News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-09-10

! ing eager glances on the face OF the
! visitor.
go on" said Ike. "Mother amt
a-listenin."
ut was somethn' that got out
| through Sally Long" h. ,Mn Hettie.
Liz don't keep her so busy cookin
that she can't see foot fore her eyes
She told Ruth Baker that Liz an Mr.
| Murray set together in his Writin
room mighty nigh all the time an
that Liz he'ped him git his sermons
ready an was always orderin' nice
things cooked fur him, an sich like.
Huh! You needn't talk to me about
that woman a-bein' careful! She can
do that trick to a queens taste when
she keers to, but I'm on to her. Be-
| Sides she could well afford not to be
seed out with him when she has him so
much to herself at home, whar nobody
amt a-spyin' out fur things to talk
about You uns jest look out an re-
member my prediction when the time
comes. Six months back thar was
good deal of talk 'mong the members
| y
girl in Tennessee, but nothin' has come
of it, nur he hain't once been to see
her Tab said herself that letters
twxt 'em had quit passin'."
Ike laughed knowingly. He took
steady draft of black coffee and then
laughed again.
with all the turn you women folks
seem 10 have fur disseminatin' what's
commonly called gossip, you never
seem to pick up the very things that
bear on a question. Now, as blind an
old codger as | am, l have got it from
good authority that Mr.. Murray is
a-goin' to ak weeks leave of absence
tonight at prayer meetin' an, further
more, that it is because he is a-goin to
Tennessee fur wife"
"Git marriedr' Even Mrs. Witte-
kinds soft voice formed part of the
three toned ejaculation.
81 would bet boss on it" resumed
Ike, taking another pull at his coffee
cup and continuing to speak through
dripping mustache. "He got two
new suits of clothes from the express
office yesterday. Thad Desterway told
me they was made in Atlanta an the
two cost G. O. D. $50. Eff that don't
mean marry, what in the thunder is it's
Interpretation"
81 knoWed in reason that you all was
dom the young man a great injustice
to put his name with Lizzie's," re-
marked Mrs Wittekind, with a glance
that swerved from Ike's countenance
to the faces of the two old maids. "She
is old 'nough to be his mother. l
knowed he wasn't sech fool"
"He wouldn't "a been sech a plumb
fool to "a laid hold Of her thirty thou
sand" said Hettie, somewhat nettled
over her miscalculations and she rose
and went to a little wall mirror to
make the most of what remained of
her scant hair. "They tell me he is
dyin to git to finish in college in
Germany, an some did say that she
would "a been within to educate him,
but eff he is agoin' off to git married,
why-Tabitha, l wish you'd git me
five cent paper of wire hairpins. Most
of mine drapped out ridin' over heer."
Half an hour later the four wended
their way toward the changing cast
iron bell which swung from beam in
the foliage of great oak over the roof
of the meeting house.
at shore is whalin' big crowd" re-
marked Ike as he stopped his party at
the door, surveyed the congregation
and combed his long hair with his fin
gers. 1.-The reports got out about his
request fur a vacation, an everybody S
eager to vote in favor of it"
AS they sat down the eyes of both
Tabitha and Hettie rested on Mrs.
Menefee, who occupied her usual place
on the right hand Of the pulpit, in open
view of the entire congregation.
"Bless my soul. eff she hain't tuck off
black said Hettie in the ear of Tabi-
tina.
Mr., Murray conducted the services
In his usual manner, except that he
seemed a little nervous and looked
rather formal in his broadcloth frock
coat. There was the usual air of rev
erent humility about Mrs. Menefee,
| except lIlitl DGI VI sllL NSIOA % a. vi iICi
customary soberness Of attire, gave
her a strange look, and Hettie was
sure that her bangs had recently been
frizzed with a curling iron.
II wonder-I wonder what's the
matter with her." thought Hettie. "She
don't look natural; that's certain"
But there was no time for the study
of Lizzie Menefee, for the preacher
had closed his hymnbook and was
resting it on the table and leaning on
it deliberately. His face was rigid
and his voice quivered.
81 have decided to make an an
nouncement tonight Of a rather I'M
usual nature" he said, smiling me
chanically and then brushing the smile
from his lips with straight, stiff
hand. "As many of you know, l have
not asked for a vacation since took
charge here eight months ago, and
should like your consent to leave fol-
week or ten days if you will gran
it."
The preacher paused and seemed t.
deliberate bashfully for a moment be