The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-11-30
The Judgment of Nathan;
Or, the Story of How He Selected
the Right Woman For Wife.

ing aroun' like an aggraNatin n.y.
what's eatin' you, Joel?"
81 want a gallon of your best oil,
said Joel; what's It worth today?"
Fifteen cents" answered Daniel,
bustling about "a IL the store were
crowded with patrons. Let's have
your can"
IT'S only IA cents at the White
Front" protested Joel, holding his
can obstinately behind him.
Fifteen here to regular customers"
replied Daniel, meaningly.
Joel sighed. "Well, then, give me a
gallon, an a dimes worth OF eatin'
tobaccer, an pound o Caroliny
prunes, an put 1t on the book"
"Californy prunes," amended Daniel.
"Caroliny," insisted Joel. II reck-
ON know what | want How are you
Nate7"
"Ain't WELL" said Nathan crisply.
"Rheumatiz?"
Nathan nodded his head, willing to
admit what was not altogether true
for the sake Of discouraging converse
ton.
Miss Wickerson allows that rheum-
atix is only another name for laziness.
l amt just prepared to agree with her
an yet l never heered of 1t keepin'
man from anything but work. Don't
operate agin' goin' fishin' does 1t,
heigh?" He chuckled his audience in
the side and leered knowingly.
Nathan had little use for an observ-
alton that approached too closely to
the truth, and Joel being notorious for
Just such observations, there was moth.
ing to do but retreat in as good order
as possible, 80 he got on his feet and
strolled carelessly toward the door.
"You can look at that COW any time,
Daniel" he called back, over his shoul.
der.
"Wait a moment, I'll go right now.
Where's Dave?"
Playing domiRoes for the cigars up
to Andy Wiggins's,' volunteered
Johnny Henly in his cheerful treble. Il
see him"
"Pick ye out handful of candy"
commanded Daniel. magnanimously.
IAN run an tell him want him-hSs-
tie 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 coun-
tor and assumed an attitude of care
ful 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
Freeman's 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
returned from Manila, and who still
affected a military carriage, wore his
leggins and 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. We'll
20 out and look at the COW. Did you
say you wanted a cheese sandwich
Here 1t is"
Jimmy Henly picked up crumb OF
cheese from the floor, wiped it on his
sleeve, and ate 1t. Uncle Billy Harlow
got up on his chair to reach for the
Millville Weekly Clarion, and in do
ing 30 stumbled over his dog, who
was always afraid he was about to be
left behind. Rebecca Poulson came in
20 buy a pattern from Dave Marcus
and In the general excitement Joe
Wickerson managed to abstract cou
pie of dill pickles and a handful oi
crackers, and to make a triumphant
exit with them and his groceries.
Lets go up the mill race" suggest
edp Daniel.
1t was not far to walk. Just across
the railroad bridge down the steel
side of the grade, through forest O.
Spanish needles, between the saggint
wires of fence and then you strucl
q we'll beaten path that ran along tn,
bank of the race to the mill Two sy
camore trees, as spotted as leopards
locked arms and leaned together IA
out over the listless current, and som,
one had rigged up board between tn,
trunks which made very good sea
and capital place for the waywart
small boys to smoke cigars and pla,
cards. Nathan picked up stick ant
opened his knife with a click. DAME
re-lit his cigar, Tipped the match in
TO the water and settled his back lux
uriously against the tree.
1t was q hazy day in mid-autumn
The first frost had come and gone an,
the forest had begun to don its Jo
sephs coat Of many colors.
A flock of crows tapped leisurel
along overhead. A jay screame
harshly in the thicket. A red-hea
raped officiously far up in the sycs
mores, and squirrel whisked out I
protest against the interruption. Tn
baI for nd