Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-11-23

that boy was possessed. Tip Farnham
wanted him to stand up with him and
he wouldn't, Oddie wouldn't. He's
SO bashful--''
Ellejenette had her own opinion
about Johns bashfulness.
"Now, the Methodist church is
going to be filed cram full of folks
this afternoon. You see if it amt.
Tips girls got lots of relations over
at Salubsity -Four Corners, and they'll
everyone be there. Ellejenette, did
you know Oddie could have had that
girl if he wanted her? And now he's
going to her wedding in that nice gray
suit and them old wool bootsl Oh, dear,
oh, dear! Old folks might as we'll die
as soon as their children are grown up
to do as they've a mind top
"Aunt Charlotte" said Elleienette
with now-or-never feeling, for she
had long ago resolved to make this re-
mark to her aunt when she had an
opportunity, "don't you think John
would be more communicative some
times if you didn't irritate him at first
off by calling him that-that pet
name?"
Ellie. .enette considered Oddie any
thing but pet name, but she thought
she would put it this way.
''Land alive, child. I've always
called him Oddie. He always was
odd; he's odd now, going to wedding
with wool boots on wool boots" and
the song continued with variations
throughout the afternoon, till even
patient Elleienette was delighted
when 5 o'clock came and she might
make move toward preparing the
evening meal.
John returned, but Ellejenet tie did
not hear him, rs she sang and worked
In the roomy kitchen. The first she
knew of his arrival was when he passed
through to the milk room.
"Time to milk before supper?" he
asked, co ming out with the milk pals
on his arm. He had resumed his
working clothes, and still the wool
boots were in evidence.
II guess So, said Ellejenette, peep
ing surreptitiously through crack of
the oven door at her Johnny cake.
"But hurry up"
Instead of Fastening he stood look
ing at the young girl, and Ellejenette
added: "Was the wedding a nice
one? Did you have good time?"
Wedding! What wedding?" said
he. II haven't been to any wedding"
and went out with the milk pals max
ing little clink, cink as he strobe
down the path.
Elleienette found herself wondering
as to his absence, and mentally shook
herself for so doing. 'I'm getting as
bad ms Aunt Charlotte" she said to
herself. 'I'm bound 1 won't be SO
lnquisitive, if it kills me-" and she
tied on her sun hat and went out to
the strawberry bed, picking straw
berries until John came with the milk.
"Pve got something nicer than you
have, she called to him, showing her
rosy treasures.
He pretended TO clutch a handful,
and she ran before him into the house.
He looked at her with animation as
she sped. Ellejenette had snub
nose and wide mouth, but John did
not know it; he saw only pretty
smile and creamy skin, and thought
Ellejenette was beauty. He loved
her because she always called him
John. Ellejen cite did not know that
j. ohm had sandy hair and was too
broad for his height; she saw only two
bright blue eyes and candid, heart
some look. She remem bered with
JOY that he sometimes called her Ellie.
These two were on the way to becom-
ing engaged, but neither OF them vet
knew it.
Elleienette fitted blithely about the
supper table. First of all she made
Mrs. Sylvester comfortable, with her
cricket under her feet, her shawl on
the back OF her chair and her "eating
glasses" lin contradistinction to her.
reading glasses in readiness by the
side of her plate. Ellejenette passed
j John his cup of tea next.
"Did you look in this?" inquired
he. Because if you did you need't
pass the sugar.
"No, l was afraid I should turn the
milk" said she; and at this truly
ShoiSo WIZ ootA luuSueu. DuJ nOL so
Mrs. Sylvester; the maid was yet un-
born who could make Aunt Charlotte
laugh when she was brooding over
her woes.
Did you go to the wedding, Oddie?"
said she.
"No, ma'am," said John.
"Well, then, where did you go?"
"Oh--up i'll town, to the postoffice
and here's a letter for you'll most
forgot it.
Mrs. Sylvester took her letter with
rapturous welcome. She seldom re-
ceived one. This was collection of
circulars, detailing the miraculous
cures wrought by patent medicine,
and containing portra is and letters of
who had used the remedy.
1t entertained Mrs. Sylvester the
whole evening, and she went to bed
happy, announcing that she would