Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-25

on" she said. with laugh, to her
husband. NO, thank you, won't set
down." she added to Kenner. who was
Offering her his chair. The truth Is,
I'm goin' to steer clear o this house.
Mrs. Dugan says all the reports in the
town git started among you uns.
Ell she knew l came here she'd lay 1t
on me. l thought fer while. after
they lifted her quarantine, that she
was goin' to do different, but she's
wuss an ever. l sawed 'er off short
yesterday, though" Mrs. Hillyer
laughed heartily. "You know, Mr..
Kenner. she's got one tale that she
tells over an over constantly. One of
the longest winded yarns you ever
heard, about how she fust got ac-
quainted with woman she met by &C
cident She forgets she's told 1t TWEEN
ty times, an jest takes 'er chair an
begins to unwind So far nobody hain't
been bold enough to say they'd heard
it. before. but when | seed her a-comin'
through the gate yesterday | told Hor-
tense ef she dared to spring that old
gag ON me ag'in I'd stop 'er eff it
cost me my life. l thought Hor-
tense I'D die laughin, fer Mrs. Dugan
had no sooner n set down than she be-
sun to tell about how she fust met the
woman Well, I'd made my bet, an
/ wasn't gcin' to be beat. Hold on
said L; right here want to tell you
Mrs. Dugan-some'n powerful
quar- about me- l believe, on my soul,
I've got second sight Second sight
says she, in her mean way, why.
didn't think you was quite old enough
to have yore second sight don't
mean that sort O. second sight, says
L; but I've noticed sometimes when q
body would begin tale l could see
clean to the end Of it long before the
end was reached Now says l, see Ell
I amt right; the next time you met
that woman was at the county fair,
whar she tuck fust prize on her patch
quilt an with that l finished out her
yarn, AS pat as ef it was one o my
own brag tales. Lord, wasn't she hoti
She got as red as a ripe tomato. i
wasn't goin' to tell that says she; 1
remember tellin' you that. was goin
to git round to some'n else; but, since
you are so almighty smart, l reckon
IN go on about my business an with
that she fiirted out O. the house, an
kicked the dog as she went by it on the
porch. When woman's mad enough
to kick dog her dander's fiyin' in 'er
eyes" Mrs Hillyer laughed as she
thrust her red hand from beneath her
shawl and took the money the mer-
chant was giving her. Don't git mar
fled, Mr.. Kenner." she said. IA wom-
an will either keep yore nose to the
Krindstone with 'er mouth shet, or talk
Tou to death-or both
Kenner smilingly walked with her
10 the outer door. Il was jest avon
aerin', Mrs. Hillyer, what you think
about Georges case with that highfa-
lutin Virginia girl. I'm interested IN
that boy, an 1t looks like pity to me
TO have I'm lookin' in that direction
mean jest that particular direction
II know what you mean, Mr.. Ken
her'' - the woman shuddered in the
keen, cool breeze-"but do you reckon
It's any more'n friendship on his side?"
That's what I'm botherin' about,
answered the cotton buyer. Il don't
let on to George OF course. but I've
been watchin' him powerful close. He
wants everybody to think him an her
lest passin' friends; but, law me, some
times when he thinks nobody hain't
l-lookin' he gifts of his guard. One
day, while he was at work on his
books, she happened to ride past on
that frisky mare O. hers. The animal
rot scared at the putin o. the COM
hress over thar an begun to cut up.
The saddle girth broke, an she fell IN
Z ditch. She wasn't hurt one speck,
am seven or eight o. my men at the
compress ran out an helped 'er up
but George must a thought she was
fer he turned as white as sheet al
trembled oil over as he made break
fer the spot, an when he seed no harm
had come to her his face actually
pulled up, an he couldn't speak. An
she was watchin' i'm too. She was
perfectly cool an lookin' at him jest
like she was enjoyin' his excitement.
She axed 'im one or two questions, an
it looked to me like she was jest dom
1t beca Sc he wasn't in the condition to
reply"
Mrs. Hillyer laughed you ort to
"a been woman, Mr.. Kenner. didn't
know any man alive could notice like
that. But do you reckon the pore
young man ever hopes to-you know
what I mean?"
That's the pretty part of it," said
Kenner, with no little feeling. ut looks
to me like he hain't never dreamt Of
like he was Jest satisfied to
let things go on as they are. If I'm
any judge, that is the most dangerous
sort O. love, eff a body kin call it that. !"
IN say this fer err said Mrs. Hill
yer seriously. II don't think she is
woman that nd handle mans affec-
tons lightly jest fer the fun O. the
thing. An sometimes l think she is
dom Jest like you say George is-test
a-lettin' the thing pull 'er along,
KNOWN, as she does, that he hain't
the man 'er folks I'D accept. So you
think George rally is interested in
'er?"
THAT hain't the word fer it." said
Kenner LAS fer her bein' above i'm
in station, what does that matter to
him? I've never seed his equal fer