The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-12-09

"A rat in the meal barrel / wis
you could a-seen Charlie jump. Ii wa
better'n Dan Rice's clown. Duke ms
chawed him up"
He flung the unfortunate rodent fa
out into the quarter lot, brushed hi
hands lightly against each other and re
sumed Captain Jinks'' and the hapt
scales simultaneously.
You are right, mother, and-I am q
simpleton. Father does not look like q
man who was spending his life in vain
regrets i am dreadful simpleton. 4"
No. honey, only natcherly little
raw yet. It'll all come right in time -
She glanced beyond the pretty. cloud
ed face of the girl to where slow hob.
bling figure was advancing toward them
by the aid OF stout, age blackened
hickory staff.
My good gracious! Here comes the
old wandering jew. as Seth calls him
To my certain knowledge old Reuben
mas been comm 10 the house every Sat
urday steady for ten years. Won I he
never get over that misery in the back?''
Liza shrugged her shoulders and
laughed mirthlessly
Il should miss Reuben dreadfully if
he We're 10 get well or to die. He is the
one immutable thing l know of. - All
that was not dismal in her Lot was lu-
dlcrous, according TO Liza's Saturday
cogltatlons which We're never rose tint
ed
A little later on the smokehouse door
was closed and its big greasy key was
hanging on nail by the dining room
mantelpiece. Eben and the bows had
ridden away, uncomfortably incased i'm
coats and cravats which gave them
quite an unfamiliar appearance. The |
drugs had all been dispensed for the !
day, and Reuben had hobbled away. |
happy In the consciousness of having /
performed sacred Saturday rite cred |
itably. Only the clangor in the black
smith shop, the noisy wrangling of
contestants IN foot races or marble
games In the well beaten quarter lot,
with a redundancy of coarse wet wear.
ing apparel Tapping gayly from every
fence rail or low growing bush about
the cabins, remained as unlovely re-
minders of the day.
Liza was in the pantry weighing
the materials for the soft gingerbread
which was the test Of Seths enthusi.
asm. Her mother had gone to see about
the oven heat, but returned suddenly
and stood before her fiinging her fat
hands, palms outward, despairingly.
'Oh, Lord, the Chambliss carriage,
with Mrs. Chambliss and Miss Amy in
'ide, and it stoppin right smack bang
N front of the stepsr'
BY this time she had intrenched her
elf behind the pantry shutter, through
whose liberal chinks she was taking :
historical observations of the outer
world
Liza was poising the balances deli.
ately on one slim white finger. In one
coop was some powdered ginger, in
he other some fiat bits of metal Hen
erves stood the shock of this unprece
ented happening admirably. The beam !,
motiOnless !.
Il think / would not pry ON them.
lother. / suppose they are calling or :
ne blacksmith. A horse has cast shoe =
erhaps or bolt has sprung. Some. =
ming is always happening to the Cham =
liss turnouts - .
Yes, but, oh, my goodness gracious, .
liza, I've got eyes, It's here they're :
akin for. They're comm up the steps
straight as an arrer. And, o Lord.
very blanket and spread and fiannin -
9ttlcoat L own in the world strewed y
over the front gallery sunnin, and the -
e mans red fannin drawers fiappin se
ke mad. Saturday of all days! How "
'uld guess they was comin?''
Rebecca's mild voice had by this time e.
ached pitch Of querulouSeAcitement -
liza regarded her coldly. 'e
Il don't think it makes a particle of
ference, mother, about one knowing.
suppose they want to sit down here
hlle the carriage is at the shop Some 81
e must receive them decently. cant ht
tn S Sunday cake is in jeopardy. " eo
But there amt any place for 'em W
set down. The ole man always leaves en
y room lookin like a sight when he na
essos up, and that everlastin poke 10
my is down on her knees this blessed VI
mute III river of Suds in the dinin W
ON. - ap
My room then. They are at the Oh
or, mother. There's no place else. 4" Ir'
Mrs. Martin hurried ont of the pan W.
7 red and nervous. What on earth le'
the Dell place people want? Gu
Liza flung the scales from her with a WI
sture of despair. The weights had TN
It all significance. No doubt by this io'
ne these two fine ladies, his mother ne
his sister, were in full possession of his
room-the poor little nest where ar
istic makeshifts and homespun ior
ornments were the perpetual marvel I'M
delight of the entire family. She dis
ighed aloud. Seth could never be in. exl
ced to enter it, even for the placing no!
hook or the hanging of a shelf,
thout removing his heavy shoes.
ich he considered a proclamation of
y ground. {
Doubtless Mrs. and Miss Chambliss in
uld find abundant opportunity for the