Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-03

Now the first expression on 'Mournful' Mullens
face he leaned on the gate and behed the barn
give up this amazing in toggery and her satellite
had been mild wonder, mingled with reproof for
man who would swear SO horribly. When the parade
swept by him on it's second round of the yard his
eyes for the first time in the memory of Smyrna lost
their elongated look of solemnty.
When Maybe1le went past the third time tail over
her back and her suit swapping in the breeze,
wrinkles and ridges appeared his face where there
wrinkles before. The parchment-ike
hide seemed to crackle, and then his whole face
softened meowy. moment later and he began
laugh with shrill examinations like hccups and
then the came. He staggered against the
fence and at last fell the turf, holding to his
sides. He rolled about with imminent risk of being
trodden under foot by Maybelle The Capn shouted
to him for assistance, but 'Mournful" Mullen
helpless He only rolled and kicked and beloved
Twice the Cap swerved and tried to jump him,
but Maybelle's speed was too swift to allow it. And
when at last the and her tow went away down
the street Mullen crawled hands and knees through
the gate and watched them out of sight palpitating
with laughter and too weak to stand upright
The widow pummeled him back into conscious
ness as he lay gasping like fish go get my
poor Maybee away from that thief, that pirate,
that renegade!" she shrilled.
He wanted me to get him away from her"
guffawed Mullen, sinking back again the turf
and whickering" feebly
But after time her indignant reproaches stung
nll ana ne staggered 10 MS leet. l IL GIT her
for you, Mis- Briggs" he gulped. "He shan't
hurt a hair her. But she-but he" He
stumbled to the fence and held on and hiccup-
ped laughter. I'D my legs off 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. Il shant
ever stop laughin in the Lords world. I'll
wake up nights and laugh. I'll stop eatin
victuas to laugh Inever knowed there was so
much in the world to laugh about. l amt
ever been much of a hand to laugh but Il
He went stumbling down the road He came
back half hour later, Maybelle following dociely
behind him. He carried her raiment on his
eff | know cows-and | reckon l do he
said-"I fgger that she don't take Toto"
he waved the pantaloons deprecatingly. $50
l thought I'd take 'em off and ease her feens
1t amt been in ways conf table and
pleasant in any families for the sect to
the-the-' again he shook the gngham leg
coverings. The widow snatched them away
and bundled them under her
You 60 turn that COW out to pasturel" she
snapped.
When he came around the corner she was Sit
ting the doorstep stripping the Bingham into
breadths. He leaned against piazza post and
eyed her bashfully "As was sayin'," he
tured, it don't to fit the sect to wear"
o. You just shet your mouth about that and
~ forever!' she cried swapping her eyes at him
But as she looked at him she realized that he
y wasn't ''Mournful' Mullen any longer. His eyes
danced Smiles quivered around his mouth His
face seemed plumper and rounder 1t was as
though he had broken out of chrysalis. He
beamed on her genially.
Il amt no hand to beat about the BUSH he
said. I've got kind of used to helpin' you out
around this place and m ready to continue at it
I've got-wel say fifteen thousand dollars if |
sell out my farm, and l reckon | will, cause |
don't want to be solemn any more. You know