The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-14
Che end = =
= 81 the Road
HEY amt to know a thing
about It unless they mistrust.
IT'S to be a real SURPRISE"
said Lou Harlow, poising her.

about 1t unless they mistrust.
IT'S to be real SURPRISE"
said Lou Harlow, poising her
self like one about to take
fight in the doorway OF Mrs. Green's
kitchen. "You must come. Mis- Green;
it will do you good to get out. You're too
much shut up. Sarell will miss you II
you don't come. She'll want to see her
near neighbors II nobody else is there.
Get Rastus to bring you down."
Mrs. Green set the teapot farther back
on the stove and murmured an indefinite
MN" The milkhouse door opened with
a rattle of pals. Louis eyes turned slight
ly in that direction as she talked on per-
sistently.
Brother Ed was going to stop yester-
day and invite you. but he had to go an
other way; so ] stopped now. It's rather
late to be giving invitations. I know:
but it's all been planned in such hurry
that We are out and out flustered.
thought too. that I might stir you up
to coming better than Ed could. 1t does
seem too bad not to have lot of folks
at tin-weddinG surprise party. Every
body's to bring something besides refresh
ments. you know. I've the cutest little
oatmeal cooker that l got at the scent
store in the city and l shall take that.
Well. ! won't hinder you any longer from
your supper. Good-by. Now do come IL
you can. .Good-by."
The kitchen door timed it's closing with
mathematical accuracy to the issuing of
young man from the milkhouse.
Through the window Mrs. Green saw
Lous innocently surprised start and cor
dial bow. but the bit of talk that followed
was inaudible to her. She felt certain.
however, that it was about the surprise
party.
III those Harlows amt managin'!" was
her mental comment. But it'll take
more'n pretty putin on to make Lou
one mite enGagin' to 'Rastus. ! guess"
'Rastus came in presently and. after
washing at the sink, sat down to supper.
He was thin and not over tall. with a
vivid boyish complexion and chin like
his mothers, marked by decision that
most severe coldness of gray blue eyes
accentuated. 1t was only when 'Rastus
smiled that one knew how winning his
face could be.
Lou Harlow stopped in to ask us to a
tin-weddin9 surprise at her brother Wills.
Probably she mentioned it to YOU" said
MIS-. Green. as she poured the tea. Il
shall have to carry somethin' in the shape
of tin. / wonder If the dipper l got Of
that peddler last week won't do. took
1t for rags. They do pay so little for rags
now, I declare it's hardly worth savin
EN- II it hadn't been for them old over
alls of yours l shouldn't have made out
enough to get this dipper."
Likely they won't have more'n seven
dippers. said 'Rastus. helping himself to
second dish Of. apple sauce. 49,
Mrs. Green looked disturbed
We'll, dtppers is handy. Every house
keeper needs two. and they use up quick
Dippers nowadays amt what dippers used
to be. There's hardly one to be got but
has weakness in the soderin'. l don't
know what's more provokin' than TO have
a dipperful Of water come splashin' onto
the floor and leave nothin' but a handle
in your fingers"
The quick bright smile flashed over
Rastus face.
Better carry pan or something Of
that kind"
His mother took the suggestion as pro-
foundly serious II -
II haven't one I could spare Can't
We stop for the Blake girls. 'Rastus?
They The ~ IKE to- to get oH!; and its rather
failin'. Il declare it goes to my heart
to see poor Miss Betsy so meechin-
lately. She doesn't seem to know wheth-
er her things is straight or not Last
Sunday twas all could do to keep my
straighten her false front. Twas twist
ed SO the partin was over one eye. And
it's real pathetic to see Miss Harriet
hoverin about her sister and fussin' to
make her comfortable. when all the time
Miss Harriets the Oldest Miss Betsy
amt but sixty-eigh,. i shouldn't wonder
il 'twould chirk them up consid' able to
go to the surprise party this evenin'"
We'll. you can take EN-: I'll walk,
Twould be too crowding in the buggy
for us all. and / don't want to get out
the business wagon. There's 4 spoke
loose
Mrs. Green looked narrowly at him;
the repose of his face indicated moth
ing.
But. Rastus. I can't hitch old Nell.
You know how she acts the minute we
get out-a caperin' and pullin'."
IN be on hand to look out for YOU"
Rastus pushed awav his chair and the
door closed after him.
Rastus was not long in finishing the
chores. When he had harnessed old Nell
to the Concord buggy and hitched her
to a post by the back door he came in
to shave. Mrs. Green was sitting by
the kitchen window. dressed in her best
gown-a black alpaca. with fashionably
large sleeves. 1t had just been made
over, and the size of the sleeves were
supposed to offset the s.antineSs of the
skirt. .At any rate. as she told The raieh-
Dor ,dressmaker. there wasn't any more
pieces and twas better the scrimpin'
should come in th<s.skirt. for ones skirt
didn't show in ops's coffin. and if she
was to die sudden, before styles changed.
why. the waist vfShld do nicely for her
to be laid out in.xS ,s..s; re-.
a -noon in it's second ar1arfSr CIV was Show
ing above the eastern horizon ,as 'Rastus
waASed across ths,lots after he helard his
mother off: Beyond. at the end of the
lane was another house oId-fashioned
and yeiltw pointed There lived Mr.. and
Mrs. EnglasA, two childless middle-aEed
people: They were coming up from their
house new, AS she waited by the Pence
in the shadow sf.a lilac b,isly ise>se uN. sees
;them eistinctly In the clear moonlight
two somewhat bent figures, stepping ir.
regularly. Between them walked another
figure, with youthful poise OF head and
shoulders. and fifs heart gave a queer lit
tie jumisat the xound of a girls laugh
IF ! haven't s1ove my thumb into this
cake" Mrs. English was saying.
''Nevsfrmind. ma. turn 1t 'tother side to-
when you hand it in. and nobody'u
notice." suggested her husband.
The musical girl laugh sounded again
Let me carry it. Aunt Martha"
With asthrill Of satisfaction 'Rastus saw