Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1907-02-01
a Good
Cb0nSe
BY Martha McCuIIochWilliarn
Copyright, 1906. by RUBY Douglas
Copyright. 1906, bD Ielaby Douglas

much anyway-nOt unless there's ami
mails and children that oughter know
about 'em. But you might "a went to
thlsn in the wagon along with Uncle
Jim's folks. IL that would a done you.
Go with Il Batson, indeed. Remember,
miss, your grandfather went to the
legslature!' Mrs. Hicks said wither-
ingly to her daughter Amelia, who
pouted and answered sullenly:
Il wish he'd died first Then you
couldn't be always throwing him at
everybody until were laughingstocks.
And Billy Batson has Get the finest
horse and the incest buggy around
here. Any girl-Sophy Weldon even
would jump at the chance to ride in 1t.
You'd want me to jump, too, if 1t
wasn't for that sneaky preache l
/ tell you right now you needn't try to
make me marry him 1 won't do it! l
WON'T 1 WON'T
Hadn't you better wait till you're
asked % Mrs Hicks asked, with her
finest sarcasm
Amelia laughed=a laugh not pleas
ant to hear II amt fool-not if
am your daughter she retorted. Il
know what you're plotting, you two
and that you want him for a son-in-
| law so you can boss the church. as
you've always bossed things here"
amelia Hfcksi 1 am ashamed Of
youv' Mrs Hicks cried severely. then,
with a snifHe: But maybe 1 deserve
It, I took your father rather N listen to
my missionary call And this is what
get for it-a thankless tooth
sharper IA a Serpent's child
Amelia giggled. That's about the
way you commonly get things" she
said irreverently- Now, you listen to
me- ma. You hate old maids-so do l
and Billy BatSon Is the best chance
I'll ever have in my life. He's going
to court me this trip-I know it-never
mind how If you don't let me go, he'll
court somebody else
r Lord grant itv' Mrs Hicks broke in
fervently. Amelia frowned 'No on
think then. 1 might put UP with your
Brother GilIan.'' she said bitterly
But I'd died even be old maid
first, the sourest, ugliest that ever
turned sweet milk"
ooh do hushr' Mrs Hick interrupt
: ed fretfulIy, but turning away her
head to hide n pickering crafty smile
eff nothin' Will do you but to sink tC
{ the level of the Batsons, why. 1 sup
pose 1 must let you. But you must lie
$ me talk to Billy before you start"
I what for?'' Amelia asked suspi
, ciously Her mother laughed sourly.
For no great matter she said
: you may hear every word 1 say
q Does that satisfy your
= Looks like it ought to- Amelia sai'
+ ungraciously But, understand, yo'
amt going to mention Gillami"
~
cast before svvines.'' Mrs. Hicks said
I. with toss of her head
Amelia eyed her diStruStfully for
>, long minute, then walked off, mutteI
a ing to herself, IF only she sticks t
d her word she can't do any grea
=, harm"
Amelia thought she knew her mott
q err particularly as regarded the depth
! of her deceit, but she stared in dunn
= amazement at Billy Batson's reception
, No May morning ever smiled more Ell
II gagingly on him than Mrs. Hicks Sh
n shook hands with fervor and asked /
|, her suavest voice after the health {
his family. She was also hearty in az
n miration of his spanking turnout an
D. wished him all sorts of a good time
D the full worth of his money in pleas
ure. Then she added artlessly that sh
. herself had never seen real circus.
L. menagerie of one elephant power we
IL as near as she had come A pity,
q be surel No, she had no scruples.
q Just somehow never quite suited *
r. her to go when circus day came roun
! Somebody had been sick or there wa
;. work to do. Mr. Hicks had gone-me
10 always went-but that dian't mea
I'd stopping a pillow, would have bee
al the case had she insisted OF couri
I'd she would have had to have the null
Se and rockaway- Nov that she was
o widow she had not felt it was just Il
thing to do a circus seemed someho
to require having a man along Mayl
= she would go next time-her nephe
IL. Freddy Drawne was growing up
W fast.
10 Then Billy said boldly. with a shee
~ lsh glance toward Amelia, "Oh. may
he you'll have sOn-in-law, and If
of don't take you, why. ask me to thra
OK him for you"
or eff you're willin' to do that for II
tie maybe you won't mind dom SON
up thin easier-lettin' me go long wi
u you and Amelia today It's dreadf
u lonely stayin' at home and watch
ali the neighborhoOd go by" Nj
Hicks said with pIaintive smile
Billy gasped but could not refuse.
IL. L.. IL