The Monticellonian., 1903-01-29
JOBS LOVE ATTACK.
BY HORACE s. KELLER.

After the stock had been seen to for the | nglt, the henhouse door locked and the woodbox filled with chunks, Ezra and | Cndy sat down 10 supper. The biscuits were never lighter. the tea never more l savory; as for the sausages they had never reached such perfect seal brown before. | Ezra had d SAW to file, d knot to split, bone to pick. and some iautt to lind about something or otler. He couldnt help it; | he had spent muca time i'll Perkins | cheap p-cash-andba barter store hearing the | family grievances of the entire neghbOr- hood that he was soaked with the spirit of unrest and wanted 10 grouea. He was too proud to air his family troubles at the store, so he must give vent to Ills Pentup emotions at home
 And Cindy was always ready for him.
 "Cindy,' said he, as ne balanced his spoon on the edge of the saucer, don't you think our boy Joe is goin Ieetle, list leete swift o late?"
 Cindy >ntfed and said; "Pr'aPs.
 He goes way lettle bit airlier in the evenin, j>t leetle bit airlier, an he comes mum a leetle later. list a leetle later. Tain't right no, taint light thet d young man brought up as Joe has ben should fall into such outrageous purceedin -
 T don't see thet they ar ortul out rageous, Ezra. Nou Was a putty airly conner; an ii you remember | Aoa Was putty late goer. Pa used to gay you wus the best hanger-on he' 'd ever seen
 Ezfas spoon fell with cHuk to the floor, and he brushed away tae eat as lie picked t up.
 Tae supper proceeded nicely after hat, and the old man did justice 10 the Haky white biscuits. the seal brown sausages, and Ae also drank three cups of tea=aHd two Wa, his regular stint; not alone that but he put four humps of sugar in the last cup. Cindy noted | and smiled be- hind her hand as she brushed away an imaginary fly. Ezra dIdn' say anything further about Joe until after the table had been cleared, the dishes washed and the stove loaded for the night. He put on his carpet slippers, hltehed hi, eaair closer 10 the fire. tWiddled his thumbs, and looked into tHe blaze. Clndy drew her rocker up, opened the draugIt wheel n the stove, and began to stroke the cat back
 Patty comfebal, Gindy. Some tolks has got Russ.
 ''Sam folks has got 1t better and don't know it. sum folks ar grumblH an hndn' fault when the good Lords spreadiu sunshine right afore their doors; sum folks can't help bein' in truble cause, we'll cause they like to be.
 That Wa, pretty long remark for Gindy, and il opened Ezra.s eyes. He leaned forward stared at her. and finally sad:
 "Hain't castin no heetions on me, ar ye, Gindy:'
 T don't never dc sich things What I say l say, and let t go at that Ezra, l be n wantin to tell you q secTet='
 "Goodness! An now long have ye kept it."
 Two months uttered Cindy. as she plucked at the fringe of ner little shoulder shawl.
 The old mans eyes opened wider than ever; he hemmed and hawed, pushed back his chair, then back again to the stove. After playing tatto upon the oil cloth with the toes of his slippers he finally said:
 T don't like to pry into the secrets O no human bein'-an yer's spesAally. 4oun I've ben together 40 years-'
 .'Ies; jst 10 years ago tonight, Ezra. /"
 He started and looked at the fond lace closer The deep lines of toil went away, the eyes grew brighter, and the sllyery hair turned to brown. \ mist came be fore his eyes. and he heard the sound oi mu,Ie-Wedding music, as his eyes rested upon her face She turned her eyes to his face, and she, too, started. The face grew young again, the thick clustering chest. nut hair came down over the bald places above the cars. The lines about the mouth passed away and the old and tender look came into the eye, The clock ticked on and on; the eat >ldled from one char 10 the other as the two old people sat there { s4a ,lg. Inn Ezra found hi, voice again and softly said as he leaned his hand upon bers-it Il felt warm and plump. it was no longer the wrinkled hand of toil-and the fingers elasped his:
 'Cindy. forgot, il was 10 years ago to- night; l forgot.
 Men do-taey.re 90 busy.
 And women never furget thet day."
 Not less they want ter, Ezra But 1 wus >peakin bout secrets. Its Joes >e. cfet. The poor boy has kept t tur twe month, from you
 An why rum me-
 @ Cause he thought you'd think he wu. foolish and soft.
 "PShawi'
 He, putty near 4o Joe is-" Cant be.
 "Nes, putty nigh 10. and a bachelder. Joe, in love It's hi, fu>t time. Ile's ben d leetle back'ar p comin to the D int; but he got t bad at ,-t, poor boy!2
 "Sum simple gal thet cares more fur fuss and folderal>, I'll bet Now il Joe Il only lake fancy to the widder Snow wouldn't say word. Her farm ajijnes ours, an the two together u make a right nice chunk 0 land. Shes be II through the mill afore an it q be the maxim, o Joe. But that q be too much good luck an l The door opened and Joe entered with q lady on his arm, both blusaiug like a couple of school children.
 By gum, the widder Snow,' Pop, the widder no longer My Wife an your darter.
 By hokey. | couldn't have dun better f I'd nave made the cii ice mysel, sad Ezra a, he ,aluted the bride.-N \ Times
 The Poet Who Dared.
 A piece of irony sufficiently delicate to i ha Noyt ltV nf auptation rpepnt IN c1lua from