Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1908-04-24
Uncle Eben's Mistake
Copyright. BY pally story pub. Coz
By Clara II. Holmes


way?' Presently she added:
",Twouldn't be no use; | couldn't e;s
whole chicken, an'-'twouldn't tastt
good, no howl"
She was out cutting kindling for the
night, and stick flew as she struck
1t, and gave her blow In the race.
"Oh, fly, II 1t suits We better" she
grumbled. II 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.
There" he remarked, "that'll last
We 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."
II don't need no one" resenting the
implied censure.
Uncle Eben, watching behind his
window blind, muttered wrathfully:
"-!-.st his ornery hide"
The following week 'Cinda was up
in the garnet sorting rags for new
carpet. might as well come to 1t;
it's all I'll ever git now" she NUT
tered disconsolately, as she picked up
an old coat. Land sakes! II faint
Eben's weddin' coat! Morn 80 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 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. Nov, what's that old
wretch doin' 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 it when we was boys.
an I kin ag'in," he muttered.
That night the children were unusu-
ally annoying, and when Uncle Eben
made faint protest Melinda few into
a passion.
II don't suppose you ever was boyl
You are so cantankerous that it's no
wonder 'Cinda couldn't live with you."
she threw at him as parting taunt.
II 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.
IT 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 .
Aunt 'Cinda was feeding her chick
ems a van drove up to the house.
"Where'll you have these things un.
loaded. ma'am?"
"Them don't belong here" cycling
the shining brass bedsteads and the
plump-looking mattresses longingly,
and glimpse of roll Of bright-hued
carpeting filled her eyes with tears.
She shook her head. mo, no! There
is some mistake!"
mo, ma'am; was told to leave
them with Uncle Eben's wife. That's
you, reckon?"
Uncle Eben laid his hand on 'Cinda's
shoulder.
"Land-o'-massy. where'd you come
from, Eben?"
Cup the barn lot way. guess amt
fit to come in the front door," He
tried bravely to make a joke of 1t,
but his voice was tremulous with emo.
ton.
'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 M'lindy the house an ten-acre lot
to find out some things, but the knowl-
edge Is dirt cheap at that. Now let
us take this stuff into the house an
see how it looks" said he.
Goodness! never thought I'd have
things so NICE" answered Aunt 'Cinda
gratefully. - %
Uncle Eben PUT his arm around her.
Together we armed the money, an
together we'll hev' the good of it. We
won't leave it for others to squander,
| 'Cinda" GE# 4.s