The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-11-12
CHAPTER III-COntiuned.

and seven miles Of drift had to be cut
through to Concord burying ground.
The entire population, as we'll as men
from Clary's Grove, crowded the
tavern. People stared when Don Pedro
Lorimer came in with Redmond
Clary, richly and warmly dressed, as if
he had not found it improbable to
plead the annexation of Cuba. His
shining black hair and olive face had
placid, worldly look. One hard-worl1
ing woman whispered to another that
you would not think butter could melt
in his mouth, and he appeared the
last man to rob an orphan or to run
her off with him against her will.
Peggy saw him through her tears
with indignation. She sat beside Anty-
WING on one of three chairs which Ann
Rutledge had placed at the head Of
the coffin for Shickshack's family. But
the third chair remained vacant until
the preacher stood in embarrassment,
undecided whether or not to raise
hymn while all the mourners gathered.
Shickshack's widow finally entered
the tavern muff1ed from the snow in
a blanket, carrying basket on her
arm. The crowded assembly opened
TO let her pass. She set her basket
down, and with a vicious pounce took
Antywine and Peggy by the ear. Anty-
wine Visibly restrained himself and
walked unresisting with Peggy to the
foot Of the coffin. Sally showed the
chairs after them, and returned to her
own place as chief mourner.
'This isn't your funeral!" the be-
reaved woman explained sourly to
them. HE wasn't no kin to either
of ye!''
Solemn-featured neighbors relaxed
in countenance and looked sidelOng at
one another. They watched Sally lay
off the blanket and take from her
basket a rusty mourning shawl, a black
bonnet and Grape veil. In this regalia,
kept for her husbands funerals, she
dressed herself publicly, and, having
completed her preparations, sat down,
heaVing a deep sigh. The sight Of her
beard under widows weeds SO affect
ed one of the Grove boys that he dis
graced himself by an audible snort.
He did not mind disturbing meeting,
but a funeral was different; and he
whispered apologetically to the man
beside him: 81 bet God laughed when
He made that WOman!"
Candles were lighted in the tavern
before the masculine population of
New Salem-for only those went who
could shovel snow and help dig grave
returned from burying Shickshack.
A river of icy air flowing out of the
northwest had by that time cleared
the storm away. Peggy and Anty-
wine were to spend the second night
of their peculiar orphanage at the Rut-
lodges, in order to settle the business
Of Peggy's own inheritance, which
Shickshac]1 had silently passed on to
his successors.
They sat down with Lincoln and Ann
Rutledge in the best room, and he put
the rattlesnake skin before them on
table. Peggy looked at it curiously,
having never before seen her fortune,
or the case which held it. The spots
described by scales made her shudder.
Ann also saw it with aversion, and
wondered why ShickShack preferred
that to strong piece Of buckskin.
"A rattlesnake,' said Lincoln, when
you get over the first shock of intro
duction to him, is a mighty pretty fell
low. See his combine q colors! He
has lost his first freshness and his
rattles, trying to bruise the tough hide
of mankind. But l doubt if he ever
stung anybody; he wouldn't unless he
was crowded."
Through an open door the tavern
kitchen displayed a roaring hearth.
where the Dutch oven, with Goals on
its head and beneath it's feet, held a
joint OF venison. A coffee pot, standing
on trivet over embers, sent perfume
abroad. JOhnnycakes Of parched corn
ground in the hand-mill were browning
on boards slanted toward the fire
the best bread that ever was e't!"
testltles a surviving New Salemite.
Hominy Kissing in pork fat sent it's
song through the room, while the
younger Rutledge girls helped their
mother bring to the table cold turkey.
cream and butter, fruits preserved in
maple syrup, and honey found in the
wild-bee tree.
Plenty of food, an abundance Of
candle-light, and the heartening
warmth of the Franklin stove near
her, may have suggested visions to
Peggy as she inquired of her friends.
What must I do with this money!"
'Sieur Abe has kept it safe," sug-
gested Antywine
*'There is no one trustier!" spoke
Ann.
Twill you keep it for me, Mr.. Lin.
coln?"
II am not a good money-getter," he
laughed, "and doubt if I am a good
money-keeper. The only thing ]
could do would be to carry it around
for you and guarantee it shouldn't fall
into worse hands,
me sweetheart knows you are the
strongest man in New Salem,' said
Antywine, resting his cheek upon his
hand and lifting eyes of confidence to
L. 80 Al