Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-10-14
An answered Question.
BY DORA HASTINGS.

liked good deal Of vinegar, and so II
was, too," he continued, Ticking the
old horse with the end of the whip
though that self-willed animal made
not the slightest response to his sug-
gestion; ''he was the greatest hand fol-
vinegar / ever did see Sally, that's his
mother, used to say she believed tina!
pickles was sweet to him.
1t was the evening of summer day
The wind stirred gently. The omni-
present life of summer found voice Ia
bird notes and insect chirpings
Through a foreground of naples or
elms, one caught glimpses of white
farmhouses, contrasting with long red
tobacco barns, that added a dash of
gayer color to the sober white and
green. Mr.. Frost had little apprecia-
ton of the values of color; but he
scanned the crops along the way, will.
the eye of connoiseur, noting height
and quality with the precision of long
experience and intense interest.
That's Oscars wife's," he said,
pointing to an oblong, five-acre strip of
lOOdSNO. hOOhS III ~ iotO. ohC . q OCt-
ter farmer n he ever was. He had o
good notion of carpenterin' and ma
chinery, but he never took to the land.
His seeds always come up kind o
meachin' like, and the later bugs and
crows regerlarly laughed at his scare
crows and pisen. One time the squash
bugs eat up all his squashes, and Dor
cas''-with a short laugh-"she told
him he'd better plant bugs next time
and see If he couldn't raise some
squashes.
'She's tartar, l tell you, a black
eyed woman with temper that
matches. We all on us told Oscar bet
ter" returning to the chief motive
but he'd laugh and say he liked his
apples little tart. Well, he found
out, guess. There never was no peace
in the house. She was one of the ar
gum kind, and she was bound to have
her own way from the start.
First, she tried to make Methody
of him; but Oscars kind o. set like, if
he is good-natured, and it didn't work
They argued on fallin' from grace Os-
car said it made him think of havin' G
little back door to one end Of the Ark
where body could fall out, and thai
made her madder'n a wet hen; then
twas close communion and the mind
cure; and then they quarrelled on po-
litics. She used to have tantrum ev-
cry election day when he went away to
vote, and went over to her mothers
reglar.
Once she took the key and made him
come in the suller way, and several
sayin' word for week; and bless
ed relief 1t must ha' been to Oscar.
An then it was women's rights, and
the faith cure; but Oscar stood it well
enough, always laughin' an maxim fun
of the way things went, till it come to
the pound of nails--wire nails she was
set on, and cut nails he was bound to
have.
They quarrelled about it all the
morning before breakfast, and when
he went away she called out spiteful-
for one of the neighbors heard her
You needn't come home, Oscar Frost,
till you bring them wire nails That's
twelve years ago, an he amt been
seen around these parts since"
Flows Dorcas got on?"
"Ffrst-rate," said the old man with
animation. paid the mortgage and
put money by. She's got more head
for farmin' than two of Oscar. That's
the place." as they drew near large
old-fashioned brown house. She's got
to speakin' o. Oscar lately as If he
would be home in day or two. She's
been maxim cream puffs for him for
some time-'mazin' hand he is for
cream puffs. She keeps stock of 'em
on hand constant. / should think
she'd be pretty near over haAkerin' af-
ter cream puffs herself, by this time.
You'll see her." sal the old man, stop
ping at the gate, I've got some kero-
sene for her. i guess" said he, nod
ding to his companion, ''if Oscar ever
does come back, she'll be middlin' glad
to see him. Dorcas! Dorcas." he
called.
The screen door opened, and tall,
spare woman came towards them. She
looked very trim and neat in a new
bingham, and had even attempted
some floral decoration in the way of
sweet peas. Its the season makes
body feel like it," she said once, apollo
getically, referring to the flowers. Her
large, FESTIVE eyes fell carelessly upon
the occupants of the wagon; then wan
dered of their own will down the
street. That little strip of road lead
ing from her home to the village GEN.
ter was stereotyped upon her memory.
Through summer and winter, morning
noon, and especially at nightfall, she
had watched 1t till 1t had become one
of the factors of her life. 1t was de-
serted now except for some children
playing. She turned toward the
wagon.
did you get the kerosene?" she
asked in a clear, crisp way.
YES" said he, fumbling about
among the bundles, 'it's somewhere
here. oh, here 1t is"
Folks well?" she asked.
Eyes. You've got Bells boy over
here"
EYES,"
els he contented?"
Seems to be-"
ANY news up this way7" inquired
he.
"They say John Sandem is worse"
said Dorcas. They had a council Of