Evening journal., 1904-01-09
MRS. PEPPERS
AH,HEn,N By
thO'OO HARRIET
WHITNEY
copyright, 1903, by T. c. Mcclure

+<-s-;.-f
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 a little
while he started his after breakfast
cob pipe. His gaze dwelt ruminatively
upon the big ash hopper a few mo-
ments, then travelled back TO the form
Of bis daughter just appearing from
the smokehouse with a tub in her arms
"Louizyg'
The young woman turned her head
around, set her tub upon a 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 a Chinese
woman.
'Louizy." said her father, leaning an
elbow on corner Of the hopper, Il was
goin' to tell you an furgot the Widder
Peppers a-comin' up today fer basket
o. windfall Spy apples TO make dunn
plin's, an gotter be at Harris all day
helpin thrash. You show 'er where
the good ones is at, an don't you sass
er none; y understand
II 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 of slantwise
across the hopper. II got 'er penned up
es clost es you ever kin pen a 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' a stepma before pumpkins is
ripe"
81 wouldn't think. then, paw"
Louizy's voice became mildly reproach-
ful, "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 a jerk.
, 'Louizy Jane Cottonwood, how many
times l gotter tell you that's dihrunt?
Now, listen yere"-he ticked off his
points with the forehnger of his right
hand in the spread palm Of the left-"I
told you the whutfors an whysos yes
day, an that's nuff said. An now lis
ten at this: Eff 1 don't find Sam Dor
kins at Harris thrashin' today it's a
sign he's over yere, an ef 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 inquisl-
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 you?"
"Louizy shook her head.
II wouldn't care a speck If he mar
ried tomorrow if he'd have the man
ners TO leave me an Sam Dorkins
J alone"
"Humph." said the widow. "Whut's
he layin' upe hinst SamT7
"Nothin' paruckler, but he lows
there's no sense of me a-marryin' fer
half a dozen years er so. He's countin
on takin' lot Of city folks to board Of
summers after you an him air married,
an he says two women II be needed to
cook fer EN-"
"Well, ! sayv' Mrs. Phebe Pepper
brought the exclamation out with
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 a mix
ture of good nature, shrewdness and
obstinacy.
Hes a curious old plant, your paw
is" 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"
A4uuALl cuOOk utI utdu QlSntnlluklg.
you'll think different when paw gets
you"
"He amt got me yit," said the widow
cheerfully. "Looky here, Louizy, how
old air your"
''Thirty-three,' - confessed Louizy, with
a slight blush
''The law mel An you're scared to
marry without your paw says you
kim"
The blush widened, taking in LOui-
zy's ears
''You don't know paw" said she dis
mally.
Couldn't more than kill ye, could
heY"
"some folks tongues is worse than
killin'.v
The widow trudged forward in silent
self communion, which lasted until
they reached the Northern Spy apple
tree. Louizy began to I'll the basket
with the bright streaked windfalls, but
Mrs. Pepper pumped herself down
comfortably into the clover.
"Sam Dorkins is goin' on forty" said
she meditatively. Hes a sight higher
to my age than yours"
Louizy paused suddenly in her task
and looked questioningly at the widow,
"Oh, was Jest a-thinkin'." the latter
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