Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-10-20


"For the lands sake. pa." called out
Mrs. Drusllla GLADDEN. to her husband
as he wiped his feet on a piece OF car
pet at the kitchen door. ~ thought
you'd never get in! Guess who's sent
me a letter. You'd never think In a
month Of Sundays. It's from Devah
Bland-my cousin Devah."
Pa gave q smile OF interest and rub
bed his hands.
well. | swan nowl And what has
Devy got to say for himselfY'
Hes coming to Ohio to visit. He'll
be here next week. What dye think
Of thatT'
Pa pulled of his boots ~contentedly.
Il won't be sorry to see Devy. We
war in school together. What say7 Is
be doing wellT'
Doing well. but his wife's dead;
been dead two rear or more. | bet
you a great deal. pa. he's on the war
path. And to think Angelina Culver's
visiting around here just now, and
she's n widow. Ia. It looks like the
'pintIn's OF Providence. don't ItT'
Mrs. GLADDEN. smiled benlgnly on her
husband and he on her. They were In
love with each other and had been for
20 years.
cit truly does" replied pa; st truly
does. Jest think how them two court
ed over three years. wasn't II? ! hold
the split was all AngelIne's folks
fault. wasn't It? That old man Porter
never staid anywhere md got a streak
TO move TO Indiana. Her ma wouldn't
let her stay here, and that made Devy
properly mad. They kept 1t up awhile
wrltin: then Devy went out farther
west and married himself to n strange
woman. After awhile Angelina gets
married. First we hears her PARTNERS
gone, and she's a likely widow vlsitln
round. Then we gets a letter sayin
Devy's pardner has been departed two
years an he's come visl:in. Now, don't
that beat alp
How plain you've made II, pn,"
beamed Mrs. Drusilla. sit sounds like
them story papers. You ort to have
been n writer FOR one. ! often thought
that My. ain't 1t plum interestingly
/ don't want to miss none Of It, do youi
How a we Ok itf"
Pa was so appreciatlvo of his wife's
praise he tilted back In the rocker and
gave the matter solemn thought.
81 calkilate we kin have this all to
ourselves" he began. "ef you can hold
out 'galnst mentionln Devy's comm.
1t Will be hard work for you, Drusilly,
but It's the only way. Do you think
you kin hold that news oyer prayer
meetin and Sunday tell you what
he went on excitedly. I'VE can just
have the whole thing happen right
here. meetin an all. II you don't tell"
Mrs. Gladden's pleasant face fell.
81 wonder II itn be fair not TO tell
the rest OF the folksY' she began.
"You see. Devy'n be expecting a big
welcome"
Asahel GLADDEN. rose up In his socks.
"Drusllly, | have Jest set my heart
on managin the whole thing. Don't
you dlsappolnt me. ! never had 50
much chance rs this In all my mortal
life. l always wanted TO do sech d.
rectln and managln. and uon't you dis
appoint me-"
"WhatIn folks say when they hnd
we held that newsg' asked his wife,
much impressed, but giving up. as
usual.
'"rheyU say you've come to years
OF discretion. though | don't want to
hurt your feelings none. Drusllly. You
can take II all out fixing up the spare
room and Marlndy's room. II nil
lucky Angelina haln't been down here
yet-another clear p'intin. Now hurry
up the dinner and write Devy a letter
tellin him he must come right here,
and we won't take no for an answer.
I'll hitch up the cutter. and well 60
over to town and engage Angelina fOI
the whole endurin week"
The two were as excited as chill
oren. The letter had 20 be strong
enough TO Euit pa and was the labor OF
an hour for Mrs. GLADDEN. ere Il suite'l
him. Dinner over. they tucked them
selves Into a green sleigh and drove
over to New California.
wen stop on the way" said the
small and rosy man. II feel so anx-
ious TO get hold OF Angelina"
'Oh. you dot" questioned the wife
demurely. "Well. as our Marindy de-
clnres. her pas youngern any one"
Angellne Culver-Angeline Porter
that was-was visiting at old DIR. Nor
mans She and Cissy Norman had ~
ways been close frlendD- She came
out TO the sleigh to speak to Mrs. Glad
den She wa quite dressy aud had