Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-01-07
MRS. PEPPER'S
HAe,H1e, BY
EHOAOO HARRIET
WHITNEY
Copyright, 1908, by T. {. Mcclure


1t was O'Clock Monday morning,
and the smoke of Louizy Cottonwood's
wash fire in the back yard was thread
ing its blue haze into the fresh. early
air.
Louizy's father, Lyman Cottonwood,
striking out cross lots. Jagged little
while he started his after breakfast
cob pipe. His gaze dweIt ruminatively
upon the big ash hopper few mo-
ments, then Travelled back TO the form
of his daughter just appearing from
the smokehouse with a tub in her arms.
"Louizyi''
The young woman turned her head
around, set her tub upon backless
chair and came forward, her low. fat
shoes patting softly over the short
goose grass Her figure looked skimp
in its blue calico washing gown; her
locks were hempy, in color and not too
plentiful; she had gathered them up
high and twisted them so tightly that
the outer corners of her eyes were
drawn upward like those of Chinese
woman.
''Louizy," said her father. leaning an
elbow on corner of the hopper, Il was
goin' to tell you an furgot the Wilder
Peppers a-comin' up today fer a basket
o. windfall Spy apples to make dunn
plin's, an gotter be at Harris all day
helpin' thrash. You show Ter where
the good ones is at. an don't you sass
'er none; y understand"
81 amt carin' how many Spy apples
she gathers. Reckon apples wasn't the
only thing you an her was settlin'
about yes'day evenin'''
'.Wull," Lyman looked off slantwise
across the hopper. 81 got 'er penned up
es clost es you ever kin pen woman.
The darned contrary birds won't never
give you a square out yes till after the
preachers sent fer. But you kin count
on havin' stepma before pumpkins is
ripe"
Il wouldn't think, then, paw"
Louizy's voice became mildly reproach-
full, .'seein' how happy you're a-goin'
to be. you'd begrutch me-an'-an'-
Sam
Her father came up from his loung-
ing attitude with jerk.
''Louizy Jane Cottonwood, how many
times 1 gotter tell you that's difrunt?
Now, listen yere"-he licked off his
points with the forefnger of his right
hand in the spread palm of the left
told you the whutfors an whysos yes
day, an that's nuff said. An now lis
ten at this: Eff / don't find Sam Dor
kins at Harris thrashin' today it's a
sign he's over yere, an eff he is you'll
see me back, an you'll see me bounce
Sam over the fence into the bresh quick
enough to jolt his ears crooked. Now.
mind whut I've told you.''
Louizy shed so many tears over her
wash that morning that when the fat
little Widow Pepper came with her
basket she cast many sharply inquisi-
tive glances at the red rims of the for
lorn maiden's eyes.
"Looky here, Louizy Cottonwood, .
said she at length as the two trudged
up to the orchard, you amt been act
in the baby cause your paw wants to
marry ag'in, hev your"
s'Louizy shook her head.
81 wouldn't care speck if he mar
ried tomorrow if he'd have the man
ners to leave me an Sam Dorkins
alone"
"Humph," said the widow. "Whuts
1,o lawn, ~, q rairrf Sam y,
"Nothin' partickler, but he lows
there's no sense of me a-marryin' fer
half a dozen years er so. He's countin'
on takin' a lot of city folks to board of
summers after you an him air married,
an he says two women IL be needed to
cook fer 'em."
"Well, / sayl' Mrs. Phebe Pepper
brought the exclamation out with a
chop Then she stepped in the path and
laughed with a heartiness that threat
ened to break her apron strings. Mrs.
Pepper was short and wide, and her
little round, dark face expressed mix
ture Of good nature, shrewdness and
obstinacy.
He's a curious old plant, your paw
isl said she, but I've jist got this to
say: Eff any man O mine ever takes
any summer boarders he'll do the cook
In er else he'll hire it DONE"
Louizy shook her head dissentingly.
you'll think different when paw gets
you"
"He amt got me yit." said the widow
cheerfulIy. 'Looky here, Louizy, how
old air you?'
Thirty three confessed Louizy, witt
slight blush.
sThe law me! An you're scared Il
marry without your paw says vol
kim"
The blush widened, taking in Loui
zy's ears.