The Republican journal., 1898-08-25
A MESS OF COWSLIP GREENS.
BY NELLA II. CHAPMAN.

'sylum boy" turned her three sleek
Jerseys into the little hill pasture and put
up the bars; then, perching himself clum-
silly on top the fence. gazed down at the
two tiny brown cottages side by side in
the hollow.
Them wimen don't feel just right, -
said he retiectively, thinking aloud, as
was his habit when alone. There hahn t
been no runnin back N forth n swap
ping things fer more'n week. when
Miss Alvira comes after the milk she hur
ries right home, an yeste' day, when Mis-
Thompson hung out the clothes n she
was weedin' her datfodis they didn' t
scurcely speak; most gen ly they lean
Ell on the gate and talked half an hour
bout their posy beds.
There's something wrong. | don t
claim to be as KNOWN as some," he con-
tipued, but | reckon | can see daylight
through ladder. It's them cowslips.
Each one thinks the other been n pick
ed nm, an l don't see but what Philan-
der II lav to turn peacemaker"
This last remark struck Philander as
being very funny, and he laughed so con-
yulsiyely as to nearly roll off the fence.
He looked down at the little brown houses
and up at the clear blue sky, but no plan
calculated to adjust this unsatisfactory
state of affairs seemed to present itself
''Twon't do to let UNI know | mis-
trust anything, nuther,' said he, and
getting down on the other side of tue
fence he rested his elbows on the top
board, and leaning lazily back, surveyed
the opposite landscape through half closed
eyes.
Here and there the sandy hillocks We're
al finn n
blue violets. A belated ''red Benjamin, a"
struggling from the brush heap at Phil
andel' feet, swayed lightly to and fro in
the morning breeze. The budding green
of the naples lay soft ard warm against
the dark pines beyond
In neighboring Field man was busily
engaged planting corn; crow, rising high
IN the air from gaunt birch near Philan-
der, winged its way across the pasture
and appeared to hover for a moment over
the head of the distant laborer. Just
what this had to do with the plot that
seemed to take instant form in Philan-
der 5 dull brain would be difficult to de
termlne, but as the crow disappeared in
the adjoining woods with hoarse ''caw,
cav, Philander clapped Lis fat hands
trimphantly and exclaimed, 'Good idea,
MI. Crow, good idear' and thrusting his
hands deep in the pockets of his bagging
trousers he slouched across the pasture in
the direction of Mr. Burt's corntield with
unusual alacrity.
Good morning, Mr.. Burt said he,
crawling cautiously through the lowest
gap Ill the barbed wire fence.
Good morning. returned Mr.. Burt,
shortly, without looking up.
You re kinder rushin' business, ain t
YEP drawled Philander
Il don expect to plant two acres of
corn alone without rushing; | never ac-
complished much yet''-he was going to
say lolling around on fences, but he
thought better of it and substituted 'loll-
ing in the shade.
SHOE said Philander, because he
didn't know what else to say, 81 should
think you'd need some help"
Need some help" repeated Mr.. Burt
angrily, didn't ! run all over town last
night, and not man to be found for love
nor money-and that's not the worst of
1t, it Il rain before forty eight hours; the
wind roared in Black Mountain this morn
ing, and that sign never fails"
"Sho." exclaimed Philander svmpa-
theticaliy, Il d help We myself if | hadn' t
got 10 90 to town fer Mis- Thompson an
Elvila; they might 90 themselves" he
added artfully. IF TWAIN so fur for UNI
To walk -
Nh. Burt was considerably surprised at
tins offer knowing Philander' proverbial
d1Staste Ter work, but as he said, when
Phllandel did work lie took right hold, =
SO he caught eagerly at the implied sug-
9estlon and said in much modified tone
OF voice, ''See here, Philander, you step
round TO my barn ana hitch up old Jerry
for the women folks. they can take HIM
as well as not; then you get your break
fast, if you haven't had any, and hustle
right back
''All right, " replied Philander indjtter-
entity, but there was a self satisfied CLEAN
in his sleepy blue eyes. and he was not
long in taking old jerry to Mrs Thomp-
son door.
Why, Phi. ander,' said she, reproach-
fully, as he hastily washed and seated
himself at the table. Where We you
been all this time? Breakfast been wait
ing half an hour
Been over talking with Burt" an
swered Philalder, piling piece of sau-
sage on his already burdened knife ''He
can find man nowheres, and he wants
me TO help him to-day. He said you could
lake old jerry just as well as not and
drive over to he Flats yourself.''
Land sakes, Philanderr' | never
drove horse in all my life. | wouldn' t
dare to.
''But Miss Elvira has," urged Philan-
der, and she's got basket of eggs she
wanted to send, and, besides, | thought
maybe you'd like to drive round by the
pond and get some cowslips, SEEM the
Hanley children picked all yourn.'
The Hanley children?'' cried Mrs.
Thompson shrilly, why l thought
supposed stopped in sudden con
fusion and glanced searchingly at Phlan.
der His face Wore its customary ex-
preston of 90 d-natured stupidity. Mrs.
Thompson rose quickly from the table,
and her voice trembled as she spoke:
II guess L d better 60 right over and tell
Alvlra SOS she can be ready by the time
get the dishes DONE
Miss Alvira was sitting at her neat
breakfast table with Jaques, a large tiger
cat, in her lap Her toast was cold and
untasted; she was looking out of the win
dow thinking of the times she and
Marette had gone together to pluck the
cowslips that grew by the cold spring
II s'pose it's just blue with violets
down there she sighed regretfully, and
last year Marietta found a handful of
white ones by the elm tree, and we put
them on the table come dinner in one of
mas pink teacups, and while | was set
ting the table and putting on the teakettle