The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-10-30

bout the ribbon and rubber his eyes fairly
danced, but he managed to keep his face straight
as he explained how it happened about the rib
bon. Deacon drummer and the preacher noddin'
their heads in full belief and satisfaction at the
boys straight for'ad story.
Mis- Bennett then asked, Where is the rubber
them?
81 don't know anything about the rubber, he
answered
Didn't you see it, pushed back under the
bench? she asked.
Yes, | saw EN- both, | couldn't held it, he
replied, meanin harm-but Brother Dexter
stroked his beard and Deacon drummer coughed
Mis- Bennets head went up trihe higher if pos
sible, she questioned What in the world made
you take it. What could you possibly do with
only rubber?'
The fact that she still believed he took it
made him reply CHS handsome face gettin redo
1 did not take it, Mis- Bennett In the first place
1 could have possible use for it, it bein' a
lady's rubber. and ma couldn't wear it, cuz
she could put both her feet in one, which manner
OF walkin wouldn't be satisfactory to her
'Freds mother said Son. Som. expostulatin'
like, while Brother Dexter set his teeth hard an
the Deacon smiled discreetly behind his kerr
chief, while Mis- Bennett jumps up an mutterin'
such lmpudence between her teeth, bounced out
OF the house, meanin to send that young scamp
to jail if there was any law in Grant County
Brother Dexter ran out hatless. to call after
her. but gettin no reply he went back into Mis-
Nichols sittin room. where he found Fred stand
in with his hands in his pockets, tellin' his MA
not to cry, that nobody would believe such stuff
He spoke truly no one did believe it, for
wasn't Fred Nichols great. strong manly Fred,
the idol of every boy in Dodgeville?
When he was only fourteen years old he had
come round into Maple Avenue day just as
young George Scott, past sixteen, had set fire to
bunch OF irecrackers in a can which he had
tied onto the tail of Postmaster Rankin's dog.
The lickin' Fred gave that boy. bigger and
stronger and older than he. wuz the talk of
Dodgeville fur weeks nobody blamin' him. not
even young SCOTS father, who said it served
George right
Poor Brother Dexter wuz in mighty bad
way. fur you Mis- Bennett was by far the
richest member of his flock. that could al
ways be depended upon to give to everything the
preacher was gettin' up, albeit she was very I'M
popular She always did have stish way with
her, so that even when her little Selma, the last
of four children. took, Mis- Bennett Just kept
her head up so stiff an naughty like, with her
thin lips drawn in so tight, that not one of the
womln folks could go an put their arms round
her lovln like. an cry with her. fur she didn't
cry But, poor woman, | guess she grieved sore
enough in her cold way but twant her way to
show no feelin' fore folks.
"On the other hand Sister Nichols wuz the
preachers right hand partner She was the presi-
dent of the Pastors Aid and one of the
faithfllest workers in the church She wuz head
foremost in all good works: like an angel
from heaven in her ministeries to the sick an'
bereaved she and Sister Dexter bein' unceasin
In their work. True-Mis' Bennett had the most
money, her husband bein' Judge. an Mr.. Nichols
belu' only drug store keeper fore he died but
now the hull church community sided with Mis-
Nichols, which Mis- Bennett was quick to see Sc
when she just stopped short comm to Brother
DeNters church. ii was a terrible grief to Mis-
Nichols who took to stayn away herself
so matters went long fur some weeks, the lit
Tie girl what had been brought from Denver
to live with Mis- Bennett bein' stunned by all the