about the neck and chin in a red
comforter. Ruth turned upon him with
flashing eyes
mir. Benner." she said you see Mr..
Scott is in kind of fit. Now, I'll ask you
the same question l asked him. What were
old Paul Dill n Adoniram Winsor bettin'
about here?
Mr.. ,Benner did not laugh; He grew pale
do you know" relentlessly from Ruth.
yes, yes. | know, Miss Avery; but
want nothin'-jest nothin' at all; N
Having spoken thus Mr.. Benner left the
store with the remark that he had for
gotten to bring his pail for molasses.
Ruth also left. She drove directly home.
She was conscious of a burning at her
heart and eyes. She told herself that she
guessed she could live if she never knew
what that bet was, and have good
Thanksgiving, too.
The next afternoon, In the early dusk of
November, Mr. Winsor's horses head APP
peared at the top of the HILL and a few mo-
ments later Adoniram entered Ruths
kitchen. He was freshly shaved and he
wore his Sunday suit under the army coat.
He bore an immense turkey by the legs.
He slapped the fowl down on the table with
the remark that it weighed eighteen and
three-quarters, and that no old maid in the
world would ever eat it without help,
mans help too
My dog m my cat are all the help 1
Mr.. Winsor drew out the wings from his
pocket and presented them. Then he took
thrown a blanket on his horse, and If Ruth
didn't mind he'd stop a while. The two
partook of hot biscuit and cold corned NUT
ton and tea. Ruth explained that she didn't
always keep pies on hand just before
Thanksgiving, as she herself could get
along well enough If she. never saw pie;
AT the second cup of tea Adoniram spoke
of the fact that he had often thought he
had missed it not marrying. There was no
reply whatever to this. and he changed the
conversation to the subject of rutabagas,
upon which Ruth grew fluent, having made
experiments in the raising of that root.
1t was O'Clock before Mr.. Winsor took
the blanket from his horse. When he had
risen from his chair he had said:
Now, Ruth, l want to tell you once
hope it'll snow VAIN ThaSS Gs fU sn'erS'ana I'll
When he was unhitching his horse he
called loudly and cheerily:
1T does look m feel like snow, m the
winds dead east. Whether it SHOWS or not,
I'm goin to drive over"
Ruth was under a degree of excitement
when she went to bed. Twice in the night
she rose and looked out of the window. She
could see no stars, and the wind dashed
against the east side of the house. She
slept later in the morning at last, and when
she rose the ground was white and fine
snow was sitting down the wind. the whole
sky looking as if it might storm for weeks
There was a chickadee calling on the but
ternut tree in the yard.
Ruth was rather tried with herself be-
cause her excitement continued. She looked
very calm, however, save that her eyes
were brighter than common. When She
combed her hair. which had always tried
to curl, she allowed the locks on her fore
head to lie more loosely, but this was all
the concession she made in her excitement.
Mr. Winsor came at $3.50 in the morning.
Instead of covering his horse he put hin, in
en- his elderly face was glowing. The odors
of baking turkey were in the room.
you've lost your bet.' exclaimed Ruth.
81 know it; I'm glad of it," Adoniram
walked quickly to the sink, where the hos
tess was pairing turnips. II was a mean
made me mad 1 didn't care. Ruth Avery
will you marry me?
Ruth stopped her work and leaned her
hands on the edge of the sink. Her cheeks
were red.
Il sh'ii have to think about that" she
said.
yes know you will. I've got to tell
you what we bet--that is, what the loser
was to do--he was to come here and ask
you to marry him. 1t was horrid thing
to bet. l didn't realize it. Oh, Ruth, don't
look like that! | want you to marry me-
I'm goin' to come here every week N ask
you till you say yes. ] won't give it up
va ,4sa1 7 1<..fA j..