The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1900-04-12
CHANGE PARTNERS

ing very serious, and promising to
call again in half an hour, after he had
been to see another patient. He was
thinking that by that time his patient
might have died or recovered con-
seriousness, in either of which cases he
would be able to express a more de-
cided opinion about her symptoms.
At present they puzzled him, and he
contented himself with looking grave,
patting John Emanuel on the back
and telling him to keep up heart and
hope for the best. When he was gone
the husband sat and stared at the fire,
with his empty pipe in his hand. There
was a certain enjoyment in the knowl-
edge that everybody in the village
would soon be talking about his wife's
accident.
"Tha naabors'll mebbe COON in ia
see Soosan," he said, aloud, reflective
ly; and he put down the empty pipe on
the mantel shelf, with it's cheap clock
that seemed to tick more loudly than
usual, and it's two pot dogs, which
smiled as foolishly as ever, in spite of
the calamity which had come to the
house.
There was gentle tap at the door
before he could sit down, and John
Emanuels face took a shade of deeper
gravity and Importance as he crossed
the room to open it.
"Oh, it's thoo, Cousin Sarah," he
said, as buxom woman of so or so en-
tered. "A thowt tn news be getting
roond the place."
Its rare an sad news" said Cousin
Sarah, as she shut the door behind her.
"a met tn doctor, as a wor coomin'
an he says tin be tn end O. Soosan.
as thee fawnd 'er when thee COON
hoam to tha tea"
"Yaas," said John Emanuel, shaking
his head slowly, "joost ath' foot O. tn
ladder, an thowt she wor dead. Hoo
long tn poor thing had bean thear a
don't know, but she ha'n't mooved a
syllabul since. an doan't think she
ever will"
"Tha woan't find another like her in
hurry" said Cousin Sarah, who had
been skirmishing around the place
while she talked, and had just discov-
cred tablecloth, which she proceeded
to lay on the wooden table in u
bustling, workmanlike manner.
"A man nun have his vittles, COON
what may" she said, in answer to his
inquiring glance. All be boond tha's
had nowt sin'~tha COON hoam."
"A ha'n't thowt on it, said John
Emanuel, looking little brighter, as
the bustling woman poked up the low
fire and put on the kettle.
'"Tha' woan't find another like Soo-
san in hurry" she suggested again, as
she returned to the table; and John
Emanuel nodded.
"Oop early and ia bed laate," she
went on. IAN haard at 1t all tn time;
she wor wonderful woman. What
wor she DOOM when she toombled of
tn LADDER"
withdrawing" said the husband
"a thowt as much"
"Well! thoo'rt joost such another y
suggested John Emanuel, as he
watched her bustling about over the
meal. save often said to mysen', 500.
san an Coosin Sarah are tn only two
wimmen as a'd like ia see abawt ma
place. "If Soosan shood be took, ave
said to mysen agaan and agaan, "Cous-
in Sarah tn lass as .shood maak
Missis Smith,"
The woman stopped in the act OF
carving huge slice of bread.
"Tha' doan't mean it, John Emanu-
ell" she said. staring at him.
"A do that" said John Emanuel. with
determination; "but. Of coorse, there's
Patrick in tina way naw."
"Of coorse." said Cousin Sarah. going
on with her bread cutting, and her
tone became more conversational again
"Patrick COON with me as far as TIL
house." she said. "He sad he'd stop an
smoak in tn garden. He's no good ir
time O. trubble, amt Patrick"
"He'snoa nearer marryin', spoase? P
said John Emanuel, thoughtfully
Cousin Sarah shook her head.
"Patrick's bone idle, A think"
"Then, why doan't thee glib him
oop?" said the man, looking down al
| his boots.
"Give Patrick oop9 Whatever foer9'
said Cousin Sarah, with an excess Of
innocence, and the man still stared at
his boots as he answered:
.Why, TO marry me. Of coorse. A
shall want somebody ta fend an TO d.
for me when soosan's eoaa-"