The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-17

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: bothering aroun like an aggravat-
- in fly. What's eatin' you Joel?''
Il want a gallon of your best OIL" said
Joel; what's il worth to-day?"
Fifteen cents" answered Daniel. busting
about as If the store were crowded with
patrons Lets have your can"
Its only fourteen cents at the White
Front" protested Joel, holding his can
obstinately behind him.
Fifteen here to regular customers re-
piled Daniel meaningly.
Joel sighed. well, then give me gal
lon, an a dimes worth of eatin' tobaccer'
an a pound O. Caroliny prunes, an put II
on the book"
"Californy prunes." amended Daniel.
"Caroliny,' insisted Joel Il reckon L
know what 1 want. How are you Mater
Amt we'll" said Nathan crisply.
"Rheumatiz?'
Nathan nodded his head. willing to admit
what was not altogether true for the sake
of discouraging conversation.
Mis- Wickerson allows that rheumatic is
only another name for laziness. 1 amt just
prepared TO agree with her an yet l never
heered of it keepin' a man from anything
but work Don't operate agin' goin' fishin'
does it, heigh?" He chuckled his audience
in the side and leered knowingly.
Nathan had little use for an observation
that approached too closely to the truth. and
Joel being notorious for just such observa-
tions. there was nothing to do but retreat
in as good order as possible, so he got on
his feet and strolled carelessly toward the
door.
You can look at that cow any time
Danielr he called back. over his shoulder.
Wait moment, I'll go right now.
Where's Dave?"
Playing dominoes for the cigars up TO
Andy Wiggins's," volunteered Johnny Henly
in his cheerful treble. Il seen him"
Pick We out handful OF candy" COM
manded Daniel magnanimously, IAN run
an tell him l want him-hustle now
Dave soon appeared at the back door,
| and having busted his shoes, parted his
hair becomingly and adjusted his necktie'
| took his place behind the counter and as
| sumed an attitude of careful attention to
business. Dave was considered very stylish
| wore broad-shouldered clothes and high
| collars, sang in the church choir and played
| B-fat cOrnet in the Millville Band. AS
such he had quite a following among the
| boys and was also much admired by the
fair sex. A number Of the girls would walk
| several squares out of their way after
| school to pass Freernans store because
Dave Marcus was sure TO be out in front
| about that time, leaning gracefully against
the awning post, swapping "reminiscences
| with Elmer Jordan, who had but lately re-
turned from Manila. and who still affected
| a military carriage, wore his legBingS anC
| army hat and smoked with his cigarette
| dropping rakishly from his lips.
| Come along, Nathan" said Daniel
threading his way between Uncle Billy
| Harlow and the cannon stove. Wen &c
| out and look at the COW. Did you say yoJ
wanted a cheese sandwich? Here it is
Jimmy Henly picked up erumb OF
| cheese from the floor, wiped it on his sleeve
| and ate it. Uncle Billy Harlow got up out
| of his chair TO reach for the Millvillt
| Weekly Clarion and in doing stumbled
| over his dog, who was always afraid he
| was about to be left behind Rebecca Poul
| son came in to buy a pattern from Dave
| Marcus, and in the general excitement Joe
| Wickerson managed to abstract couple OF
| dill pickles and handful of crackers and
| TO make a triumphant exit with them anC
! his groceries.
Let's go UP the mill race" suggested
| Daniel
| 1t was not far to walk Just across TN,
| railroad bridge down the steep side of the
| grade, through a forest of Spanish needles
| between the sagging wires of fence anC
| then you struck a well-beaten path tha
| ran along the bank of the race to the mill
| TWO sycamore trees, as spotted as leOpards
| locked arms and leaned together far GU
| over the listless current and some one haC
| rugged up board between the trunk:
| which made very good seat and capita
| place for the Maynard small boys to smok,
| cigars and play cards. Nathan picked VI
| stick and opened his knife with a click
| Daniel relit his cigar. Tipped the match int
| the water, and settled his back luxuriousll
| against the tree.
| 1t was a hazy day in mid-autumn TIL,
first frost had come and gone and the for
| est had begun TO don its JOseph's coat o.
| many coors.
| A flock of crows tapped Ieisurely aIons
| overhead. jay screamed harshy in the
| thicket. A red-head raped officiously fal
up in the sycamores and a squirrel whiskeC
| out to protest against the interruption. TIL,
| school bell rang for recess and the shout:
| of the playing children came loud and sof
| by turns with the ebb and flow of the gen
tie breeze. The local freight arrived anC
| stopped at the dripping water tank.
| Nathan" said Daniel, solemnly, I'm
| a-going to get married
| His companions jaw dropped as sudden
| ly as if some concealed spring had snapped
| "Why-why, you can't mean it Daniel" h
p; suffered.
Il most certainly do" replied Daniel
| with an assumption of NONCOMPLIANCE tina
| he was far from feeling.
| "B-but at your age!'
Never too late to mend" observed
Daniel blithely.
Il don't know If mend is the right worC
| for It,. Nathan shook his head obviously
| land if it is, it seems to me that if I'd
| got along to the ripe old age of sixty-thre,
| unmended I'd a sort felt so natural tina
way that wouldn't a bothered about th'
| repairs
Il amt but sixty-two," objected hi.
| friend.
LAS good as sixty-three. / know wher
your birthday is by reckonin from mine
| Don't you remember l had TO lie about my
age SOS we could enlist in the same com
| pany?"
well then; have it your way then. do
I'm not so sure. Now I am grea
| grandpa at that age an you just a startin
| in, but who's to be the happy Mrs Free
MANI
Daniel blushed until his notified face re
| sembled a Variegated pin cushion. There
two of them I'm hesitatin' between" HI
| answered, looking vaguely at a flaminl
| sumach bush on the opposite shore
We'll" prompted Nathan.
Two of EN-" repeated Daniel, bringinI
his index finger down upon the board witt
a thwack and staring hard at it; "one is
one is"-he shifted his gaze TO a thistl,
| oil NJ hoy nd 1,f0