Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-11-23

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her eyes, and she was CONSTANT,
thrustiDg it back with a quick-movin,
thin hand
You don't want to go as high as al
eighteen-pounder, do your
The man paused as he was about t,
mount one-horse tipcart. He had on,
hand on the horses haunch and on,
on the shaft of the cart; ne put hi
question over his shoulder.
Yes, I do, too; I don't care if it's
twenty-pounder. Do you think wan
a small turkey for Thanksgiving?
! sh'd feel mean as dirt with a small
! one
What you goin' to do with it? vow
/ don't see how you're goin' to make
way with it''-still speaking over his
shoulder.
1T amt no matter if you don't see
Adoniram Winsor; l en- set n eat it,
n be thankful that l amt a man, n
thankfuller still that I amt got one
round" with laugh that rang merrily
on the chill air.
"Certain-certain. You shall have the
lunkinest Teller I've got-big 'nough
for the president"
And now the man climbed into the
cart, the horse moved and the wheels
creaked slowly into the ruts of the lane
that led to the main road a mile dis
tant
Ruth Avery slammed down the win
dow, went to her stove, lifted the lid,
bethought herself of something she had
meant to say, ran to the door, which
she flung open with a bang, and
shouted:
"Adoniram! Adoniram Win-sor!"
Mr.. Winsor's form as he stood erect
in the wabbling cart gave no sign that
he heard, but he Immediately began to
turn his horse and then to pack him.
you needn't turn round-I say, you
needn't turn round." shouted Ruth.
But 1 want to. I've thought of
something" was the response.
So the horse retraced his steps and
the cart joggled behind him.
Il only wanted to say you must save
me the wings" said Ruth. There amt
anything so good for sweeping under
the stove and in corners as the right
wing of a turkey
Il ii save EN-" answered Mr.. Winsor
He descended to the ground and
came forward. He was very tall, and
the army overcoat he wore was not
20 y ho
he had worn in the civil war 1t was
patched with various colored cloths
and the bottom was somewhat fringed
The owner of it frequently announced
that he was going to wear it as long as
two threads held together. He usually
added that 'blue army coats were
gittin' so skearce now that this one
made him quite distinguished, and if
a man could be distinguished as cheap
as that he was lucky" Then he winked
one keen blue eye.
Ruth Avery remained standing in
the doorway. A sharp wind came sweep
ing into the valley from the hills and
Ruth again huddled her apron about
her head and shoulders.
Winsor approached and leaned one
hand on the decreasing; with the
other he dragged the long lash of his
whip over the grass, still green, by
the southern side of the house.
Il say he began, chow en- you eat
so much all alone?"
n hens"
ooh, them don't count"
Don't they? Well, then, if / can't
eat it alone l can throw it away alone.
Is that what you came back to ask?'
"No, faint"
Winsor drew his whiplash still faster
over the grass.
WED better go in than be standin'
here with the wind BLOWN through
our bones," remarked Ruth.
80, can't stop. Well, mebbe l had
better step inside"
The two went into the kitchen. Ruth
sat down in a chair and Winsor con-
tinued to stand, apparently that he
might more conveniently pull his
whiplash through his fingers. He bent
his head that he might look through
the uncurtained part of the window.
Think it's goin to snow?" he asked
Unexpectedly.
I'm sure I don't know. You can't
tell nothin' bout the weather in the
fall of the years."
''Today's Tuesday," remarked Win
sor, with still more irrelevance.
81 amt goin' to dispute that" re-
|
| sponded Ruth, and she laughed.
! Winsor was now gazing intently al
his companion. He was thinking that
! he had never noticed before that she
had kind, wholesome face. 1t must
have agreed with her to live alone as
she had done for the five years since
her father died.
DAY after tomorrow'I be Thanks.
givin', he said. His eyes twinkled.
"And the day after'll be Friday" she
Iretorted; she laughed again.
Winsor did not laugh, but his eyes
twinkled still more.
What I'm wonderin' bout" he said
after silence, sis whether it'll snow
IThanksgivin'."
eff you're askin' me, can't tell you
The Lord amt let me know whether
he's goin' to send snow or not"
It'll make it bad passin'"
That won't make no difference tt
me, the passin' won't There's week:
l don't go out onto the main road wher
the winter sets i'm
"'Tain't fttin'.''
yes, it's fittin', too"
Mr.. Winsor coughed.
"C0t in,