Evening star., 1901-06-08

I've been to ALFRED expense etttin
here, and Obadiah fumbled his whiskers

I've been to all-fired expense etttin
here. and Obadiah fumbled his whskers
soberly
"Oh. you have plenty of money, haven't
your she asked. with a sly look.
"Wa-al. got enough to buy chicken feed il
the Srasshoppers fail answered Obadiah,
but when the railroad taxes three dollars
ana forty cents for ticket to Boston and
the same back again. a mans got to be
roliin in riches or stay to hum"
AT this the iadys ripping laugh again
smote his ear pleasantly. He was begin
ming to like it. He chuckIed responsively.
and they were soon getting on the best OF
terms. They exchanged histories and con-
fidences, sympathized in each others losses
sage ge-maker-whom she had married before
leaving her native Germany-had died in
this country. She was now living with a
niece. who had written the letter to Oba-
dah for her. He found to his great delight
that she could milk, if she had a suitable
! milking stool; make butter. also understood
how to care for poultry, and. to cap all,
was a church member. Could read music
and sing hymns.
I'm free to say. ma am" said Obadiah,
after two-hours conference. that YOU
fill my idee in every way complete, and I'm
sorry If l don't fill your'n.''
Its like this she replied: you would
not expect me to fall in love with you at
first sight
Well. no: wouldn't insist on It,"
1T may be l like you pretty well some
time"
I'D try to desarve yer kindest feelin's
| ma'am said Obadiah with great effort
to look tender.
But you must tell me first all about
your home and property. and then l make
up my mind" She smiled encouragingly.
and Obadiah complied, tinging everything
with roseate hue. winding up with a few
complimentary remarks, extollng her wis
dom and business ability in wishing to
| know just how her future was to be pro-
vided for.
"Ye'U drive YER own boss ma'am feed
yer own chickens milk yer own cows.
There's a hundred and twenty acres of nice
land as ye want to look at: not thistle
or spear o. witch grass in the hull on it,
and every rod stun-walled."
Whether she fully understood the many
queer phrases in his flights Of descriptive
eloquence is uncertain. But she was con-
siderably impressed and the result was,
they were married the following day Oba-
diah took his bride across the East Bos-
ton ferry and back for a wedding trip. and
and home.
The new Mrs. Gimley was eyed a little
| wonderingly and distrustfully at first, as
all newcomers in country villages are.
However. Mrs. Squire Jones and the post
masters wife had broken the ice by call
| ing. Mrs. Gimley's good-natured face and
| simple manner had impressed them favor
| ably and they told the Henleys and Beas-
| leys and Underhills that "mebbe Obadiah
| might looked further and done wuss."
| Jim Colcord, the village bad boy, had
| twice been chastised by Obadiah for yell
| ing out remarks rejecting on Mrs. Gim-
| ley's size, but he had ceased to trouble and
| Obadiah contentedly divided his time be-
| tween his farm labors and practicing
/ hymns with his wife. who was soon to
make her debut in the village choir. Mrs.
| Gimley proved to be a good housekeeper.
| and Obadiah believed that in her he had
| found his plump and pleasing IDEAL
| One sunny morning Mrs. Gimley, in white
| sunbonnet and with a clean checked apron
| encircling her ample waist, returned to the
| cottage from the village store, where she
had exchanged a dozen eggs for a pitcher
| of molasses. She tossed the sunbonnet,
| which had shaded her red, perspiring face.
| aside, shooed the chickens out Of the
| kitchen, pulled down the shades to make
| the room cooler. as the morning was very
| warm. and then sighed for nice cool
glass of lager beer, such as she used to
| have at home. Water was we'll enough,
but in her opinion didn't quite fill the bill
| when she was SO very thirsty. She thought
| remembered she had drank some cider once
| In Boston and thought 1t wishy -washy
| stuff. But she did not appreciate the differ
| ence between the mild decoction and the
| unalloyed "cussedness" that lurked in the
iron-hooped casks in Obadiah's cellar.
Veil. de stuff is cold." reflected Mrs.
Gimiey; maybe It stop the dryness II ]
| drink enough And SO the unsuspecting
| innocent lured herself on and descended 10
| the cellar. She drew pitcher full and
| took goodly draft. How nice and cool II
| was and sour just to her taste; so differ
ent from the Boston stun. She took an
| other drink. filled the pitcher again to pro-
vide against future thirst. and ascended
| to the kitchen. where she found barefoot
| ed Jim Cilcord suspiciously near the mo-
| lasses pitcher on the table He asked II
obadiah were home. and was told he was