The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-01-05
By DONALD ALLEN
4 Copyright, 1905. bB Il. Il. Whitehead .
1U|w\ryNJeNN TA CgNnTW w N~~N,

But who ever heard OF such eXtraV-
agance? What'll the neighbors sayi
They even giggle when we take a,rock-
ing chair out in the grass after sup
per-"
Then we'll give EN- their fill of lglg
Cling. You be sure to bring that ham
mock back With you, and if you can't
possibly stand it perhaps I'll tell you
further news after you come home
Uncle Reube returned an hour before
shutdown with his new scythe, and he
hadn't forgotten the hammock. He
flung the bundle ON the veranda.
Looks to me like the first step to the
poorhouse," he said, but there it's"
Under Aunt Hilda's directions he put
it up, and when all was ready she took
him out behind the smokehouse and
said:
"Pa, haven't you noticed anything
queer about our Mary lately?"
Il dunno that l have" he replied.
"She seems TO have lost her appetite,
and she amt singing around as much
as she was, but l hadn't took much
notice"
No. of course not. Fathers never do.
can tell you that Mary is threatened
with the decline"
do you mean she's pining?"
Yes, you might call it that. She's
lost her appetite; she is mum as
stump; she don't sing or whistle. She
don't eat enough in q day to keep q
chickadcc alive. It's got to be serious
case, pa; very serious"
"Shoo! Shall l send for DIR. Dob
bins?"
Not for a few days yet, not till 1
try my own cure on her. That's what
l wanted that hammock for. I'm go
ing to try the moonlight cure on her"
Il never heard Of it."
There's q good many things you
never heard Of, Pa Fenshaw. It's
moonlight nights now, and Mary will
sit out in the hammock till midnight,
mebbe''
For how many nights?"
No telling, but six or seven will
make a cure, 1 hope. If it don't we
shall have to try something else. Now,
then, don't you so to peeking around
like an old hen and asking lot Of
questions. Don't say q word to Mary.
When you get ready to go to bed o
nights stir your stumps right along and
don't tell her that it's time she was in.
/ know how to work this cure, and I
don't want you to Spite it,
I've lived longer'n you have, and 1
never knew the moonlight to, cure any
body yet" he said in sulky tones.
Then l may learn you something
new. Just do as tell you and I'll have
something more to explain bimeby."
That evening the moon rose as big as
barrel and as bright as new silver
dollar, and the old folks went to bed
at 8 o'clock and left their twenty-year-
old daughter swinging in the hammock
in the moonlight in plain view Of any
body passing along the highway.
When Uncle Reube retired, his wife
was sitting by the open window facing
the road. An hour later, when some
noise awoke him, she was still sitting
there.
"Ma Fenshaw, have you gone crazyT
he asked as he sat up in bed.
"S-s-s-sh" she replied.
SIS it any one trying to get into the
Bmokehouse"
mo; of course not. Didn't you hear
him whistling? He saw Molly In her
hammock as plain as day, but his pride
wouldn't let him stop. He even pre-
tended not to look this way. He'll
come to it, though"
What on earth are you Cabling
aboutY
Nothing. I'm coming right to bed.
I've been sitting up to let my tired feet
rool OFF,"
Uncle Reube was too sleepy to ask
further questions. On the following
night, however, when he awoke again
end found Aunt Hilda carefully crawl
ing out of bed, he became too curious
- remain silent longer.
Nov, them" he began, wide awake
with interest. eff you don't tell me all
about it I'll holler right out. There is
some mystery going on here, and I'm
going to know what it Is"
well you are such an old hen huzzy
that l s'pose I've got to tell you. Did
you know that Molly and Joe Williams
had Quarreled"
moo. Why, they are engaged"
That's nothing to do with 1t. Me
and you never quarrelcd till after we
was engaged. Yes, they quarreled
about one Of them Taylor gals. She
went in to cut Molly out"
"Shool Come to think Of it, Joe
hasn't been here in a week"
ooh, you've just remembered that
have you? No, he hain't been here, and
Molly hasn't sent him any word either.
She's standing up for her rights"
"Waal?'
"Waal, q woman don't want to carry
her rights too far. She's out there In
the hammock to give Joe Williams q
chance TO see and speak to her II he
wants to. If he does want to, she'll
call him Mr. Williams and be very dig
nificd until she knows he's real sorry"
''Shoo! What critters women are! So
that's your moonlight cure?'
Yes, that's it, but you needn't tell
the whole neighborhood. Joe has been
past the house these last two nights,
and I'm looking for tomorrer night to
effect cure If he wasn't conscience
stricken and yearning to make up he
wouldn't be sneaking around as he is.
Now, SO to sleep"
Uncle Reuben had forgotten all about
love and romance, but when the third
night came he couldn't sleep. Aunt
IIilda tried to bundle him of to bed,
but be stuck by the window.
Il want to see this thing out as much
as you do, and won't bulge one inch, F"
he declared obstinately.
lie didn't. but there was room for
two To watch. They went upstairs
promptly at . o'clock, ana at half past
10 Joe Williams, whistle, was heard
down the roads,
Its Aartheg calls il scrisis, hain't
it, whisueTed Uucle Redbe.
.,,i5;Yop yseeas t2d about
erslst n Folks
~ ply s
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