Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-11-21

his manner seeming at once to defy
and TO challenge contradiction, II
tIked abouy Odd Tarbox moren another
IT was that he want mean-Tarbox
wa'n't-and SEEM them pear chompins
reminded me ont. If a friend drop
ped in unexpected now, and he had
fruit-or anything else for the matter
of that-why it want out o sight'n
mind. 1t was thar, and that friend
was as welcome to a share ont as he
was himself. He was opeuhearted,
that's what old Tarbox was, open
| hearted and openhanded." And again
he paused-glowinT in the warmth of
his own creating-and presently
asked. Didn't that air Bartlett o hisn
bear pretty full this year,"
Mrs. Drew, whose risibles were in
danger of setting the better of her
politeness, received here a warning
glance from Mrs. Hepsey, who borne up
by the all sustaining justice of her
own argument-that he had pears of
his own-replied calmly. "Yourn bore
too, if l recollect"
Wall Mr.. Hannibal said rising,
/ believe I'll just take a look at
Ednah Jane, and see that she amt
misbehavin' herself, and then take my
self off. You won't go a layin it up
agin me, Miss Tarbox, now will you
about that air turkey?'
But Mrs. Hepsey, though courteous.
was suddenly evasive. Il don't see
what's your hurry" she said.
You won't now, will your said he.
Cant you stop a while longer?"
said she, "Ednahl be in, maybe"
No, l couldn't, l couldn't, l got to
be a goin'. Wall, good-day to you
Amy Drew" Mrs. Hepsey ex-
claimed when the door had closed up
on him, why didn't you stop me?
Hannibal Archibald jest said that
about Henry Macintosh to- find out
where l bought my turkey. I wish Ia
held my tongue. It'll be all over town
you see if it amt"
''Oh I guess not" Amy returned:
and here there fell upon the ears of
both a muffled sound from the kitchen
as of getting dishes aboul' and the
plying of knife and fork
The massy! Amy Drew" Mrs
Hepsey calculated. you don't think
Ednah James feeding of him up on
any O. them mince pies do you? If ]
thought she was Pd-but no, | don't
know that would nuther. Amy Drew,
Ednah James made it her home with
me now goin on to Is years, and why
shouldn't she if she wants tor" And
here the swelling tide of her own gen
crosby seemed almost to alarm herself
as she added Il don't begrudge it to
make no such pies as Ednah Jane, and
Betsey's boys can't eat the hull on
EN-, and it wouldn't do 'em eny good
if they could. Besides, HannibaPs
nothin' but a poor wayfarin' man of
grief that every woman'd oughter be a
Christian to. 'Tain't more'n a year
come next December, since Hannah
left him wilder man, and l s'p0se
he's sort O. lonesome without"
Pears and mince pies" Amy in
terrupted laughing, and she added,
you don't suppose, do you, that he
means to cure his wayfaringness for
better and worse, as some people
say?"
Lord! Amy Drew" said Mrs. Hep
'sey with startled emphasis, don't you
go to running away with any such
crazy notion as that Hannibal
Archibald is agoin to marry Sarah
Allen. thought everybody knew Mas
sy sakes you take my breath away.
Ednah Jane is gOin' to stay put.
just about where she is, till Pm under
ground. Why what do you suppose
nd become of this furniter if Ednah
Jane was to leave? Betsey's agin me
now, but she'll thank me when she
gets it hull, and it may be then her
bOys'u be old enough to know the val
ly ont No, Hannibal Archibald amt
agoin to marry Ednah Jane"
Betsey'S cottage was two miles out
of Amy's way and it was fully time
to get supper when her call was over,
but Amy had good reason to know that
Betsey was aware neither of Mr..
Archibald's matrimonial intentions
noT-"along o mas being close
mouthed with her'-of Mrs. Hepsey's
motives about the 'fuIniter," so, lie
the words of a wholly dependent
though able-bodied family-in-law, she
| had to go hurrying round, all tired
out, supperless, and leaving things to
hum to take care of themselves, just
to be first with news that would have
kept till some less inconvenient
| time"
But Amy's eyes, when at last she
did get home, were very bright. The
| thought was shining through them
that Betsey had something new for
Thanksgiving better than turkey
mince pies; or even minced life and
liberty, as served in the delicious po-
litical pap of the present Thanks
giving proclamation" ELLEN M. Wright
in Springfield Republican.