Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-07-22

Want to hear it?" suggested
Prue, with proud little smile.
"pd like to, first rate, but can't
stop now. l just run in for min
ute on my way to Mis- Deacon Gibbs
and l see by tho kitchen clock Pm
late already. I'd no idea it was so
late.u
"'Tain't," said Prue, glancing up
at the tall timepiece. cit is only
half past ten."
"Oh, but you amt allowin' for
that clocks losin' time, Prue. -
Don't you know it is alluz as much
as half an hour slow? It's been that
way for years, ever since it was
moved out of Grandma Shedd's
house."
It's been fixed," said Jim's wife,
dryly.
"Of all things! How'd he ever
come to do it? Lucy
He did it," Prue interrupted,
"because he didn't he didn't like
his meals half an hour behindhand
every day"
why, but Lucy alluz figgered
for that" the elder matron gasped.
"Did Well, l couldn't seem to
quite remember" said Prue, with
such an ingenious look in her brown
eyes that her mother-in-law shook
her head obviously and went to re-
port to Mrs. Deacon Gibbs these
startling development.
81 can't make her out one mite"
she ended. t Whether she's as in
nercent as kitten or as deep as Ja-
cobS well, / can't for the life of me
tell. But the way she gets around
Jim is somethin' wonderful. Jim
well, you know how tight he is with
his money, and now he's just. a. pay
ing it out right am left for things
that Lucy allus hankered arter and
had to go without"
But she amt got her house
painted yet," Mrs. Gibbs suggested,
smilingly.
No, but 1 amt so sure but what
that'll come next" rejoined Mrs.
Rice, /" for she's got him to put on
screen doors, front and back"
EDO tell -
"Yes, he done it. You see, he
was away from home al! day and
when he came back late in the after
noon he found it cool enough with
just the winders open. But Prue,
she said it would be sight more
comfortable for her in the hot of the
day to keep tho two doors open be-
sides, and have a draught circulatin'
about the house, so to speak"
i can feel for her. That's a
powerful hot house," put in Mrs.
Gibbs, sympathetically.
Well, you know how wire screen
doors cost? Jim he said it was
enough to have mosquito.nettin' on
the winders, and they could keep
the doors shet."
81 know. That's what Lucy al
luz DONE"
" Yes; there's the difference. -
Lucy KEEP 'em shut. Prue flung 'em
wide open, hitched 'em back, and
when Jim come home at night the
house was swarmin' with flies and
mosquitoes and June bugs. Prue
she didn't seem to mind 'em any,
but Jim couldn't eat his supper
count of havin' to beat 'em off all
the time. Couldn't sleep at night,
either. they pestered him so. He
sent man up with screen doors the
next mornin'. But" Mrs. Rice
continued, tying on her sunbonnet
with precision, "she may outdo
him in small matters. but 1 don't
see no way of her gittin' him into
paintin' that house."
Prue herself was beginning to feel
some doubts on that point. She had
broached the subject to Jim several
times, but met with no success
her husband fatty refused to spend
any money in having the house re-
painted.
cit makes the blood go rushin'
all over me to hear folks deridin' il
and usin' it as sort of landmark
- That house with the paint wore
off, }" Prue urged, with hot cheeks.
" l don't think I'd waste time in
blushin' for house, if i was you,''
Jim returned, stolidly.
Il amt blushin' for the house, .
retorted Prue. PPM bIushin' fol
the man that owns it.n
Jim prided himself on his ever
temper, but at this point he was sur
prised to find himself growing an
cry.
" l guess l can do my own blush
IN and take care o. my own house
too," he said, hotly.
Prue gave cool little laugh
"'Tain't your house any longer
You forgit you endowed me with j
In the marriage service, streaks an(
ALL"
" Lucy" her husband began.
"Say, now, Jim, 'tain'i fair for yol
to bring Lucy in to back you up
That makes two against one; for
amt had your advantages yet"
Jim suppressed a smile which h,
would have considered undignifled
= You amt got any idea hov
much it costs to paint house, Prue,
he argued.
That's so. 1t would be a rea
useful lesson to me. Let's begin
Monday"
Jim rose angrily. Z" Well, If
don't want to have this house painte
ia like to see you have me to get i
DONE"
"Oh, you'd like to-" Prue smiled
Well, as it's my object in life t
please you, I'll do my best"
Women folks seem to think it,
so ALFRED easy TO make money,
Jim growled, as he went oUt of tn
door. You'd better try it ono
and see what it's like" he calle
back over his shoulder.
"lf only I could" Prue rum
mated, as she moved briskly abor
the kitchen. "Seem's il I'd Oughte
DE able to think up somethin'. Nv
| got all day to do IL in. Jim,s pon