The Irish standard., 1899-03-18

!, THE SILENCE OF
SIMEON SAYLES
IS By ]. L. Harbour


- WISH to goodness, Simeon sayles,
/ that you would shut up and keep
shut up!" said Myra Sayles in a weary
tone, and speaking as if the words were
forced from her against her will.
''You do, hcy?" replied her brother
Simeon. sharply and irritably.
He had been scoding about some
trifling matter for nearly half an hour,
and his sister Myra had listened in pa
tient silence. Now she spoke because
he had said something peculiarly an
''noying, and when he had replied so
sharply, she said:
Eyes, mean it, Simeon sayles. 1get
so sick and tired of your eternal scold-
ing and blaming that just wish some
! times you'd shut your mouth and never
' open it again while you live"
"Iou do, hey?"
"Yes, 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 tightly to-
gcther. Suddenly he opened them with
snap and defiant toss of the head.
every we'll, Myra Sayles, will shut
up and III stay shut up and you'll
see how you like it,
"lll have some peace, then" replied
Myra, shortly. Yet she looked at her
brother curiously.
The Sayleses were noted in the ccun-
try roundabout for rigidly adhering to
every resolution they made. The
thought now came into Myras mind
"Will he do it," She had not meant him
to take her remark literally. 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:
II guess you'll be Cabling away fast
enough before night. There's no such
good luck as your keeping still very
long"
Simeon made no reply, but took his
old straw hat from n nail behind the
|. door and went out into the barnyard,
walking very erect but with little jerks,
indicating that the Sayles temper was
high in him.
Now he'll go out to the barn and
putclh around out there awhile, and
maybe putch all evening in the house,
and then talk a blue streak all day to-
morrow to make up for the time he's
lost keeping still. declare, if the men
folks can't be the tryingest!"
She stitched away steadily on the
sheet she was turning until the clock
struck six, when she jumpedIup hastily.
Mercy" she exclaimed, I'D no idea
it was SO late! hope to goodness the
fire hasn't gone out. must get the ket-
tie on and supper ready. I did intend
making some of the flannel cakes
Simeon likes so much, to put him in a
good humor, but I don't believe shall
have time now"
Nevertheless, there was q plate of
steaming hot FLANNEL cakes" and a
bowl of maple sirup before Simeon's
plate when.he came in to supper half an
hour later.
-. He ate the cakes in stubborn silence.
"Are you going over to Seth Badgers
after supper" Myra asked, ITO see him
about helping you cut that grass to-
/ morrow"
After waiting in vain for the answer,
Myra said:
Il want to know it if you do go, be-
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
twas done Simeon went to little tablet
in corner of the room, pulled out the
drawer, and took from it a scrap oil
blank paper and a stub of lead pencil
Myra took the supper dishes into the
kitchen; when she came into the room
Simeon handed her the scrap of paper.
On it was written:
I'm a-going over to Badgers now"
Myra dropped the bit of paper to the
d floor and stared hard at her brother.
"Well, Simeon Sayes!" she said, at
last. ~ call this carrying matters
. pretty far. Before I'd make myself so RI
\ diculous. I'd What you going TO do
when yon get over to Badgers? You'll
look smart writing out what you've got
&, tosay. when you've got as good tongue
in your head as any body"
Simeon made no reply, but picked up
the bit Of pencil and wrote on another
scrap of paper:
"Whare is that .patern?"
II think you'd better learn to spell
before you go to conversing in writing
spelling where with an "a and pat
tern with only one 't!' If you don't get
. sick and tired of this sort of tomfoolery
before two days. I miss my guess.
Simeon Sayes!"