The newspaper., 1906-05-11

barn give up this amazing COW III
toggery and her satellite had been
mild wonder, mingled with reproof
for a man who would swear so hor-
ribly. When the parade swept by
him on its second round of the yard
his eyes for the first time in the MEM
ory Of Smyrna lost their elongated
look of solemnity.
When Maybelle went past the third
time, tail over her back and her new
suit swapping in the breeze, wrinkles
and ridges appear on his face
where there were never wrinkles be-
fore. The parchament like hide
seemed to crackle, and then his
whole face softened mellowly! A
moment later and he began to laugh
with shrill cachinnations like hic-
cups, and then the roars came. He
staggered against the fence and at
last fell on the turf, holding to his
sides. He rolled about with eminent
risk OF being trodden under foot by
Maybelle. The Cap'n shouted to
him for assistance, but Mournful
Mullen was helpless. He only rolled
and kicked and beloved. Twice the
Cap'n swerved and tried to jump on
him, but Maybelle's speed was too
swift to allow it. And when at last
the COW and her tow went away
down the street Mullen crawled on
hands and knees through the gate
and watched them out of sight, pal
pitating with laughter and too
weak to stand upright.
The widow pummeled him back
into consciousness as he lay gasping
like fish. $50 get my poor May
belle away from that thief, that pi-
rate, that renegadel" she shrilled.
He wanted me to get him away
from herr" guffawed Mullen, sinking
back again on the turf and 'whick-
ering" feebly.
But after a time her indignant re
proaches stung him and he staggered
to his feet. "I'll git her for you,
Mis- Briggs. he gulped. 'He shan't
hurt a hair on her. But she-but
he
He stumbled to the fence and held
on and hiccupped more laughter.
I'D run my legs off to help you any
way | could" he went on, wiping
his eyes; "but ! 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
eaten victuals to laugh. l never
knowd there was so much in the
world to laugh about. | amt never
been much of hand to laugh; but
r.
He went stumbling down the road.
He came back half hour later, May
belle following docilely behind him.
He carried her raiment on his arm.
"If / know cows-and ! reckon !
do" he said-.'I figger that she don't
take to-to"-He waved the panta-
looms deprecatingly. $50 thought
I'd take 'em off and ease her feelin's.
1t amt ever been in no ways com
f'table and pleasant in any families
for the sect to wear the-the''-a again
he shook the gingham leg coverings.
The widow snatched them away
and bundled them under her arm.
you go turn that COW out to
pasture"' she snapped.
When he came around the corner
she was sitting on the doorstep
stripping the gingham into breadths.
He leaned against piazza post and
eyed her bashfully. "As / was a
sayin,' he ventured, =" 1t don't seem
to fit the sect to wear
"You just shet your mouth about
that now and forever" she cried,
swapping her eyes at him.
But as she looked at him she real
lied that he wasn't Mournful Null
len 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 I'm ready to continue at
| it. I've got-well. say fifteen thous-
and dollars II | sell out my farm. ana