Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-23


 in putin me next door to
 Mrs. Dugan,'' said Mrs. Hill
 yer to George that evening after supper. ''When my sperits sink way down to zero I go out in the yard an give Ter a chance to come over an talk. No; I never go over thar. All got to do is to let 'er see me, an she's on me like a duck on June bug. She'll talk yore head off, but she'll help you out of tight whenever you give Ter the wink. Me an her together worked Hortense as fine as split silk tother day. You know, Jim Kenner's jest about crazy to pay his attentions, an she holds off an won't let i'm set in. made up my mind six months ago that I'd make a match out O that ma- terial, but beyond gittin' Jim to foller me all over creation an her to fairly lap up all I had to say about i'm that was as nigh as come to doin' busi- ness. It puzzled me right sharp, fer knowed the gal had marry on her mind, an knowed Jim Kenner was jest the thing fer Ter. Finally I trapped on to the difficulty. You know, a steady gal like Hortense Snowden sometimes has a regular horror of goody goody fel- Ter, an seed she thought he'd jest es- capped bein' a preacher by hairs breadth an was not goin' with gals be- cause he was afeard of lem. I let Mrs. Dugan In on my racket, an l lowed she'd have a fit, she was so tickled. She got her sewin' an come over, an we tuck chairs nigh Hortense, an Mrs. Dugan begun. You'd "a thought she was on the courthouse stand swearin' In murder case, she was so serious. She led up to it as gradual as man drivin1 a school O fish upstream into net. I think she give everybody in Darley slap or dab in passin'. Fiji nally she said 1t was the men that laid low an that everybody thought was so steady that was the regular devils on the sly. Now, thar's that tong, slim shanked Kenner,' said she, dappin' out the sheet she was hem tnin' Folks thinks he's so innocent; but, la me, he's the terriblest firt in seven states He buys cotton all over the country an has gal in every town he hits'
 "'You are off thar said I. I know.
 
 1 care fer women.'
 "'Tell that to the maroons,' Mrs. Du- gan sneered. Then she reeled off a tale l she said Bob Hanks wife told 'er about | a bet Jim Kenner an whole passle | O fellers had made, that they was goin' l to kiss q certain gal whether or no. She said the gal was kinder saft, any | way, an they all got q whack at her, l but that when Jim Kenner got through l with Ter she had the backache an said he was the wust she'd ever seed. I l was a-watchin' Hortease out O the cor ner O my eye. She got fust white an then red, but she kept Ter ears open. don't know all Mrs. Dugan didn't say, but the best thing was when she | said no ordinary woman could make any impression on man O that stamp. seed Hortense sorter bite 'er lip an straighten up like she was maxim resolution. And after Mrs. Dugan had gone home she set around like she was out O j'int all at once. You know a woman will kinder count on a mans regard, an feed on 1t, an jest drift without lookin' ahead. Elf she's shore | O his admiration she'd a heap O times ruther have i'm at arms length than to | be cookin' an scrubbin' fer i'm UT his | brats That's whar Hortense was at | She's knowed a few married men an had noticed how plumb crazy they was l about the'r wives after the honeymoon was over. But nothin' ain't smooth in this world, an why should married life be an exception? An then Hortense hates to be called a old maid. Well, to cut my tale off, Hortense jest come out flat that evenin' an said, When l you see Mr. Kenner you may tell i'm he | kin come.' An while you was out home last Thursday night they had the | parlor to the'rselves. Me an Mir. Hill ] yer set on the front veranda. Jim Ken ner hain't no slouch. He kept Ter laughin' all evenin' at his tales, an 1 when she come out after he'd gone she said he was the most agreeable man she'd ever met Not words been said l about marvin betwixt 'em, but I'll | talk to Ter about Ger things inside of week, now see eff don't Seems like l lots O Darley folks is under the weath- CT here lately. Thar's Lawyer Trabue They say he's awfuIly sick. George Buckley, may look light hearted, but | I've got sight to trouble me. l worry l about MT. Hillyer mighty nigh con l stant"
 ''I suppose you do," answered Buck, l ley, meeting her glance sympathetic. | ally. e@'F' 1T worry about him beca SC he hain't ] open with me-" she went on. You know thar's one matter that we never 1 mention betwiXt us, an I jest have to | guess at how he feels In his different ] moods. Now, I'm bothered over the