The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-12-08

you're well, Mr.. PeasleyP"
"Peters, not Peasley," corrected her
visitor.
"a little louder, please-T didn't
quite catch what you said, and Eliza
beth bent her head to listen.
81 said my name want Peasley,"
shouted the other. "Its Peters"
"Oh yes, / understand now," re-
sponded Elizabeth. Excuse me, but
it was all sister Jane g fault, she speaks
in such low tone. Tn not so very
deaf, still one has to talk rather loud
for me to understand all they say"
"Your aunt M'riar told me about
you," said Mr.. Peters, sitting down.
"I've knowed her quite SPELL"
"Aunt Maria isn't at all well? You
surprise me, Mr.. Peters. She didn't
say ANYTHING about it in her letter"
81 said-Pd knowed her-quite
SPELL" said Mr.. Peters, in voice like
u trumpet.
ooh, yes-pardon me-" said Eliza
beth. "When you speak trihe louder
than usual, like that, have no diff
Guilty in understanding what You say"
"She must be awful deef if she calls
that trihe louder n usual" said Mr..
Peters to me. "Hain't she mover had
anything done to her ears?"
1 made an excuse to get away as
soon as possible. L couldn't have
kept my face straight much longer. 1
busted myself about getting dinner,
but could hear every word of the
conversation in the kitchen. Eliza
beth asked him all about his farm, and
his family. and seemed to be getting
very much interested in him. She
kept him repeating his remarks until
1 fancied he was getting hoarse.
"Ive always fancied I would like
living on farm, said Elizabeth. ''Do
you think the children would take
kindly to-to stepmother, Mr..
Peters?"
"They'd have to il ! got married
again." was his reply. 81 reckon
there wouldn't be any trouble about
that"
"No, / don't like cats" said Eliza
beth. "Td prefer dog. Do you
keepW uOP, Mr. ItleTs!
81 didn't say anything about cats"
he responded. "You didn't ketch my
remark"
81 think just as you do about that"
responded Elizabeth. 81 don't like
to hear them bark. We seem to have
quite similarity Of tastes. don't We,
Mr.. Peters?"
Presently dinner was ready, and
they came out together and sat down
to the meal ] had told Elizabeth
that 1 would wait on them. 1 knew 1
could never undergo the ordeal Of sit
ting at table with them.
81 suppose you have lots of straw
berries aud fresh cream and every
thing like that on the farm" said
Elizabeth, her face fairly beaming
with interest. 'How delightful it
must bel"
81 like it, ;" said Mr.. Peters. "There's
good deal of hard work about it,
though. One has to git up afore sun
rise, and that makes long day of it in
summer"
"Yes," answered Elizabeth. 81 like
summer. It's strange what a similar
ity of tastes we have, isn't it? hope
you like moonlight walks and boating,
Mr.. Peters? 1 do-so much!"
, "Wall, I can't jest say as 1 do" re-
sponded Mr.. Peters. "'Bein' out at
night, specially on the water, don't
agree with me. 1t makes me rooma-
tick"
Romantic? There it is again!"
cried Elizabeth in delight. ''Im so
glad you are, for I'm the most roman
tic girl you ever saw"
81 didn't say romantic" corrected
Mr.. Peters in tone that made the
dishes dance. 81 said roomatick."
"Oh, pardon me-" said Elizabeth.
"But occasionally You seem to forget
that am trihe deaf, and speak so
low. But you'd get used to it in
time"
'T don't b'leeve I ever would" said
Mr.. Peters to me. "Don't you s'pose
some thin could be done for her?"
81 don't know, I'm sure" l replied,
turning away to hide my face.
All that afternoon my wicked sister
kept that poor man shouting at her.
BY degrees he got hoarse and hoars-
er. Just before tea was ready he
came into the kitchen where 1 was at
work.
I'm all beat out" he said. "My
throat feels rougher'n CRATER. It's
harder work to carry ON conversa-
tion with her than it is to drive oxen.
It's dretful pity she can't have some
thin done for her ears. She's smart,
an good lookin', an she seems to take
a great liken' to me-"
''Maybe you'd get used to it and
wouldn't mind it after little" said,
consolingly.
II don't know-I'm afraid not" he
said. cts considerable of a risk to
run. Do you s'pose now she'd be
willin' to go n see some ear doctor n
see 4 he couldn't do somethin'? 1
wouldn't like to make any agreement
of any kind unless there was some
chance of her hearin' better'n she
does now."
"You'd better talk with her ahout