The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-04-24

flthy tobacco ~ enough TO turn one
stomach" So he would put out the
fire with his stubby fore finger and
silently leave the room.
There appeared TO be no change in
Aunt 'Cinda's mode OF living. but
when she sat down TO breakfast and
glanced across at the vacant place she
set her cup OF coffee down untasted
Pears like | hain't no appetite late
ly. Shoe! shoe, there, nowl" TO the
chickens. I've a good mind TO cook
one Of ye. What does an old woman
want OF anythin better'n calico. any
way" Presently she added
'Twouldn't be no use: couldn't eat
a whole chicken. an'-'twouldnt taste
good. no how"
She was out cutting kindling for the
night. and a stick flew as she struck
1t, and gave her blow In the face.
"Oh, ny. II 1t suits ye better" she
grumbled. Il ulster think | didn't need
any mans help. but now"
Here. here, Give me that ak afore
ye kill yerself; never did see woman
that could chop wood" said old Jo-
stab White.
Wall, don't want to Farm" said
'Cinda. handing him the ak.
There" he remarked. "that'll last
We nigh on to a week I'll cut some
more for ye by the time that's gone:
it's a shame there's no one to look
arter ye"
Il don't need no one" resenting the
implied censure
Uncle Eben. watching behind his
window blind. muttered wrathfully:
Blast his ornery hide"
The following week 'Cinda was up
in the garnet sorting rags for a new
carpet Might as we'll come to Il;
It's all I'll ever git now" she NUT
tered disconsolately, as she picked up
an old coat. Land sakes, If 'taint
Eben's weddln' coat, Morn so year"
she unused. He did look nice. an how
lovin' he was, All the rest of our
lives. he whispered TO me. oh, men
forget" she sighed.
Sunday came, and Eben saw Josiah
White walk up the little path TO where
'Cinda sat Smelling peas. After a few
words he sat down beside her and
commenced helping her
Uncle Eben. half buried in a hay
stack across the road. watched
him angrily He had taken to strange
habits of late. hiding around TO see
what Aunt 'Cinda was doing. and lis
tening eagerly to every remark con-
corning her. Now, what's that old
wretch dom there ag'in? He's mighty
spruced up. He kin just keep hisself
away from Lucinda or I'll lick the hide
off'n him. did 1t when we was boys.
an kin ag'in." he muttered
That night the children were unusu-
ally annoying, and when Uncle Eben
made faint protest Melinda flew into
a passion.
II don't suppose you ever was boy
You are so cantankerous that it's no
wonder 'Cinda couldn't live with you,
she threw at him as parting taunt.
Il guess you're about right as to
Cinda.' answered the old man totter-
ing from the room.
Her husband laughed: We'll. you
put your foot in 1t that time. said he.
Il don't care; I'm sick Of him. and
there's no more to be got out of the
stingy old wretch"
Uncle Eben had turned back for his
handkerchief and overheard this.
She's right about that. too; she won't
get any more out o me.
The very next day about noon as
Aunt 'Cinda was feeding her chick
ems a van drove up TO the house.
"Wheren you have these things un-
loaded. ma'am?"
Them don't belong here" cycling
the shining brass bedsteads and the
plump-looking mattresses long'ngly
and a glimpse of a roll OF bright-hued
carpeting filled her eyes with tears,
She shook her head. mo. no. There
Is some mistakel"
mo. maam: was told to leave
them with Uncle Eben's wife. That's
you, I reckon"
Uncle Eben laid his hand on 'Cinda' s
shoulder.
Land massey. where'd you come
from, Eben?'
up the barn lot way. guess ain
ft to come in the front door" He
tried bravely to make joke OF II
but his voice was tremulous with emo
| ton.
'Cinda laid her withered hand on
his arm. 1T was awful lonesoi0e
without you, Eben. We jest mustn' 4
be so techy. We know each other 4
WAYS an we drz't need no third per
son to tell us. do WEI"
mo, no, mustn't be go techy
give Mlindy the house an ten-acre lo
TO find out some things. but the knowl
edge is dirt cheap at that Now lie
us take this stun into the house an
see how II looks" said he.
Goodness, | never thought I'd have
things so nice. answered Aunt 'Cind'
gratefully
Uncle Eben PUT his arm around her
Together We armed the money, an
together well hev' the good OF 1t. W.
wont leave II for others to squander