The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-06-05


ifV Els. I'm goin'. I've made UP my
l mind" Father Harlan looked
up into his daughter-in-law's face
obstinately. You'll have to hire
somebody to weed out the beets and
the pa'snips. It'll cost you Il little
something" A shade of subtlety
blended in with the obstinacy.
Il amt seen Abby in 20 years." he
went on. "She is a good cook and n
good housekeeper. Abby always
made a new rag carpet for the sitting
room every other year; she never let
nothing go to waste He looked
eTiticaiiy over his s]pectacies at the
rag carpet on the floor. 1t was one
Nancy had made. He had always
made 1T a personal grievance that
johns wife did not feel equal to rag
carpets. :
Sarah Harlan sighed. When Father
Harlan made up his mind it was Just
as well to a%cquiesce peaceably, but
her heart misgave her when she
thought of the long wait in Milwau-
kee after the boat got in, and the
change Of cars in Duluth, and Father
Harlan had never been SO miles out
Of Dumfries in his life.
1T was high time he had. then" he
told her. Nice thing for you to
think of after I'm gone and you and
John is enioyin' the fruits of my
labor--to think you've kept me
cooped up here year after year a-pur-
pose to tend the garden and milk the
cows and do chores when / might
'rhave gone out and seen a little of the
world. / shouldn't wonder if I made
mp my mind to stay to Abby's. She
makes good tea-not dishwater,"
he added, ~beligerantly, when she
pentured to voice her fears.
After that she made no objections;
but she did not allow Father Harlan's,
criticisms to disturb her peace of
mind. She went on frying the pota-
toes for supper and brewing the tea.
which the doctor had cautioned
Father Harlan against using strong.
She and John liked strong tea, too,
but they had been willing to forego
their preferences in view of the doc.
tors advice. Father Harlan was past
90. 1t was a pleasure to care for
him, yet she wished sometimes that
he could realize this better. That
night when John came home, she
went out to the barn where he was
taking care of the team.
Father has made up his mind to
go and see his sister Abby in Wis
consin at last, john she said.
After all we urged him three years
ago. he's just took a notion to go, eha
And ne said he wouldn't stay away
ever night for the whole state of
Wisconsin. That's just like father"
Well, he seems to be real set about
it now. | wouldn't say anything to
discourage him, if + was you. He will
think we begrudge him the time or
the money or something. Father
seems sort of childish lately"
sNo, we won't discourage him now
he's got in the notion Of it. He might
have gone long ago if he had only
thought 50. I'm afraid he'll feel u
little strange when he really gets
started, though.
The anxious lines on Sarah's face
dcepened perceptibly at this remark.
You don't suppose there is really
anysdanger-nf, his
anything?' she asked.
John laughed. Father get lost! II
couldn't imagine such a thing he
@@A4=T@@ii
We'll, I'll write to Aunt Abby to-
morrow, SO she will come to meet
him. Perhaps she will get as far as
Duluth" But She did not write, for
Father Harlan insisted upon starting
the next day.
mo use in d~illy-dallying, now rye
4 Z, l.eas,,I s. her
Might get of the notion, I s'pose you
think. if T waited a few days and
Sarah put up the pen with an injured
lock- "Abby'H see me when { ret
there, and il she don't know me. I,ul
tell her who I be. / guess / shanH
need no credentials along to identify
me.
Nevertheless Sarah surreptit;ousIv
tucked 2 card in the breast pocket Of
l11s black ~broadcloth coat with his
80 and a6dress on it, when she
brushed u and pressed lit THEY'LL
Know where to send hiinfSif anything
does happen she Thought.
hls notion lasted until he had
sue good-by y John and Sarah and
sfepped on board the d at the
sfat He satdown by the window
anaSNatched them mite the horses