Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-10-23

tainly Lucinda did not expect 1t of her.
thing. She vaguely intended to marry
Ethan some time if-maybe-but- In
the meantime she had no notion of per-
hitting him to discover that there was
any other woman in the world, not
while she had eyes and such long
lashes as well and was really very fond
of the good Ethan. Pity him? What
affectation! He was the most enter
tanned man in seven counties. More
over, he won the game. But this is
anticipating.
The travellers went 25 miles the first
day and then, all unannounced. de-
scended upon 'neighbor" for the
night. Returned prodigals could not
have been more heartily welcomed.
Much squawking and fiutterlng among
the chickens roosting in the apple trees
in the back yard followed their arrival
and testified eioquently as to the sup
per that they We're to enjoy. But our
business lies now at the end of the
journey.
Truly, Mrs. Simms had expressed
herself with her customary insight and
exactness when she called Milly Arson
a pasty faced, nddle pated fy.up-the-
creek.
On all sides It was felt rs an especial
evidence of providentlal consideration
that Milly had got husband-or the
promise Of one. Here. again, see
two a1,t1a oP ho al NJ inc
consideration for the masculine part of
the race. No one could regard II as
good fortune for man to have Milly
Arson as wife. but his immediate
female relatives alone were occupied
with his fate.
Milly was now swimming in all the
Importance of the occasion-an i'm
portance which too often unduly elates
the most pleasing woman and which
affected Milly in a way and degree
well fitted to madden any observer,
especially II she were an unmarried
woman.
The most famous cakemaker of the
county. who had been lording 1t in the
| Kitchen for week, was by no means
unmarried. and she had the liberation
born of n large experience of brides
elect. yet even she found Milly un-
endurable.
II have been asked to bake the cake
at eleben weddin's sence married my
fust husband" said she afterward. mot
only for my own kin, but among the
| Gileses and Simmonses and down to
Strathboro and over the Ridge. and
I've seen heap Of fool gyirls. but I'll
gin up that Milly Arson that week was
4 notch beyond any on 'em. stood her
Jest MS long as l could. and at last
broke out on her. 1t was jest the day
before the thing was to come off. and
she KEEP teeterin and titterin in and
out, a-jarrin the floor and maxim my
heart come in my mouth for fear my
last big pound cake in the oven would
fall, and I'd told her more'n dozen
times that very day to stay in the
house; but. no, sir. she would keep COM
In to say how strange her feelin's was
and that she knew she never could Earn
Tummas' ways and she never would
a. done 1t If Tummas hadn't pestered
her into It. Tom Simmons-bless you!
And lastly she bounced in on to me.
catchin hold of me, and me with my
hands all in the flour, and says she:
oh, Cousin Liz. I'm sa skeered! Pm
gettin so skeered! says she. Now. it's
my conviction that she'd made up her
mind then rs to what she was goin to
do and was sure enough gettin little
fidgety, but In course never had no
such reflection then. and I'd had all
could stomach. Milly Arson, says l.
there's no need Of your bein any big.
ger eeJet imam the LORD maze you
Stop a-clutchin on to me. I'm wore out
with your pertenses. If Tom Sim
monsll marry You, more fool he, hui
you better have thankful heart, and
reckon you have. AS for bein skeered
n wish you was skeered enough tC
break your appetite and stop you from
eatin them snowballs fast as gilt the
frostin on 'em. You're Twin example
of the truth of the Bible and the wis
dom of King Solomon says l, for he
tells how the yearth Is disquietcd fol
three things-yea, four-which it can
not bear says l. for seen that quotir
the Bible ag'in her was strikin hel
more'n anything else-'a servant when
he reigneth.' went on, "a fool wher
he's filed with meat, an handmaider
that's heir to her mistress and ar
ojeous woman when she's married OF
thinks she's goin to be. It's the same
thing And now. If you think made
that up outen my own head, you sc
md read your Bible long enough and
you'll larn better. AT any rate, ri,
back to the house, and don't you steE
your foot into this kitchen agin.' says
l, for says l, hollerin after her-she'd