Evening star., 1901-06-08

came trundling slowly down the winding
Ioau me Coddys were the aristocracy of
bradley Hollow, Mrs. Coddy's father,
squire Samson. having once been talked Of
for Congress As the carryan came to the
spot where Obadiah was building fence by
Buiidin fence, Obadiah?"
Ya-a-s. Pirty hot work, though" Oba-
diah bobbed his head to Mrs Coddy and
daughter.
How is Mrs Gimley?" the elder lady in
quired. "
Fine, ma am; fine
We're going to the village, and thought
we'd call on her for little while
We'll: now. she'll be right down glad to
see ye, said Obadiah. much pleased.
AS the party drove away Obadiah
chuckled to himself.
Wonder what the Beasleys and the I'm
derhills'H think to see Elder Coddy's folks
calm calm on on her the first thing. Guess I'd
better slip down and let her know they're
COMM and Obadiah fastened homeward
across lots AS he approached his house
ne noticed the curtains were down and
everything seemed very quiet
"Mebbe she's off some'rs," he muttered
nope not" He opened the door and
entered. A flood of light streamed across
the room and illumined the form upon the
!ounse. Opadiah'S slim neck stretched up
ward from his shoulders to an amazine
length, while his milky eyes gazed in nor.
ror. His heart bounded in his throat and
ically.
Angelina, Angelina" he tried to call
but he could not raise his voice above q
hoarse quavering whisper. He thought a
most foul murder had been committed.
away the flies that were promenadinp I'm
and down the molasses avenue. Then he
noted the shattered pitcher the flooded
moor and the strong smell of cider, and the
truth of the situation came chiIlinely unon
him Getting good hold on Mrs. Gimley
the Mortified Obadiah strove to raise her
but she was SO plant and baggy and loose
that do what he would he could only get
part Of her up at a time.
Obadiah. in his limited way, was a man
of IDEAS He hurried to the yard. laid a
plank from the door sill to the ground
grabbed era ?. l., his Wheelbarrow ell and in trice
lean efforts she was loaded to suit him a
foot hanging down each side of the wheel
her head toward him. propped up with the
lounge cushion. So ne carefully wheeled
mis- heavy load down the plank and out to
the barn. where he deposited Mrs. Gfmlev
on pile Of cornhusks in the COW stall. while
pair of horror-stricken eyes bulgine from
ine ine drecklea de race OF Jim colcord were gaz-
Obadiah emerged from the barn inst IN
time to see Elder Coddy hitching his horse
in the yard. Mrs. Coddy and Edith were
tapping at the open kitchen door,
I'VE knocked in vain at the front door
Mr.. Gimley. Isn't your wife at home? p;
asked Mrs. Coddy.
Wen, no. ma'am." answered the trou-
bled man. She went down on the ma 'sh
to pick cranberries. Ye mustn't mind the
looks o. the kitchen, ma am" he Continued
seeing them looking at the Uttered floor
The cats jest had fit and mussed things
up terribly
''Pickin' cranberries." said the elder.
who had Joined them. There amt no
cranberries in the esspring''
So oernx9 5ss So so they alnt t., 50 they
hickory shirt sleeve and talked at random
to gain time. You see, Miss Gimley atn't
quite used to our ways and don't lest know
when we have 'em ripe. She's drefful
fond O. cranberries Isdont know as
ever met a pusson so fond o. cranberries.
| come He remembered the ladies were
standing at the door. "Come right in to
| the front room. I can't think what that
drafted cat was thinkin Of" he Continued
as they passed in. Shes gettin' so she
has fits twice a week sreglar When I
| buzz saw and dishes fyin' in every di-
rection."
The Coddys' visit was short one. Thev
sat stiff1y In the high-backed chairs that
graced the best room" Mrs Coddy-not
altogether pieased--looked around with a
suspicious and dissatisfied air. The con-
versation dragged dismally, especially at
diah's brain that possibly he had dag
nosed his wife's case wrongly. Perhaps
she had fit, possibly shock. and Law
dying In the COW stall. The elders party
withdrew with a stin good day" as IL
| they hadn't been treated fairly. No SOON
| Obadiah rushed to the barn, dug down
| into the cornstalks until he came to the
senseless Angelina. called her. shook her
all to no purpose. 5te was sure now twas