The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1901-07-25

HE back yard of a corner tenement
on Twenty-sixth street was al
hys a surprise to those passersby
10 CHANGED to go that way on some
wonted errand, and an unfaiing
easure to the whole population of
e neighborhood In the center of
e small Enclosure was a large bed
flowers, petunias of varied hues,
Il and yellow marigoles and other
ossoms of the hardy type, all
mined in by a border of mingled
reet alyssum and mignonette. Mar
W paths, accurately defined by
bite shells, running on each side Of
e flower bed, separated the more
sthetic part of the garden from the
rip of onions near the fence on one
lie and of cabbages on the other.
the alley end of the yard stood an
h stump of a tree to which boards
d been nailed in such a way as to
oss each other at random: the
hole framework was covered ny
t their tendrils to the fence behind
e stump. and even graciously let
me otf-shoots drop over the gar
ge barrel outside. At the other end
the yard the pillars of the little
brch upon which the basement door
bened were also twined with these
Xuriant vines, and the two COM
|rtable split-bottomed rockers upon
lie porch, forced by circumstances
to chatty proximity were in the
ade the greater part of the day.
togth,r it was a unique back yard
pr this region Of the city, and its
harms We're made more evident by
S being at least six feet below the
vel of the sidewalk. so that lott
'er could lean on the fence and look
own at the CHEEKY scene without
Eelng that his act was an intrusive
be.
This yard. the ground floor of the
enement and the bit of grass Ia
FONT, grass that was clipped each
forming. formed the home of William
iller. and a very happy home it was,
spite of the facl that half the men
the nei2hhorhcod had said feel
lgly, pore Bill, pore old cuss." when
e and his mother and his small sis
ar Dolly had united their fortunes
it'll Maria Kennedy and her three
sters.
"SiN women folks is somethin' of Il
lmily," Bill had admitted. "hut Lor'.
hem girls will he MARVIN off in no
me, and | reckon the two Miss
Killers will get along together. Any
ow, mans gotter get married when
he notion takes him. and what yer
DIN to do about it if he's got folks
md she's got folks? Take EN- all in.
say, and keep on sayin' to yersef
md to everybody else the more the
|herrier'"
During the ten years since his mar
|iage he had faithfully kept up his
|heerful speech, and the old and the
|oung Mrs. Miller had gotten on fair
y well together in spite of positive
|onvictions cherished by each as to
he running of a household. but the
iris had not married off AT the rapid
|ate on which Bill had counted. There
|;ere still three Miss Kennedys. and
|ven Dolly, undeniable beauty tina
|he had developed into. was stiIl "on
Fore Bits hands," as the same sym.
PATHETIC friends often remarked. It
Eas not for lack of suitors in her
|ase; all the blame. if anyone had
yer dreamed of blaming Dolly for
|nythng, would have to be laid to her
|wn capricious will; il was, however,
matter of pride rather than regret
10 the whole family when il was sur
Missed that "our Dolls turned off an.
|ther."
AS Bill had grown accustomed to
Der light-hearted Indifference to her
overs, it naturally surprised him one
light when he had decided TO go into
lis own pretty back yard for
moke, to have his sisters-in-law say
hastily, in rapid succession, better
lot, Bill" Stay where you are, Bin"
nd "You amt wanted out there. Bill"
"Why not?' he asked. Nobody out
here but that no-'count Henery Dob
'ins. They can have the rockers-l
Ion't want to set down; I'm Jest
-oin' out TO santer round a spell"
The three looked at each other.
The youngest, Adeline. who was only
0, giggled little as she said. Eyes,
is only Henery, but you better do
ore santerin' right here in the kitch-
n, Brother Billy"
Stay in doors on night like this?
Tot much" said Bill To himself he
dded DOLLS like enough tired OF
ienery by now and mebbe he and me-
an get few words on this here las
aper of the mayors. No use tryir
o make the girls understand y -