The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-10-04

up, Loretta had bought the gum, and
had given a couple of pieces to each.
Chew on one, and offer the other piece
to some of EN-" she said biting win.
dlctlvely on a piece of it herself.
"A little way outside the Hardware,
Mrs. Cooper halted her forces, and gave
the final instructions. "We'll not all 60
in at once" she said. "We'll lust slip
in, one at a time, an set down an begin
on the gum. The rest can watch from
the outside, SOS to know when to come. -
"Who-Who's goin' in tirst?" asked
one.
'I'll go said Mrs. Hignutt the light
OF determination in her eye
SO it was she who came in, and, spy
ing vacant box between two of the
! men, started toward it. Lapham, think
ing her customer, intercepted her.
What can | show you this evening,
ma ann he inquired.
Nothing, thank you, Mr. Lapham."
she replied, with gracious smile As
she sat down on a box. the men around
the stove stopped talking. There was
ter, gentlemen" she inquired, blandly.
You was talkin' fast enough when |
come in. Don't let me disturb YOU"
Then, before their astonished eyes, she
pulled out piece of gum, and began
to chew contentedly when you get
through with your tobacco, maybe you'll
try piece of my chewin' stuff she
said to her left hand neighbor, offering
a piece OF gum, generously large. The
man-'twas Dave Jenkins-gasped out:
"N-no, -thank you," and the rest of
them stared at her as if they had never
seen her before Her husband leaned
over, and gave her meaning look.
Here's your paper" he said.
THANK you, Jim, you re real thought
full she answered, coolly, taking it.
but disregarding the look; before she
could say more, Mrs. Bascom's voice
broke in:
Good evening. all, You do look real
soclable, declare fort. New mind, Mr.
Cooper. II sit on this keg." She glanced
around at them pleasantly. Sorry !
can't keep you gentlemen company with
tobacco, but never learnt to chew. l
can get away with gum though"
~ es. they saw she could. But Mrs
Cooper was rolling in. She sat down
She, too, tried keg. The perpleXed
Lapham offered her chair. but she re
fused it, and offered him-some gum,
The fun went on. When Loretta came
in, Dave Jenkins tried to hide behind the
stove, but she took no notice of his pres
ence. The women talked of this and
that with cheerful, if homely. repartee,
and endeavored to draw their husbands
INTO the conversation; but if the men
had been suddenly stricken mute. they
would have talked quite as much
1t was Dave Jenkins who succulnbed
first. nder pretext OF examining a
case of pocket-klives he approached
the door, and then quickly Slipped out
side. Soon old Nh Walton recollected
a pressing errand elsewhere. John Tired
we'll had a letter t. mail. and it was
important that it should he mailed at
once, though 40 mail would 90 out until
eleven next morning One by one they
slipped away, ingloriously beaten on
their own ground.
The aStomded l.apham was left alone
With ten of the most respected matrons
OF the town. and listened bewilderedly
to Mrs Cooper'S description of the we'd
ding presents OF her niece i'll Colorado.
He reiterated behind his desk and await
they kept him there Then they arose
to go
The! went out. still talking animated
ly on the probabilities of match be
tween the Widder Dean and the old
man Sackett but outside the voices fell
INTO silence. Mrs. Cooper was the first
to take up the pean of victory.
''Sakes o mercy when | saw Mist
Cooper's face thought Id die, If he
wasn't Just completely dumfoozled-."
AT her reminiscent chuckle the others
Joined the strain
Gradually their voices died away in