The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-01-22
MRS. PEPPERS
TACTICS s...,r, ?,
WHITNEY

Copyright, i.G by T. c. Mcclure
!. =
It was I o'clock Monday morning.
, and the smoke of I.ouizy Cottonwood's
wash fire I'm the back yard was thread
! ing its blue haze into the fresh. carly
air.
Louizy's father. Lyman Cottonwood.
! striking ont cross lots. Jagged little
while he started his after breakfast
! cob pipe. His gaze tlwelt rumlnatively
( upon the big ash hopper a few mo-
mcnts. then Travelled back TO the form
OF his daughter just appearing from
the smo,lchouse with tub in her arms.
-Louizy''
The young woman turned her head
around. set her tub upon backless
chair and came forward. her low. fiat
. shoes patting softly over TIE short
/ goose grass" Her figure looked ssimp
| in its blue calico washing gown: her
locks were hcmpy in color and not too
plentiful. she had gathered them up
| high and twisted them 80 tightly that
the outer corners Of her eyes We're
drawn upward like those of a Chinese
woman.
"Louizy" said her father. leaning an
elbow ON a corner cf the hopper. Il was
soin' 10 tell you an furgot the Widder
Peppers a-com'n' up today Ter a basket
o. windfall sly apples TO make dunn
| plin's an / Goiter be at Harris all day
helpiu' thrash You show 'er where
the good ones is NJ. an don't you sass
'cr none; y understand"
| Il aiu't car.n' how many Spy apples
she gathers. Eeckon apples wasn't the
only thing you an her was settlin'
about yes'day evenin'."
.'Wull.~ Lyman looked or slaptwise
across the hopper. Il got 'er penned up
cs ciost - you ever Kin pen woman.
The darued -;'ontrary birds went never
| give you square ont yes till after the
preachers sent fer. But you kin count
on havin' stcp.ia before pumpkins is
| ripe
Il wouldn't think then. paw
Iouizy's voice became mildly reproach-
full. '-Secin' how happy you're a-goin'
to bc. you'd he.rutch me-an'-an'-
SAM
/ lHAi4tt NsiAAAE Nlf AARAh MS NUNS
ing attitude with jerk.
.Louizy Jane Cottonwood. how many
times l gottcr tell you that's diffrunt:
Now, listen yere"-he licked off his
points with The forefnger of his right
hand I'm the spread palm OF the left
told you the whutfors an whysos yes
day. am that's nuT said. An now lis
ten at this: Ef | don't find Sam Dor
kins at Harris thra~hin' today it's a
si.n he's over we're. an Ct he is you'll
sec me back. au' you'll see me bounce
sam over the fence into the bresh quick
enough tn Jolt his ears crooked. Now.
mind whut I've told you
Louizy shed 81 many tears over her
wash that morning that when the fat
little Widow Pepper came with her
basket she casI many sharply inquisi-
tive glances ut the red rims of the for
iorn maidcn's eyes.
"Looky here. I.ouizy Cottonwood" /"
said she At length ~ the two trudgcd
up TO the orchard. You amt been act
in the baby cause your paw wants to
marry ag'in. hev youF"
''Louizy shook her head.
4 Muusuu AAiE u SltNh "a ht MAJ
ried tomorrow IL he'd have the man
ners TO leave ne an Sam Dorkins
alone"
, "IIumph." said the widow. "Whui's
he layip' up against Sam:"
''Noth.n pariicSlcr. but he lows
there's no sense OF me a-marryin' fel
half dozen years or 50. He's couutin
ON takin' a lot Of city folks TO board OF
summers after you an him air married
an he says two women II be needed e
COOK fer 'cm.~
We'll. say Mrs. Pbebc Pepper
| brought the exclamation out with 8
chop. Then she stepped in the path Hnt
laughed with hcaFiincss that threat
, cned to bre1S her apron strings. Mrs
, Pepper was short and wide. and hc
little round dark face expressed mix
: ture Of good nature. ShrewdneSs an,
obstinacy
Hes curious oil plant. your paw
is said she. but I've iist cot this Il
| say: Eli any man - mine ever take
any summer buarlerS he'll do the cool.
in cr else he'll hire it done"
I.nuiZy shook hcr head dissentingly.
lNA II AAatAAA AauNaAA4A hAAflA paw ~
YOU
HE amt got me yit." said the widow
cheerfully. "Looky here. Louizy. hoy
old air you:"
n Thirty three" confessed Louizy. wit
a slight blush
d The laW me. An you're scared (
d marry without your paw says yo
kim"
> The blusl. widencd. taking in Lou
zy's ears.
$ You don't know paw" said she ii,
mally
e couldn't more than kill ye. coul
q he:''
"somc folks tongues is worse tina
# KILN"
,. The widow trudgcd forward in silei
self cnmmunion. which lasted unt
- they reached the Northern Spy appl
:, tree. Louizy began 10 Till the bask'
. with the bright strraSel windfalls. bl
'e Mrs. Pepper pumped herself dow
't comfortably into the clover.
s. sam Dotl.ins Is goin' on forty" sal
Is she mrdita;ivcly. Hes sight nigh'
IN my age tlan yours
Loui2y paused suddenly in her tas
ana looked gurS.i"uin-ly ut the widow
.'Oh. WIS jest a-iliinkin'." the latt'
L observed carcle>Sly. biting juicily i'm
big apple. Me an sam was allie
II good friends. Better stop now. LOuiz
O3 That's many cs ! kin pack"
l. .
Lyman Cottonwood was in the ne