The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-04-30


filthy tobacco ii enough TO turn ones
stomach" 50 he would put out the
fire with his ftbby fore finger and
silently leave the room.
There appeared to be no change inY
Aunt 'Cinda's mode Of living. but
when she sat down to breakfast and
glanced across at the vacant place, shd
set her cup Of coffee down untasted. /
Pears like ! haint no appetite late
ly. shool 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, twouldn't taste
good, no howl"
She was out cutting kindling for the
night, and stick flew as she struck
it, and gave her a blow In the face
"Oh, fly, If It suits ye better" she
grumbed. Il uster think | didn't need
any mans help, but now"
Here, herei Give me that ak afore
ye kill yerself; ! never did see a woman
that could chop woodP said old Jos
siah White.
Wall don't want to Iarn," said
Cinda, handing him the ak
There" he remarked, "that'll last
We nigh on to week. I'll cut some
mere 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 hidel"
The following week Cinda was up
in the garret sorting rags for 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 sakesl If 'talnu
Eben's weddin coat! Morn SO year"
she mused "He did look nice, an how
lovin he wasl All the rest Of our
lives, he whispered to me. on, men
forget she sighed.
Sunday came, and Eben saw Josiah
White walk up the little path to where
'Cinda sat sheping 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 lisa
tening eagerly to every remark con
cerning her Now 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 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.
i 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
II guess you're about right as to
'Cinda,T answered the old man totter-
ing from the room.
Her husband laughed We'll, you
put your foot in It that time. said he.
q 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 van drove up to the house.
"Where'll you have these things un-
loaded, ma'am?"
Them don't belong here eyelng
the shining brass bedsteads and the
plump-looking mattresses longingly,
and a glimpse Of roll Of bright-hued
I earpetlng filled her eyes with tears
She shook her head. No, mol There
Is some mistakel"
NO, ma'am; was told to leave
them with Uncle Ebens wife That's
you. reckon?"
Uncle Eben laid his hand on cinda'l
t shoulder.
'Land-o'massy, where'd you come
from, Eben?"
Up the barn lot way. guess / aim
t fit to come in the front door" H'
tried bravely to make a joke OF It
!. but his voice was tremulous with emo
J, tion
Il Cinda laid her withered hand o.
- his arm. 1T was awful lonesom,
without you, Eben. We Jest inustn'
d be so techy We know each otheri
d ways an we don't need no third per
e son to tell us. do we?"
s mo, mo- ! mustn't be so techy.
give Mlindy the house an ten-aere 10
" to find out some things, but the knowl
g edge is dirt cheap at that. Now le
us take this stun into the house an
L see how it looks" said he
"Goodnessl never thought I'd hav
s things so nice, answered Aunt Cind
gratefully.