Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-19

 bless you! An that chit of gal in short dresses hardly below the kneei Mrs. Dugan says while she was thar a-lookin' old Hanks come in as yallar as squash an axed if they had rig yet. The clerk told i'm no-that the bridegroom had told i'm to say that he was not at home to any callers, an eff 1t was about business they wanted to see i'm to refer 'em to his head sales man at the store. Did you ever? Is it any wonder his daddy wouldn't set i'm up in business? The wust big head on earth is the sort that young boys has when they think they can start in to raisin' a family. Bob couldn't stand prosperity, reckon. Mrs. Dugan says Mrs Styles has dismissed school fer the rest O the week an is walkin' about the campus on her hands with Ter feet in the air. It seems that the gal was put in Mrs. Styles care by some kin O her'n, an the old lady don't know what she's to do about it. Thars some secret about who an what the gal is anyway. Mrs. Styles Is afeard it will bust up the institution. Mrs. Dugan says it will help the school that folks will send the'r scrub gals thar to git lem married off. Hain't they heard 1t at the warehouseg
 "They hadn't when left about twen- ty minutes ago, Mrs. Hilyer."
 "Well, won't stop you. see Mrs. Stillman leanin' over the fence without a bonnet or shawl in this wind. I'll go an ease 'er up. know yo're cochin to tell it to yore gang"
 A few minutes after Kenner had eE- ploded his information at the office old Hanks came in. He was pale, and his skin looked as dry as old parchment, but he was eating roasted peanuts, breaking the husks with steady prong like finger nails. He sat down with out a word and dropped a handful of hulls into the stove.
 "Jim," he said suddenly to Kenner, ''what did you ever do about that ac- count Bill Haskill was a-owin' you?' ''I got it yet said Kenner, throwing knowing smile around the room.
 'Well, eff you'll discount 1t enough to make 1t interesting, I'll buy it. I've I got i'm tied up with piece O land O. his'n, an want the land" q reckon we kin make a deal" said I the cotton buyer as he wiped a smile l from his facile mouth with his long l hand q reckon you heard that Bob I had taken to hisself helpmeet?"
 The group hung on the old mans re- l ply. Hanks crushed another peanut in his hand and raised the best part of 1t I to his lips.
 ''I don't care what he does,'i he said. I GsV %-Il x,1,, o1I. x0.,,d Ynolra e P0oI If i'm, an now I reckon you see was right He was staring accusingly at Hillyer. You started it, he blurted out. "Thar ain't one boy in forty mill lion that kin keep from gittin' the big head with sech responsibilities put on i'm all of sudden, but hain't a-carin. I reckon you know how to git yore money back"
 "Oh, I don't know that this means absolute ruin," said Hillyer in his own defense Somehow I've got faith in Bob yet A boy full O puppy love will sometimes act reckless, but 1t may end all right"
 At this juncture Bob Hanks himself came in. He wore his best clothes and his boots had been freshly polish
 ed His glance, rather frank one Kenner thought, rested dubiously or
 his fathers face.
 ''They told me at the hotel that vol
 wanted to see me, father" he said IT
 I'd known you'
 "Yes, called an left my cyard," an
 swered Hanks, with a sheer, "but } wasn't in no hurry. I jest called on : ; little matter O business. You sorte
 got me to promise week ago that Pt
 hep you put in that stock O dry goods but I find out that my present intention won't permit of it. When l though favorably of 1t, you was unmarrie'
 man, with jest yoreself to look afte
 an yore board paid by another party
 but now you've tuck the best quarter | at the hotel an got high priced dress F maker runnin' round to put hems ol : yore wife's skirts to kiver up yore fol l ly, an it's different. No; won't put cent in that business O yore'n, an
 moreover, want to say right nov , that as soon as MT. Trabue gifts bacl l from the country he'll stick claus ) in my private papers that'll keep yo t an that schoolgirl from benefltin' b 3 my death"
 l "Oh, knew all this would come,
 Bob said in regretful tone to George ! who was eying him in slow wonder : "but I hain't the fool I look, George I Make Jake go out O the office, an r 3 tell you folks all about it."
 The negro did not have to be inform 8 ed that he was not wanted, and wit 8 sly laugh, half of apology, he hul 9 ried out into the warehouse. t "You could be big enough fool fe 7 any use an not be as big one as 70 k looll," said old Hanks, with q sheer. s Look V here, young man." demand :. ed Kenner, didn't you tell me tothe Q day that you was goin' to let up 0 8 that racket?'
 q 'T remember tellin' you I wasn't gc 9 in to steal the girl out fer any mor r buggy rides" said Bob, with smil t There will be no need of that in tn t future hope"
 n s|So that,a Tyhet voYr meant P'' lauChe