The Dolores star., 1903-08-28

no thread OF white- very courageous,
indeed. would be the hair to dare un-
furl white banner in her head. Its
death would be sudden and ignomin-
ious. C6mmonre report provided her with
sharp tongue. But this detriment. in
J the mind of her male acquaintances.
was more than balanced by the mate
rial advantages she could confer on
ipossible successor to the late Mr.
Pottsey. Naturally. a woman who split
her own wood. MIXED her own COW,
and did other things commonly sup.
posed TO be mans work, had many ad-
mirers.
As Lemuel Jones-called Lazy
Jones" by his friends. in playful aIlu-
sion to his well-known dislike for
manual labor-eNpressed i. to selec,
icoterie Of his cronics: "You would
not have to do thing but jest set down
and take it easy; she'd do the hus,-
hing. 4 woman thntii climb ladder
and paint her own house is the woman
for me-
/ When Mr.. Jones one afternoon in
terrupted Mrs. Pottsey's strenuous
processes by knocking at the door, she
was engaged in putting the finishing
touches to a color scheme" in her be.,
room. The predominating shade wa.a
sort Of blush red In this little coms
munity The color was not dignitied
with a name. but was simply called
taniline dye" Ii was quite fad in the
village. and everybody who had any
claim TO distinction possessed some
thing dyed to this particular hue, AIRS.
Pottsey had impaired the startling
tint to several objects in tie room.
The ribbon which held back the Not
tingham lace curtains showed their ac-
| quaintance with the dye pot The che
mile cover Of the small table on which
lay the family bible. took on the same
apoplectic glow.
Mrs. Pottsey was engaged in putting
| the finishing touches to the room. by
| going over 4 stripe of dirty white in
| the breadths of rag carpet, with a
| paint brush and tomato can full of
| the dye The knock at the door caused
her 10 pause, and upon her invitation
Lazy Jones'" entered. He had long
been enoeavoripg to breach the sub
| isct Of 8 life partnership so Mrs.
| Pottsey. but. when her sharpeyes were
| looking at him. he felt as il his soul.
| with its mixed motives was laid bare
before her. and his courage oozed out.
She pointed DOW 70 her handSwork
and said: "Am't this room beau
| tiful."
Yes, Mi Postsey. yes; rs d.,
ah en-'hen-it's very beautiful.
never see anything that suited me
better
And, indeed, he had not. for he in
wardly pictured himself reposing on
the lounge with a pillow under his
head and a pipe in his mouth.
you're a master hand at fxin' up
things, Mis-. Pottsey; you know how
to make s-body comfortable. don't
you?"
MY powers Of mind = sech,- an
swersd Mrs. Pottsey, "thst when
likes people l can make EN- comfort
able, and when l don't like 'em, can
make 'em purity uncomfortable"
Mr.. Jones did not know whether to
regard this a. encouragement or
| discouragement.
Would you-er-conh yoa-er-"
doubt here ssssiled him-"lend me
your hoe?" he lam4ly concluded.
Walking home, he resolved as last
resort. to trust his fate to written
missive. He was not handy" to use
| a local phrase, with the pen, aud com
position presented unknown horrors
to him, but something must be done.
When he was gone, Mrs. Pottsey
smiled griInly. NO ssch truck es him
| Cont take me in!" she remarked.
A few days later. Mrs. Poltsey was
preparing to can some plums. She was
seated on the back porch with a bushel
basket of plums on one side and a
large jar on the other. On her lap was
apan fllled with the fruit. Deacon Slat-
terry leaned against a support 70 the
porch and chewed q straw medita-
lively.
well, you got a Job before ye S
| you're goin' to peel all them plsms," :"
he at last observed.
| Twon't take me long" she re-
sponded; they're wild ptunA, and
they taste kind of puehsxy Il they
amt peeled"
Judging by the constant stream OF
peeled plums leaving her hand for the
jar. it was evident the process would
no. occupy her for great length of
time.
Mighty big lot Of phxnS for one
woman to eat" he ventursd
"Im that fond OF pums / eould
cat 'em every day in the year!" she an
swered.
| Deacon slattery rubbed his chin
thoughtfully and decided to take IN
other tack. He was wiss, even beyond
his years, which were many, so he
said, after gazing ct hs~ thoushtfuliy
for a few moments:
"You are powerful good loolsi.'
woman, Zenobia."
| "oh, pshaw. now, dsseon. sssh an
old woman as me!- but he noSicsd