The Minneapolis journal., 1901-11-02
Copyright 1901, by A. S. Richardson

Copyright, 1901, by A. S. Richardson.
| Farmer John Carter had fed the pigs. shut
the henhouse door and come around onto the
side veranda to smoke his evening pipe, with
his wife Nancy, who sat in the big rocking
chair. She had placed his pipe and tobacco
within easy reach. Farmer John sat down
with grunt, rubbed his stiff knee minute.
and then, instead of filing his pipe. he
| slowly turned to his wife and said:
Nancy, l want to know what's wrong with
our Milly?''
What on earth do you mean?' exclaimed
the wife, and ceased rocking so suddenly that
she almost shot out of the chair
| Don't try to fool me- he continued as
he slowly shook his head. Il amt been ask
| in no questions before, but | seen for two
| or three weeks that things was wrong with
Milly."
''She's been kind O. draggy since she got
wet goin to camp meetin', but l guess it's
nothin' to worry about. You don't think we
ought to have doctor, do you?''
| Il think, Nancy" he slowly replied after
| half minute, II think I'm goin' to find out
what's the matter with Milly, and ii you
won't tell me I'll go over and have a few
words with Sile Johnson. Mebbe he knows -
How should he know" asked Nancy.
as she rocked furiously.
Dunno. but l guess I'll walk over there
tonight"
We'll, guess you won't. John Carter. why
can't you mind your own businesse''
! Dunno, but l want to see Sile johnson -
You are always poktn' around and max
| In an old hen-huZZy of yourself, and l expect
you'll get up and put on one of my dresses
some mornin'. Now, then, bein' you are SO
fun OF curiosity lemme tell you somethin'
Our Milly and Sile have had a tiff.'
! Had row, eh?" queried John. as he set
tied himself down to hear the particulars.
I mo, sir, they haven't" she snapped. ''I
said tiff. and there's heap O. difference
between a tiff and a row."
But they got mad at each other?"
| Yes, they did, and I'm backin' Millv for
| all I'm worth. You know the day she went
over to Eli Warmers to see Sarah? Well.
there was a windmill man at Warmers that
day and because the two girls sung the
| Sweet Bye and Bye while he played on
the organ, silas called Milly a firt.''
AN she got mad?"
| "Of course
And he got mad?"
| 'Of course"
and Milly is goin around ookin' as If she
wanted to die? l must go over and see Sile
and tell him she's all over bein' mad and
wants to be friends agin"
| What! What! John Carter, are YOU q
born fool?" almost shouted Nancy as she
/ IOSo IIOn ner cnar. Don't dare stir
| one single step! You'd make a pretty muss
| of things if they was left to you, wouldn' Z
you?'
But something has got to be done" he pro-
tested with anxious voice. "MilIy and Sile
| have been lovin' each other for two wears
and we mustn't let EN- fall out over little
| thing like that"
What's got to be done, for one thing. is
| for you to keep out of it. MiIly has got a
mother, and that mother sits right here. and
what she don't know about lovers ouarrels
| you needn't try to learn her Now you mind
what 1 tell you. I'm expectin' Sile johnson
will come sneakin' around any day, but If he
| does don't you say word about the quar-
| rel. Jest treat him as if you didn't know
anything had happened. He begun the quar-
rel, and he's got to be the one to eat hum
Bile pie
But suppose he sticks out about it and
busts up the marriage7"
Il shan't suppose nothing Of the sort. If
he don't fall off the barn and break his neck
he'll be back here and very humble within
| two weeks" 1851
Mrs. Nancy Carter thought she knew Young
Silas Johnson pretty well, and that he
didn't differ much from the generality of low
ers, but she was mistaken. He was an OBJ
stinate man. and though 1t caused him loss
of sleep and appetite he refused to be the