West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-11-08

the amused tolerance OF one who has
never given such a trIhe n thought.
''The habit OF bathing" she COM
mented. lis shore like religion-them
that observes II wonders how them
that neglects II gets along" She beck
oned Mary to follow and led the way
TO bunch OF willows that grew about
a stones throw from the camp. Here
be whole creek full OF water. II you
don't lack the fortitood. It's cold
enough to sell for 10 cents a glass down
to Texas"
Somewhat dlsmayed. Mary stepped
gingerly into the creek. It's Intense
cold numbed her at frst, but a second
later awoke all her young lustiness,
and she returned TO camp In a nne
glow OF courage to encounter Whatever
else there might be OF novelty. Mrs.
/ Yellett was preparing breakfast at q
sheet Iron stove, assisted by Cacta and
Clematis.
Ned had shot an antelope day or
two previous. and antelope steak.
broiled over glowing bed Of wood
Goals, with black coffee. stewed dried
apples and soda biscuit made up what
Mary found to be an unexpectedly
palatable breakfast
The family sat On the grass, tailor
fashion, and every one helped himself
to what appetite prompted. In q fash
Ion that suggested gymnnstic powers.
To pass dish to any one. the sov-
erness discovered, was construed 40
an evidence of mental weakness and
eccentriclty.
Breakfast was half over when Mrs.
Yellett laid down her knife, which she
had handled throughout the meal with
mastery efficiency. Mary watched
her In hopeless embarrassment and
wondered II her own timid use Of q
tin fork could be construed as an un-
friendly comment upon the Yeiletts'
more simple and direct code OF table
etiquette.
Lands sakes, I Just felt, all the
time we've been eating. we was for
gettin' something. You children ought
to remember. I got 30 much on my
mind"
All eyes turned anxiously to tho cook
Ing stove, while an expression Of frank
regret began to settle over the differ
ent faces. The backbone of their ap-
petites had been broken, and there was
something else. perhaps something
even more appetizing, to come.
Interpreting the trend OF their glance
and expression, up Jared Mrs. Yellett,
with as great n show OF indignation az
II some one had set match to her pet.
ticonts.
81 declare, never see such children;
no more nacheral feelin's than q heryi
OF coyotes; never thinks OF a plumb
thing but grub. No; make no mistake
about the character of the objec' we've
forgot. 'Tain't sweet pertaters. 'tain't
molnsses. faint corn bread-lts paw
It's your pore old paw-him settln' in
the tent, forsook and neglected by his
own children"
All started up to remedy their filial
neglect without loss OF time, but Mrs.
Yellett waved them back to their
places.
Don't the whole posse Of you 70 aft.
CT him like he'd done something and
was to be npprehended. Ben. you 60
after your father"
Ben strobe over to the little white
tent that Mary had noticed giimmer.
Ing In the moonlight the preceding
evening and presently emerged sup.
porting on his arm partially para.
lyzed old man who might have been
Rip Van Wrinkle I'm the worst of tenn.
pers. His white hair and beard encir.
cled a shriveled, hawklike face; the
mouth was sucked back In q toothlesa