The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-08-10

fast" remarked Blmira, as the sisters
took their departure in the hired con-
veyance which had brought them to
the farm.
mot much wonder, seein' paw was
sick so long, an her livin' all alone
here since he died." assented Adaline.
Il wanted her to come an live with
me, but she wouldn't hear to reason.
Nav is powerful sot in her way, pears
like"
Margie Filbert was very glad to keep
her aunt company during the remain
ing weeks Of her stay at the farm, and
proved great comfort to the lone
ly woman.
TOO bad the kitchen chimley
smokes so," she declared on the second
day of her stay. IF you don't mind,
Aunt Clary, I'll git Dave Tallman to
come over an see what's the matter
o. it. Must be filled up with swallers'
nests, l reckon"
Mrs. Coppage looked up from her
knitting. ITO be sure, Margiel Ia be
real glad IL he'd come. An mebbe
he'll nail the clapboards on the ruff,
too. The wind a-soughin' through
makes a buddy feel real creepy! l
hain't been up to the loft bedroom fur
dunno the time when, jest on account
o. it."
Them loose clapboards does make a
curi's hummin' sound" admitted Mar
gle. "Tve notice it myself. But reck-
on Dave kin suttle EN-"
Dear dear" sighed the widow,
while her knitting-needles clicked an
accompaniment to the soliloquy, I'm
afeared it'll be good while fore Dave
an Margie kin marry. Dave Is real
stiddy, an industrious, too, but farm
hands is as plenty as blackberries, an
has to take what they kin git. II
twasn't fur that NOR 'gidge, now, him
an Margie could marry an live here,
an l wouldn't hev to go trapesin
round, alvin here an there, with
Adline an Elmiry an Becky. A nice
time I'll hev. with all them kids, too
Six or seven apiece they've got all
round, an the wust-behaved young uns
ever see, If they air my own gram
childern!"
The brown old farmhouse, embower-
ed In black-locust trees, its quaint
gabled porches overrun with hop-vines
and coral honeysuckle, took on an add
ed picturesquness in the hazy autumn
sunshine The widows one cow was
licking her calf across the halfbroken-
down rail fence, and the striped quails
we're calling Bob White! Bob White!"
from the neighboring corn-fields. AS
the red barn hens were cackling and
guinea-fowls chattering, as If they
were having a contest as to which
could make the most noise.
Mrs. Coppage, her face we'll shaded
by a black sunbonnet, was gathering
round pippins in the nearby orchard,
with a view TO having apple dumplings
for dinner.
Dave Tallman had already arrived,
and had climbed rickety ladder to
investigate the smoky chimney.
The Widows meditations, which were
none Of the brightest, we may be sure
were suddenly interrupted by pierre
ing shrek from Margie, and dropping
her pippins, she few to the house.
'Is Dave killed." she gasped, on dis
covering the young man reclining
Imply on the porch, while Margie how.
cred over him with the camphor bottle
In her hand. II was afeared that lad
der would break!"
Dave grinned sheepishiy. NO, Miss
Coppage, the ladder didn't break" he
announced, as he tenderly chafed his
ankle-bone. Il got bee-stung, an
dropped to the ground" he added, in
answer to the widows puzzled look.
Mrs. Coppage started first at Dave
and then at Marpe in bewilderment.
"Bee-stung?" she repeated, incredul-
ously.
"Yes, MON. There's a swarm o.
bees has made a hive O. your chimley,
Miss Coppage. The hull inside O. the
ruff is lined with honeycomb, too
chock-full o. honey! It's fact, an no
mistake. Put away the camfire, Mar
gle, my ankle Is all right again.
'Twasn't nothing but a bruise an you
an Miss Coppage come an take Q
peek fur yourselves"
The two women climbed gingerly up
the ladder, one at a time, and discov-
cred the truth of Dawes assertion. The
high-gabled hip roof Of the old home
was a regular storehouse of honey.
mo wonder you felt creepy, Aunt
Clary," laughed Margie. with all
them bees a-hummin' overhead! Lucky
the clapboards blowed of, too, or they
couldn't "a got in"
''If / wasn't as deef as an adder
might "a heared EN-" admitted Mrs
Coppage, though l hain't slep' In
that part o. the house since your uncle
/, died"
, Dave looked shrewdly at the accum
! ulated sweets. Part Of the comb was
, discolored. as II with age. but a large
, portion was of q golden straw-color