The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-04-24

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
sot her cup Of coffee down untasted.
Pears like ! haint no appetite late.
| ly. Shoe! shoe. there, now" to the
chickens, i've a good mind to cook
one Of ye. What docs an old woman
want of anythin bettcr'n calico. any.
way" Presently she added:
'Twouldn't be no use; couldn't eat
whole chicken, an'-'twouldnt taste
good, no how"
She was out cutting kinding for tho
night, and a stick flew as she struck
it, and gave her a blow IN the face
"Oh, ny. If it suits ye better" she
grumbled q lister think didn't need
any mans help, but now
Here. here, Give me that AK aforn
30 Kill ycrself; Ineycr did see a woman
that could chop wood" said old Jo.
siah White.
Wall, | don't want to Farm" said
'Cinda, handing him the AK
There he remarked, "thnt'll last
ye nigh on to a week. III cut some
more for We by the time that's gone;
it's shame there's no one to look
arter ye"
Il don't need no one" rescnting the
implied censurc.
Uncle Ebcn. watching behind his
window blind, muttcred wrathfully:
Blast his orncry hide"
The following week 'Cinda was up
in the garnet sorting rags for new
carpet Might as well come to #:
it's all III ever git now" she NUT
tered disconsulately, az she picked up
an old coat. Land sakes! II faint
Eben's weddin' coat Morn so year"
she muscd. 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 Ebcn 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 Ebon. 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 doin' there ag'in? He's mighty
spruccd up He kin just keep hisself
away from Lucinda or III lick the hide
ofFn him. | did # when We was boys
an kin ag'in." he muttered
That night the children were unusu
ally annoying, and when Uncle Ehcn
made n faint protest Melinda flew into
a passion.
Il 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 a parting taunt
Il guess you're about right as to
'Cinda," answered the old man totter.
ing from the room.
Her husband laughed; well, YOU
put your foot in It 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
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 n van drove up to the house
"Whcre'll you have these things un.
loaded, ma'am?"
Them don't belong here" cycling
the shining brass bedsteads and the
mattresses longingly.
and glimpse of a roll OF bright.hued
filled her eyes with tears
She shook her head. mo. no! There
is some mistake."
NO, ma'am; | was told to leave
them with Uncle Eben's wife. That's
you, | reckon"
Uncle Eben laid his hand on 'Cindas
shoulder.
''Land.o massy. where'd you come
from, Eben?"
Up the barn lot way. guess ] amt
fit to come in the front door" He
tried bravely TO make a Joke OF It,
but his voice was tremulous with emo.
tion.
'Cinda laid her withered hand on
his arm. 1T was awful lonesome
without you, Eben. We Jest mustn't
be 80 techy. We know each others
ways an we don't need no third per.
son TO tell us, do WEI"
NO, no! mustn't be so techy /
give Mlindy the house an ten-acre lot
to find out some things, but the kruwl.
edge is dirt cheap at that Now let
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 'Cinda
gratefully.
Uncle Eben Int his arm around her.
Together We armed the money, an
together we'll lev' the good of 1t. We
won't leave II for others to squander.