Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-15

sSssssssIsssS at dusk one evening, rode up
TO Pole Bakers humble domicile Pole
was in the front yard making a fire of
sticks. twigs and chips.
whats that fer?" the old man ques-
toned rs he diSmounted and hitched
his horse to the worm fence
ITO drive off mosquitoes" said Pole,
wiping his eyes which were red from
the effects of the smoke. "Ill never
pass another night like the last un Of
kin hep it. | lowed my hide was
thick, but they bored fer oil all over
me from dark till sun-up. | never We
tried smoke, but Hank Watts says its
ahead o pennyr'yal.'
"Shucks!' grunted the planter. "You
amt workin' it right. \ few rags
burnin' in u pan nigh yore bed may
drive EN- out, but smoke out heer in
the yard II jest drive EN- in"
"What?' said Pole in high disgust
"Do you expect me to sleep sech hot
weather as this is with fire nigh my
bed: The durn things may eat me
raw, but III be blamed eff l barbecue
myself to please en-
Mrs. Baker appeared in the cabin
door holding two of the youngest chill
dren by their hands. Tile won't take
MY advice. Mr.. bishop she said. Il
Jest rub little lamp oil on my face an
hands, an they don't fetch me-
Pole grunted and looked with laugh
ing eyes at the old man.
"She axed me t'other night why I'd
quit lissn' 'er." he said. An l told
D, 7 1,' l.p ~ for LprnCpDn
than the mosquitoes did"
Mrs. Baker laughed pleasantly as
she brought out a chair for Bishop and
invited him to sit down. He complied,
twirling his riding whip in his hand.
From his position, almost on level
with the floor. he could see the interior
of one of the rooms. 1t was almost
bare of furniture. Two opposite cor
ners were occupied by crude bedsteads;
in the center of the room was a cradle
made from a soapbox on rockers sawed
from rough poplar boards. 1t had the
appearance of having been in use
through several generations. Near it
stood spinning wheel and a three
legged stool. The sharp steel spindle
cleaned in the freight from the big
log and mud chimney.
whats the news from town, Mr..
Bishop" Pole asked avkwardly. for it
struck him that Bishop had called to
talk with him about some business and
WIS reluctant TO introduce 1t.
"NOthin' that interests any Of u.s. l
reckon, Pole" said the old man, "ex-
copt that made that investment in
Shoal Cotton factory stock"
That's good said Pole, in the tone
of anybody but man who had never
invested a dollar In anything. ITS all
hunkey, an my opinion is that it III
never be with less"
II did heer. too" added Bishop. that
it was reported that Craig had set up
little grocery store out in Texas, nigh
the Indian Territory. Some thinks that
Winship II turn up thar an jine I'm,
but a body never knows what to be-
lieve these days
That shore is fact" opined Pole.
"Sally, that corn breads a-burnin'. IF
you'd use less lamp oil, you'd smell bet
ter"
Mrs. Baker darted to the fireplace,
raked the live Goals from beneath the
cast iron oven and jerked off the lid in
cloud OF steam and smoke. She
turned over the pOne with the aid of a
case knife and then came back to the
door
Fer the last month I've had my eye
on the Bascome farm" Bishop was
saying "There's a hundred acre:
even. some good bottom land and up
land an III the neighborhood o thirty
acres o good wood. Then thar's a five
room house, well made an tight, an q
barn, cowhouse an stable
Lord! | know the place like d
book" said Pole, IAN it's dandy in
yestment Mr.. Bishop. They say h,
offered it fer fifteen hundred. lit
wuth two thousand, You won't dra
any money by buyin' that property
Mr.. Bishop. I'd hate to Contract t,
build jest the house an well an out
houses fer a thousand"
Il bought it," Bishop told him. at
let me have it fer good deal less I
fifteen hundred. cash down"
"Well, you made a dandy trade
Mr. Bishop. All, that's what ready
money will do! When you got the cash
things seem to come at bottom figures.
Old Bishop drew "a folded paper from
his pocket and slapped it on his knee
Eyes, ! closed the deal this eVenin'
an | was jest athnkn' that as you
haint rented fer next yeer-I mean
Bishop was ordinarily direct of speech
but somehow his words became tan
Tlpl and he dpliNpred himsalf ou,L
wardl.- on this occasion. "You see
Alan thinks that you n Sally ort (,
live in better house than Jest thi
beer log cabin, an
The wan face of the tired woman
was aglow with expectation. Sh,
sank down on the doorstep and sa
still and mute, her hands clasping eacl
other in her lap She had always dis
liked that cabin and its sordd sur
roundngs, and there was something il
Bishops talk that made her think h.
was about to propose renting the ncy
farm, house and ALL to her husband
Her mouth fell open; she scarcely a
lowed herself to breathe. Then, a
Bishop paused, her husbands vote
struck dumb dismay to her heart.
was as if she was falling from CLOWN
hope back to tasted despair.
'ThDr's moro la nd i'm that farm n