New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-03


face as he leaned the gate and beheld the barn
give I'D this amazing in toggery and her satellite
had been mild wonder, mingled with reproof tor
man who would swear so horribly. When the parade
swept bv him on its second round OF the yard his
ewes for the first time the memory OF Smyrna lost
their elongated look of solemn1ty-
When Navbele went past the third time, tail over
her back and her new suit swapping IN the breeze,
wrinkles and ridges appeared on his face "here there
were never wrinkles before The ParCh1nent-HHe
hide seemed to crackle, and then his whole face
softened mellowly \ moment later and he began
to laugh with shrll examinations like h1ccups, and
then the roars came. He staggered against the
fence and at last fell the turf holding to his
sides He rolled about with imminent risk OF beng
trodden under foot by Maybelle. The Cap shouted
to him for assistance, but 'Mournful Mullen was
HELPLESS He only rolled and kicked and beloved
Twice the Cap'n swerved and tried to jump on him.
but Maybee's speed was too swift to allow It. And
when at last the COW and her tow went away down
the street Mullen crawed on hands and knees through
the gate and watched them out of sight, pal plating
with laughter and too weak to stand upright.
The widow pummeled him back into conscious
ness he lay gasplng like a hsh- Oo get my
poor Maybelle away from that thief, that pirate,
that renegadei" she shrIlled.
He wanted me to get him away from herl"
guffawed Mullen, sinking back again on the turf
and ''whickering" feebly.
But after time her indignant reproaches stung
him and he staggered to his feet III git her
for you, Mis- Briggs he guped- . He sha n
hurt a hair on her But she-but he He
stumbled to the fence and held and hiccup-
ped more laughter. I'D my legs of TO
help YOU anyway l could he went on. wiping
his eyes; but l can't help tive got to
and he went off into another spasm. i sha n
ever stop laughin' in the Lords world. III
wake up nights and laugh I'll stop eatIn
victuals to laugh. never knOwed there was so
much in the world to laugh about. l amt
ever been much of hand to laugh; but /
He went stumbling down the road He came
back half hour later Maybelle following docilely
behind him. He carried her rairnent on his arm
IF | know Cows-and | reckon L do. he
said-''I figger that she don't take Toto
he waved the pantaloOns dePrecatlngly- 50
| thought Id take en Off and ease her feelin
1t amt been in ways conf table and
pleasant in any families for the sect to Wear
the-the-' again he shook the Bingham leg
coverings The widow snatched them away
and bundled them under her arm.
You go turn that out to pasture! she
snapped.
When he came around the corner she sit
ting the doorstep stripping the gingham into
breadths. He leaned against piazza post and
eyed her bashfully. AS | was sayin'," he Ven
tured, it don't seem to fit the sect to wear
You just shet your mouth about that now and
foreverl" she cried, swapping her eyes at him,
But as she looked at him she realized that he
y wasn't 'NIournfur' Mullen any longer. His eves
, danced. Smiles quivered around his mouth. His
face seemed plunper and rounder. 1t was as
though he had broken out of a chrysalls. H-
beamed on her genially.
Il amt no hand to beat about the bush he
said. I've got kind of used to helpin' you o--
around this place and m ready to continue al r.
I've got-well, say, fifteen thousand dollars II
sell out my farm, and l reckon l will, cause j
don't want to be solemn any more You k~.-
what kind of farmer l be Now what say
He beamed her some more, this time So
anxiety.