The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15

homestead to lay the ultimatum which
had been decided upon before their
mother. Though q little selfish, they
we've not really heartless, and no
doubt believed the change was a nee
essary measure. Their husbands could
very well have afforded to keep the
interest on the mortgage paid up dur
ing the widow lifetime, but as they
said, the expense would eat up the
value of the farm and be of no especial
benefit to themselves. So it was de-
cided to let the mortgage be fore.
closed.
Seems to me nav il agin' awful
FAST" remarked Elmira, as the sisters
took their departure in the hired con-
veyance which had brought them to
the farm.
mot much wonder, SEEM paw was
sick so long, an her livin' all alone
here since he died." assented Adaline.
II 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 lonely
woman.
''Too bad the kitchen chimley
smokes so,'' she declared on the Sec
ond day of her stay. IF you don't
mind, Aunt Clary, I'll git Dave Tall
man to come over an see what's the
matter O. it. Must be filled up with
swallers's nests. reckon"
Mrs. Coppage looked up from her
knitting. ITO be sure, Margie! I'd
be real glad If he'd come. An mebbe
he'll nail the clapboards on the ruff,
too. The wind a-soughin' through
makes buddy feel real creepy!
hain't been up to the loft bedroom fur
1 dunno the time when, jest on &C
count O. it,"
'Them loose clapboards does make
a curtis hummin' sound" admitted
Margie. 1--WE noticed it myself. But
I reckon Dave kin suttle EN-
Dear, DEAR" sighed the widow,
while her knitting-needles clicked an
accompaniment to the solioquy, "I'm
afeared it'll be good while fore Dave
an Margie kin marry. Dave is real
st1ddy, an Industrious, too, but farm
hands is as plenty as blackberries, an
has to take what they kin git. If
'twasn't fur that mor'gidge, now, him
an Margie could marry an live here,
an I wouldn't hev to go trapesin'
round, alvin here an there, with
Ad'line 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 I ever see, If they air 1ny own
gran childern!"
The brown old farmhouse, embow-
cred in black locust trees, it's quaint
gabled porches overrun with hop
vines and coral honeysuckles, took on
an added picturesqueness in the hazy
autumn sunshine. The widows one
COW was licking her calf across the
INSTRUMENTATION rail fence, and the
striped quails were calling Bob
White! Bob White!" from the neigh
boring corn fields. At 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 well shaded
by black sunbonnet, was gathering
round pippins in the nearby orchard,
with 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 a piercing shrek from Margie, and
dropping her pippins, she few to the
house.
us 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 sheepishly. mo, Miss
Coppage, the ladder didn't break" he
announced, as he tenderly chafed his
ankle-b0ne. IL got bee-stung, an
dropped to the ground" he added, in
answer to the widows puzzled look.
Mrs. Coppage stared first at Dave
and then at Margie in bewilderment.
"Bee-stung?" she repeated, incredu-
Loudly.
Yes, nom. 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, Margie, my
ankle is all right. again. 'Twasn't
nothing but bruise, an you an Miss
Coppage come an take a peek fur
yourselves
The two women climbed gingerly up
the ladder, one at time, and -discov-
cred the truth of Dawes assertion.
The high-gaNed hip-roof of the old
homestead was q regular storehouse