Middletown transcript., 1906-03-10

in the mere courseof affairs. Her
arm was cramped from holding
the gun; the boulder which had
afforded so comfortable, not to
say luxurious, a sun warmed seat
early in the day had become de-
cidedly hard.
Aunt Prindy rose with sudden
res0lution-most of her resolu-
tions we're Of that variety. Amt
no mortal use of me settin' here
this blessed afternoon | bet
that tike of u girl was jest afool-
ing me. She hardened comfort
ably to the thump ping of the loom.
She's settled down mighty peace
| fully to her weavin. If her and
Mark Bushares had been aiming
to wed, he'd "a been trottin' up
this road a hour ago-an course
the elder was bound to come up
this way. | bet she was a-fool-
ing me. And with grim smile
she started back, gun on shoul-
der, to the cabin.
Half way up the ragged path
toward the porch she stopped and
listened. The loom.room was a
detached cabin, twenty-five feet
from the residence proper. It
seemed to her that she heard
voices behind it's closed door.
But she was reassured by the
steady booming Of the loom.
Chug!-thug! the sounds rolled
out on the pleasant summer air.
Aunt Prindy sheered from her
course, and made for the weaving
room. She threw open the door,
and paused aghast upon its thres-
hold. There, crowded into the
back of the room, were a parcel
of giggling young folks, the girls
pink-and-white faces making the
group resem BILE a blossoming
bank of mountain-laurel. At the
loom sat Ozelma, clad in her we'd
ding frock, her foot upon the
treadle, her left hand wildly fut-
tering to send the flying shuttle
back and forth, while her right
was clasped in that of a tall,
brown, young mountaineer =
Mark Bushares.
As Aunt Prindy halted an in
stant, she caught sight of Elder
Pease's figure on the other side
of the group, and the elders So
norous voice rose above the clang-
ing of the loom i then pernounce
you man and wife. Mark, son,
salute yo' bride.
AS Ozelma was swept from the
bench by her husband s arm, her
frightened eyes encountered the
little mother in the doorway.
Ros, who had elm bed to beam
in the back of the room, saw her
at the same instant. Hi! he
crowed, there's a back way to
this here cabin, nanny. While
you are so took up a-gyardin' of
the front road, We all cropped up
the back way.
This taunt turned the scale
with Aunt Prindy. She raised
the gun, and set its stock against
her shoulder.
Hold on! Don't shoot Hits
done, and can't be helped, shouted
some one from the back of the
room.
You'll make widder of your
gal chimed in another.
I'll set the times fur weddin's
in this house-an' funerals! snap
ped Aunt Prindy: but she seemed
decidedly miserable and unwill-
ing.
Her irresolute hand was steal.
ing toward the trigger, when
Marks tall form leaned sue denly
toward her, his long arm shot out
like a piston rod and knocked the
barrel up. The shot went harm
lessly through the roof.
What is there in an explosion
If it is nothing more than the
accidental going off of a gun
which so Immediately clears the
atmosphere? Aunt Prindy flung
down her weapon, and held out
her arms to her girl, with floods
of tears-tears, always the vix-
ems finish.
How could you turn ag'in' me
that away, honey ? she asked
brokenly.
Why, nanny, didn't I kept
the loom a-goin' every minute
you was gone. l never stopped
till you was standin in the door
and you know you never told
me not to wed.
Wringing shirt Waist
1t is great mistake to wiring fine
4