Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-11-15
CHAPTER IN.

FIGURES, BUT NOT ALL DRY.
(A IN the garden David Houston,
I@l bending over beautifully
I6e1SsS kept plot of choice pansies,
S2GsssJ whistled softly his intense
satisfaction. 1--WE never done better"
was his inward comment, by which he
meant that he had never done so well.
In the parlor his wife, bending over
the page Of neatly kept ledger, sighed
and murmured, IF l could only tell
him some things without telling him
everything!'
In the cradle by her side her baby
stirred slightly, but did not waken.
Her face lightened as she stopped to-
ward the child; then, as she rose again,
her mouth took on an expression of de-
termination.
She left the table and went quietly
to the window. For brief space she
watched the man working steadily and
happily in the summer evenshine. ooh,
Davie," she whispered to herself, I'm
afraid, I'm afraid. II you had only
left your hearts desire till it was ready
till you were able to take 1t and keep
1t! Perhaps it's my fault. Perhaps
I've taken too much on myself. But
how could explain everything now?
You would never
David Strengthened himself in order
to get birdseye view of the plot and
caught sight of his wife at the window.
He nodded, smiled, pointed proudly at
his pansies and beckoned her TO him.
She smiled family in return, shook her
head and signed to him 10 come in
doors.
He came at once and entered the par
lor gayly and eagerly. WAS We want
in me to tax the wee yin for awhile?"
he whispered III jist wash ma
hauns, an then I'll"
mo, no, Davie," said Jess gently,
loving him more for his warm fatherly
affection, "kctie's sleeping sound. But
I've been ha Eng look a. the books,
and IL wanted to ask you about
something's"
"Iist that, lass" he returned agree
ably, trying not to look disappointed.
"Weel, I'll shin be feenished ootbye,
an then We'll haze crack ABBOTT the
books. Come nwa' for mecnit an see
the pansies that'll lift the first prize at
the show on Saturday. Come ava,
Jess-jist for n meenit. Ye're no gaun
ootbye enough the moo. Never heed
the books. They'll keep"
"They won't keep themselves she
said good humoredly. But l want to
know one thing before you go out
again, Davie," she went on seriously.
whats that?"
'Have you given Donald Binnie no.
tice?"
mo yet, dearie," he replied little
uncomfortably.
"Why, Davic? You said you We're
going to tell him more than a week
ago.
AYE. But-but, We see, JESS l had
ma the bert to tell him. He's dacent
man, Donald Binnie, an he's served
me weel since he cam to Kinlochan."
81 know that" she freely allowed.
"But there's no work for him just now.
is thcre?"
''Aweel, there's no. muckle, to tell We
the truth, lass" he admitted slowly,
adding more cheerfully, "but ye never
can tell when the work III come again
An Donald Binnie's dacent man. |
iwud be vexed to haze to tell him did
ma need him ony mair. wud that
Jess! An ye like him fine yerser, dae
We no'?"
"Of course do, David. But, tell me
what has Donald done today? What
was there for him TO do?"
"Wcel, We see, 1t was kin O. slack al
the shop, an jst tell't him he MIGHT
TAX day aft"
"Oh! But you gave him day of
yesterday, didn't youY" said Mrs. Hous
ton, keeping calm with an effort
$50 did," he replied somewhat rue
fully.
For ten seconds Jess held her tongue
Then very gently she asked:
could you not do all the work that's
going just now yourself, Davie?
AYE, aye; daursay-if l was neg
lecting the garden" lie said thought
fully.
But if you started earlier in tlt
molning"
"What ABBOTT the wee yinY
His wife laughed against her bette
Judgment. is it you that holds Katie
or Katie that holds you in the morn
ings?"
"Weel, weel dearie, We ken It's raj,
nice to haze the wee yin in yer Arms,
he said half laughingly, half apologct
ically, as lie bent over the cradle.
She was disarmed for a moment, bu
glance at the ledger on the table wa:
sufficient to bring her back to action.
David" she said firmly, you mus
give Donald notice on Saturday"
1.-THE wee yin's fine at the slcepin'
Eth? What was We sayin', lass?"
II said you must give Donald notice
on Saturday. Promise"
"But-but I'll be AVA ut the show OF
Saturday, an so wull you, jess"
''Then you must tell him on Friday
tomorrow. Do you know, David,'' sh,
continued solemnly, ''that for week.
you've been paying Donald more thai
you've been making yourself?"
Houston stared. as that fac'?" b,
exclaimed.
Last week his wages were twice
what III come to you"
mercy on us! Is that what the bool
saysy'
Eyes. But told you awhile ago tina
you couldn't afford to keep Donald"
II ken, l ken. I'm stupit man an
i'll to dae wi. But I'll see ABBOTT grein
Donald notice. It's peety, for he's {
dacent man, am
you'll tell him tomorrow"
"-iye. Pll likely see him the morn
if he disna talk anither day aft.
tellt him lie didna need to come in II,
morn unless he had naethin' better t.
dae. He's got lass at Fairport, "
ken. But it's like rain the NIGHT, an
think he'll be back the morn's mornin'
Are We no. pleased, Jess"
Mrs. Houston hesitatcd, but was no
lost. "Davie," she said calmly, ISL
down there" She Indicated the chail
she had vacated some little time ago.