Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-02-13


Eden-that was the name Of the town
and as Telatha, in the capacity OF
hired help, took care of Dea Wright's
dairy, you were always sure of finding
her among the milk pans at that hour.
Cephas Wheeler was sure OF it as he
came piodding up the lane, lifting his
feet and setting them down with quite
unnecessary force.
''There's sunthin' on his mind," muir
INJURED Telatha, TRANQUILITY, watching
him. "There allus is. It's lucky faint
never anything very heavy, or 'twould
break down. His mind WANT built to
carry much of a heft. Imake no doubt
he's comm to ask whether or no he'd
better speak up to the Wilder Payne.
La, what a fool a nan isl" and Telatha
went composedly back to her skim
ming.
There had been a time when Cephas
Wheeler had asked Telatha the ques-
ton he was evidently intending to put
to the Widow Payne. But that was ten
years ago, and Telatha could not at
that time leave her father, who was
failing from day to day. So nothing
had come of it, except that Cephas APP
peared to deduce the conclusion that
since Telatha had refused him herself,
she was bound to provide for him in
some other way, to which end he had
brought all his affairs to her for ad-
justment these many years. These af-
fairs were mostly of the sentimental
sort, for Cephas was continually get
ting his eye" as he expressed it, on
some particular charmer of Eden town
ship. But somehow they all proved I'M
satisfactory on a closer acquaintance,
though more than n had shown de-
cided favor to the village beau, who
owned two farms and a house at the
Cross Roads.
This last affair, however, promised
to be more serious. Widow Payne was
rs, and a beauty, and she had money i'm
the bank.
"Look here, Telathy," began Cephas,
bursting in among the milk pans and
planting himself on a stool behind the
churn; 'I'm going to send a valentine"
II wanter know. Take the end of
your comforter out o. the buttermilk,
Cephas," mildly a~dmonished Telatha,
the unmoved; land don't glare like
that; you'll soul the cream"
"Telathy, this is a serious business"
protested Cephas, looking as if he were
going to be hanged; ''an' l want some
serious advice. This amt goin' to be a
common valentine. Now, Telathy, if
YOU wanted to send a woman a valen-
tine that would put it into her mind
that you was ready to offer her your
heart an hand, what kind of a one
would it be?"
"You don't need to put it into her
mind; it's there already" returned Te-
latha, literally. "You know what to
say to her better'n 1 do, Cephas."
II tell We, a valentine is the proper
beginnin' this time O. year." insisted
Cephas, irritably. "The only question
is, what form of a valentine. Telathy,
should you" Cephas leaned forward
with his hands on his knees, and his
voice dropped to a ghostly whisper
SHOULD you send one in the form of
poetry"
"Poetry is some like peppersass,"
unused Telatha; good in its place.
Now, at a fun'ral-"
"Who's talkin' O. f~un'rals?" put in
Cephas, testify. "Listen now, Telathy,
I'm goin' to read you some poetry"
He rose, and, standing behind the
churn, uhfolded a sheet of foolscap.
"The name ont" he announced, sis
The Sword of St. Valentine"
Telatha nodded and laid down her
skinner to listen. Cephas began de-
claiming with a vigor that made the
milkpans vibrate. 1t was a rhymed out
burst of devotion, fervent, but merci-
fully brief.
Tmade it myself" said Cephas, mod
estly, when he had finished.
$50 I should jedge," returned Te-
latha, serenely resuming her skim
ming.
"Mebbe you don't understand it,
xaid Cephas, loftily. "The Teller, ycr