Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-11-04
axs:sos q .. 8 q "a ASsa sac.

x EA.saa@A&xSssossas4 sas4.S &aAGaASssSGsa saa
For the lands sake, pa" called out
Mrs Drusilla GLADDEN. to her husband
as he wiped his feet on piece of car
pet at the kitchen door, Il thought
you'd never get in. Guess who's sent
me a letter You'd never think in 4
month of Sundays. Its from Devah
Bland-my cousin Dcvah."
Ia gave Il smile of interest and rub
beu his hands.
"Wcll, | swan now! And what has
Devy got to say for himSelfT'
Hes coming to Ohio to visit. He'll
be here next week. What dye think
of thatY'
Pa pulled off his boots contentedly.
Il won't be sorry to see Dcvy. We
war in school together. What say? Is
he doing well!"
been dead two year or more. bet
you Il great deal, pa, he's on the war
path. And to think Angeline Culver's
visiting around here just now, and
she's a widow. Pa, it looks like the
'pintins of Providence, don't it?'
Mrs. GLADDEN. smiled benignly on her
husband and he on her. They were in
love with each other and had been for
20 years.
"It truly does" replied pa; at truly
does. jest think how them two court
ed over three years, wasn't it? | hold
the split was all Angeline's folks
fault, wasn't it? That old man Porter
never Staid anywhere and got a streak
to move to Indiana. Her ma wouldn't
let her stay here, and that made Devy
properly mad. They kept it up awhile
writin; then Dcvy went out farther
west and married himself to strange
woman. After awhile Angeline gets
married. First we hears her pardner's
gone. and she's a likely widow viSitin
round. Then we gets letter sayin
Devy's pardner has been departed two
years an he's come visi.in. Now, don't
that beat all?"
How plain you've made it, pa"
beamed Mrs. Drusilla. at sounds like
them story papers. You ort to have
been a writer for one. | often thought
that. My, amt it plum interesting?
| don't want to miss none of it, do you?
How can we fix it?'
Pa was so appreciative of his wife's
praise he tilted back in the rocker and
gave the matter solemn thought.
Il calkilate we kin have this all to
ourselves" he began, "ef you can hold
out 'gainst mentionin 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 over prayer
meetin and Sunday? ! tell you what"
he went on eXcitedly. 1--WE can Just
have the whole thing happen right
here meetin an all, if you don't tell"
Mrs. Gladden's pleasant face fell
II wonder if it'll be fair not to tell
the rest Of the folks?' she began.
"You see, Devy'll be expecting a big
welcome"
Asahel GLADDEN. rose up in his socks.
"Drusilly, | have jest set my heart
on managin the whole thing. Don't
you disappoint me. | never had so
much chance as this in all my mortal
life. | always wanted to do sech di-
rectin and managin, and cont you dis
appoint me-"
'Whatll folks say when they find
we held that ncws?" asked his wife,
much impressed, but giving up, as
usual
They'll say you've come to years
OF discretion, though | don't want to
hurt your feelings nOne DruSilly. You
can take it all out fixing up the spare
loom ana Marndy's room. 1t air
lucky Angeline hain't been down here
yet-another clear p'intin. Now hurry
up the dinner and write Dcvy letter
tellin him he must come right here,
and we won't take no for an answer.
Ill hitch up the cutter, and We'll go
over to town and engage Angeline for
the whole cndurin week"
The two were as excited as chill
drcn. The letter had to he strong
enough to suit pa and was the labor of
an hour for Mrs. GLADDEN. ere it suited
him. Dinner over, they tucked them
selves into Il green sleigh and drove
over to New California.
'Well stop on the way" said the
small and rosy man. Il feel so anX-
ious to get hold of Angeline."
"Oh, you do| questioned the wife
demurcly. "Wcll, as our Marindy de-
clares her pas younger'n any one"
Angcline CulvCr-Angeline Porter
that was-was visiting at old DR. Nor
mans. She and CiSsy Norman had al
ways been close friends. She came
out 80 the sleigh to speak to Mrs. Glad
den. She was quite dressy and had