The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-05-16

filthy tobacco IL enough TO turn onSs
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 1 hain't no appetite late
ly. Shoe! shoe. there, now!" to the
chickens. i've a good mind to cook
want of anythin' better'n a calico. any
way?" Presently she added:
'Twouldn't be no use; couldn't eat
whole chicken, an'-'twouldn't taste
good, no howl"
She was out cutting kindling for the
night, and stick few as she struck
it. and gave her a blow In the face.
"Oh, fly, If it suits We BETTER" she
grumbled. Il ulster think didn't need
any mans help, but now"
Here, here! Give me that Ak afore
we kill yerself; never did see woman
that could chop wood" said old Jo-
siah White.
| wall, don't want to Farm" said
'Cinda, handing him the Ak.
i There" he remarked. "that'll last
We nigh on to week. I'll cut some
more for We by the time that's gone;
it's a shame there's no one to look
, arter ye." m
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 well come to It;
it's all I'll ever git now" she NUT
tered disconsolately, as she picked up
an old coat Land sakes! If faint
Eben's weddin' 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 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 hisseli
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 Eber
made faint protest Melinda few into
a passion.
Il don't suppose you ever was boy!
You are so cantankerous that it's ne
( wonder 'Cinda couldn't live with you.
she threw at him as parting taunt-
Il guess you're about right as *
/ 'Cinda," answered the old man totter
e ing from the room.
Her husband laughed: "Well, yol
d put your foot in it that time" said he
l. 81 don't care; I'm sick of him. and
r there's no more to be got out of thu
v stingy old wretch"
r Uncle Eben had turned back for hi
handkerchief and overheard this
d "She's right about that, too; she won
get any more out O. me-"
p The very next day about noon a
It Aunt 'Cinda was feeding her chick
(? ems a van drove up to the house
r "Where1l you have these things un
loaded, ma'am?"
!. Them don't belong here" eyeinl
II the shining brass bedsteads and thu
o plumplooking mattresses longingly
and a glimpse of roll of bright-hue'
II carpeting filed her eyes with tears
She shook her head. mo. no! Their
e Is some mistake."
d mo, ma'am; was told to leav
them with Uncle Eben's wife. That
you, reckon?"
n Uncle Eben laid his hand on 'Cinda'
1t shoulder.
n "Land-o-massy. where'd you com
E. from, Eben?"
d up the barn lot way. guess ain
1T fit to come In the front door," II
tried bravely to make joke Of 1
u. but his voice was tremulous with emit
s, ton.
~ 'Cinda laid her withered hand o
)" his arm. 1T was awful lonesom
without you. Eben. We jest mustn
I'd be so techy. We know each other
I'd ways an we don't need no third pc
he son to tell US, do WEI"
as mo, no! l mustn't be 30 techy.
give Mlindy the house an ten-acre Il
:" to find out some things. but the know
ce edge is dirt cheap at that. Now Il
us take this stuff into the@house q
at see how 1t looks," said he.
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