Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-05-11
THE SILENCE OF SIMEON sAYLEs.

-RoHERr BURDETTE
THE SILENCE OF SIMEON sAYLEs.
Il wish to goodness, Simeon sayles,
that you would shut up and keep shut
up" said Myra Sayles in weary tone
and speaking as if the words were
forced from her against her will.
"You do, hey?" replied her brother
Simeon, sharply and irritably.
He had been scolding about some
triaing matter for nearly half an hour,
and his sister Myra had listened in
patient silence. Now be spoke be-
cause he had said something peculiarly
annoying, and when he had replied so
sharply she said:
Eyes, mean it, Simeon Sayles. I
get so sick and tired Of your eternal
scolding and blaming that l just wish
sometimes you'd shut your mouth and
never open it again while you live
you do, hey
"Yes, l do.
There was sullen silence in the
room for three or four minutes; the
wrinkles on Simeon's brow deepened,
and his lips were pressed more and
more lightly together. Suddenly he
opened them with snap and a defiant
toss of his head.
Very well, Myra Sayles, I will
shut up, and I'll stay shut up, and
you'll see how you like it.
"Tll have some peace then, replied
Myra, shortly. Yet she looked at her
brother curiously.
The Sayleses were noted in the
country roundabout for ngdIy adher-
ing to every resolution they made.
The thought now came into Myra S
mind, "Will he do it?' She had not
meant him to take her remark literal
ly. Simeon was as iron-willed as any
of the family, and yet Myra felt that
he could not keep such VOW long. 1t
was necessary for him to talk. So she
said:
q guess you'll be Cabling away
fast enough before night. There's no
such good luck as you keeping still
very long"
Simeon made no reply, but took his
old straw hat from a nail behind the
door and went out into the barnyard,
walking very erect, but with little
Jerks, Indicating that the Sayles tenn
per was high IN him.
"Now he'll go out to the barn and
putch around out there a while and
maybe putch all evening in the house
and then talk blue streak all day to-
morrow to make up for the time he's
lost keeping still. I declare, if the
men-folks can't be the tryingest -
She stitched away steadily on the
sheet she was turning until the clock
struck 6, when she jumped up hastily.
Mercy" she exclaimed, I'D no
idea it was so late? I hope to good
ness the fire hasn't gone out. l must
get the kettle on and supper ready. l
did intend making some Of the flannel
cakes Simeon likes so much, to put
him in good humor, but l don't believe
l shall have time now.
Nevertheless, there was a plate Of
steaming hot FLANNEL cakes" and a
bowl of maple syrup before Simeon's
plate when he came in to supper half
an hour later.
He ate tie cakes in stubborn 81
lence.
care YOU going to Seth Badgers
after supper" Myra asked, "to see him
about helping you to cut that grass to-
morrow ?"
After waiting in vain for the answer,
Myra said
Il want to know if you do go, be-
cause I want to send Mrs. Badger a
waist pattern Of hers I borrowed last
week.
No reply from Simeon. His sister
gave her head an impatient toss, and
they finished the meal in silence.
When it was done Simeon went to a
little table in a corner Of the room,
pulled out the drawer and took from
it scrap of blank paper and stub Of
a lead pencil.
Myra took the supper dishes into
the kitchen; when she came into the
room again Simeon handed her the
scrap of paper. On it was written:
I'm a-going over to Badgers 8 now. -
Myra dropped the bit of paper on
the floor and stared hard at her
brother.
uWaTl Simeon Sav1esT' she said AT