The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-01-03

ders still humping for position inside
the coat that was beginning to strain
across the back. Suit We to T. hey:
wouldn't it. Sairy:'
well, no. l don't guess so today.
Lish," WAS the placid answer. It's
ben my bakin' day, an now I've got TO
black up the stove an wash the floor
Ye'd have TO wait too long for me to
git ready"
'Oh, l don't mean today" with
grin. Il mean move up for good an
all. Sell the farm an be town folks
like the best o 'em. Id 90 into bust
ness, an ye'd be so we could have COM
p'ny an see somebody most every day.
| guess we could stand up straight
with 'em, hey?"
His wife gaZed at him blankly for Il
moment, then dropped upon chair,
her favorite mode of expressing aston
Ishment.
''Ye don't mean
Yes. do mean jest that. I've been
thinkin on t for considerable of Il
spell, an that letter from Hiram Pot
ter out west sayin' he'd made $4,000
merchandisin' clinched the rivets close
up. I've been fool, Sairy.''
Il dunno, Lish. Folks round here
say we've done we'll
We'll" lie Snorted. with profound
self disgust, for farlnin' round here
mebbe. I've cleared off the mortgage
an put $1,000 in the bank an got to-
gether 4 pretty good head o stock. hut
I've been twenty years a-doin' it, Sairy
twenty years. an I've worked like
dog sixteen hours day an more.
want goln' to miss anything for lack O
hard work. No, stree An now there's
Hiram, who want thought nigh SO
smart as me at school. an Reuben
Smith, who keeps the hotel over to the
Corners, an Nathan Taylor. who sells
us groceries. an others. All of 'em
have been wearin' good clothes right
along an takin' money over their coun-
tiers in handfuls, an when there was
offices an hOnors to be given it was
them as was went to-
He drew his cap a little lower down
and his collar little higher M and
peered at her through the narrow slit
as though expecting some comment.
Suit We to T, hey;" he repeated
She nodded refectively.
Il dunno but twill" she conceded.
IN miss the chickens an butter
maxim, but they be work. an, then, rs
We say. 1 can see somebody most every
day. N-no. guess ! won't mind"
Course We won't he declared.
Wen he town folks an will have t.
put ON our best hihs an fuckers every
day. Yen set on q stuffed cheer talkin'
TO comp'ny IN takin'in money. an in the
pvenins therell he 4 lot gathered round
my store talkin' politics an things, an
they won't cost me a cent for entertain
ment, like visitors gcner'ly do but viii
be bringin' me in more money"
'Ye don't suppose therc'd he 10 hitch
'hout-'bout We dom it, Lish?' she in
CURED
"Hitch:'-indignantly-'W when Hiram
an Reuben an Nathan have all done
ii an made money. Well, | guess not
But III go an look round some. Folks
in town are gener'ly pretty keen scent
ed on money. an If they git wind q
my needin' a house to live in an I
store TO merchandise in they might
think rents ought to he a little higher
I'll look round sort o casual But we're
sure We favor the idee. Sairy? | don't
want to go into nothin' that We couldn't
smooth down to-"
ooh, Ill like it all right she said
p!acidly. Tin sure to. Yc needn't
bother bout that, /. I've always
hankered 10 shop " i;nbin' in
an out a Vaughn. II. 3d., Aefty. An
say, Lish.' raising her voice as lie
opened the door and let in IL rush OF
air and whirling snow. "be sure an
beat EN- down some"
1t was late in the evening when he
returned, but from the way the wagon
ratified by the house and the unneceS-
sarily loud whoa which came to her
when it reached the barn she felt that
something momentOus had happened
and this feeling was made certainty
when Lish flung open the door and she
saw him trying to straighten bis fac
into an expression of Indifference.
Supper ready, Sairy?" he demanded.
airily. Il swan, I'm most starycdr'
''Ye know it's ready, Lish," she said
quietly. ut always is at to minute
You know it's been gettin cold jest an
hour an half. SO we've hired a
placer
Eye amt with a cent for news.
Sally" he grumbled. I'VE either scent
ii out miles ahead or take it all for
granted. I'd as soon have stick t.
tell somethin' to. How'd We know I've
bred Il place.?
Goodness land" scornfully, its
stickin' out all over We, Lish! I knowcI
1t by the way the wheels went round
when We went by"
Don't suppose the wheels told ye
what place | hired an how much I'm
TO pay an when we're goin' to move:
lie asked.
NO" she confessed, "eXceptin' they
said We was considerably set up, an !
figgered from that ye'd got the Old
drug store stand. That's the biggest
store in the best part O. the town, an
It is the only one I know on as bein
empty just now"
Lish chuclled.