Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-08-09

happens that there wasn't time for
the usual preliminaries of polite So
ciety. We are willin' to take into ac-
count all the excuses that genius
mas to offer. and you needn't take the
trouble to recapitulate EN- You can
start right in and explain what in
sanup you were thinkin' of when you
set the Wilder Sprague on that bob
sled, or whatsoever it was, and left
her to slam galley-west down through
that orchard. There are those here
that thinks it's deliberate attempt at
assassination. What have you got
to say for yourself?"
The chances are that in ordinary
circumstances Gale would have lit on
us and drove us out; but enough
things had happened to him that
evening to make him sort of supple.
Some one in the crowd limited that
1t had been found out that ne could
be licked by the Sprague boy. and
that under those circumstances it
wasn't good taste for him to ride
high horse any longer. So Gale ran
his eye over us, noted that we were
all looking pretty set, and he went on
to give in his statement. But ne was
scornful.
| Il don't suppose any of you have
read books enough to understand that
the scientists assert that there are
more cases of insanity among wom-
en- in the country districts than in
any other classes?" said he.
IF they let you run loose much
longer around mere, l reckon the
point will be pretty we'll proved"
broke in Mis- Bangs, with a sniff.
1T amt that way at ALL" snapped
Gale. Scientists say that women in
the country, bein' tied down to home
work and bein' alone SO much, and
havin' nothin' special to take up their
minds, get to broodng and fall into
nervous Drosperation and go crazy
That's the size of it. Now you know
that the Wilder Sprague mas been
alone good deal for the last ten
years."
Say. is sweet apples good for bal.
ancin' the mind?" inquired old Ike
Elwell.
Gale snapped that one eye pretty
hard, and showed that he understood
that we knew some things; but he
kept on. II could see that the Wild
der Sprague was gettin' run down
and solemn and lonesome. and was
dwellin' on things, and was fallin'
into nervous prosperation just as fast
as she could. And whilst the rest
of the hogs in this place was goin'
around with their noses held down
to their own business and not payin
any attention to the sufferin's of
their neighbors, studied up on the
thing, and was bound to cure her of
her brain-fag, as the scientists call
1t. The books say that in cases of that
Kind the patient needs to be reused
up. taken out of hum-drum surround
ms. given some fresh and healthy
excitement, and so forth and so on"
"Then the first prescription of Tall
man sweetings failed, hey?" persist
ed old Ike.
II understand what you're drivin'
at, you old picked-nosed, scouting
hyena!" yelled Gale. Its got so in
this town that there can't be any
neighborin' without it bein' chawed
over along with plug of terbacker
down at that grocery store. Now
you shet up. Elwell, or I'll git off'n
this bed Of pain and cuff youh head
into the shape of the Methodist
steeple! When I'm talllin' science to
you I want order.
Now, went round this evening
to take the Wilder Sprague out of
herself, as you might say, and make
life a little less solemn and mourn
full. went to cheer her up with
fresh air and healthy excitement, as
the books advise. And see what
comes of it? Bein' misunderstood
and hooted at, and havin' my house
invaded by a gang that don't under
stand science nor common polite
ness"
ut is generally admitted" said the
selectman, that the ones who intro
duce new ideas into the world al
ways have to stand more or less
abuse; but you'll nave to admit, Gale,
that the people in Carmel have al
ways been mighty kind to you as
genius in the carriage and sleigh
line. We have taken your new ideas
in models and your schemes in color
and have pulled our wallets and paid
and never said word. But this ERE
treatment for nervous prosperation
seems to be affecting the peace and
happiness of home and the equilib-
rum of an immortal SOUL" He wait
ed there and smacked his lips. Well,
it did sound pretty slick! don't
know where he ever got hold of that
string of words. IF you could see
her settin' there on her bed, gaffllne
the footboard, and SEEM trees ahead,
and feelin' that she is still goln' FOR
jomighty-sakes down hill, you'd un-
derstand that this community feels
justified in pickin' the thing up"
1--WE discussed it with the family
already" said Gale, with a good deal
of hidden meaning. settling the band
age around his eye, "and I don't I'M
derstand that the neighbors have any
license to stick their noses in. It's
wholly family matter"
"Is it, now?" squealed Mis- Bangs.
Family matter, Ell? Well, do you
presume to set there and tell us that
you've declared your intentions?
None of your business!" snorted
Gale.
We'll, it is our bus'ness!" said
Mis- Bangs. and she came right up to
the side of the bed. cts the bus-
ness of the spinsters and widders OF
this town to see that one Of their
number amt lied to and deceived
and rode down hill to her everlastin'
ruin and then deserted. You'll find
it's our business, Mister Gale Allen.
| you that's been scornin' the women
in this town for all these years! If
you aln't declared yourself, then
we've got as much to do with the
Sprague family as you have"
do you mean 10 tell me-" roared
Gale. that the women of this town
think they've got the right to tell me
how shall do my courtin'?'
"Jammin' fool ideas down the
mems necks and triflin' with the af-
fections of helpless women are two
different things" insisted Mis- Bangs.
You may be genius, as they say;
but you can't gently US around your
| little finger"
He jumped off the bed like flash,
and 1 thought he was going to cuff
her ears, but that wasn't it. He
ducked out of the door on the run;
and we all took after him, for we
couldn't think what was going to
happen. Genluses go crazy all of a
I