Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-07-24
Through
The Fiery
-
urnace.
q, EDGAR WELDON COOLEY
Copyright. isOs. by Edgar welton
Cooley.
!, EDGAR WELDON COOLEY

ITnul VI Ills kihs hN@f 49, .
across the other lank knee. jackknife
In his right hand. shingle In his left.
on the other end OF the bench squatted
Bige Ellet, bachelor, fat legs spraddled
out. pudgy feet Just touching the
ground. black pipe in mouth.
Some folks can do thunderin' LOT
OF thInkin' not TO amount 10 much In
this world. seems. 10 me-" said Abner
"Meanin'T' said Bigc.
"Meanin'." replied Abncr. peeling a
long shaving off the shlngle. some
folks can sit around for an hour sun
min themselves and never say word
TO show their sociability."
WAL" drawled Blge. putting Wig
orously. II was thinEin' what an all
fired good thing 1t is that Saloam Cen
ter has so many haldheadcd old Wild
erers struttin' around like peacocks In
n peach orchard"
"Whyg" asked Abner squirting at
Blge.
"'Cause town would he fuller Of old
maids and widders than the SALARY
desert Is of sand burs."
Abner fell TO whiting the shIngle
sp!tefully. II reckon" he unused, that
II Just isn't right to fly In the face Of
Providence. and II the good Lord had
ever intended Bige Elet for a Romeo
he'd "a made him leete more hand.
some and Il tritle less hippypotamous."
Maybe I'm n .hippypotamus,' said
Bige calmly. ''or alligator or 'noso-
ross. but | amt loSin' NO sleep yearnln'
for a post graduate course in matri-
mony."
by lingo" cried Abner, Ieaping to
his feet and shaking his fist. Don't
taunt me. Bige Elet don't We do IT,
"Ain't goin' TO taunt We, but II you
don't keep out Of my way I'll step on
We. and I've seen moon fore now
that didn't have nothin' left to II but
rim
you're a consumed old blow pout!'
stormed Abner. You're n jealous old
jessecat. You know courted Sereny
Simklns Sore you did, and you think
| you can cut me out. but We can't do It,"
| For moment he gyrated up and
down In front Of the snecring Bige.
/ then darted up the street Bige sat
on the bench and watched him until
he disappeared in the distance. Then
he arose slowly and brushed his clothes
with his bandanna handkerchief
Cant eh?" he soliloquizcd glanGing
! In the direction whence Abner had
fed Cant. eh? Reckon III just
wander down that way and see"
! Miss Simkins was out by the willow
hedge gathering green brush in n
clothes basket when Abner came shut
fling along the road. He WAS trem-
! bling with indignation and fatigue and
sat down on the well curb TO rest.
/ But he hadn't been there ten minutes
when he saw Bige Ellct. putting like
| freight train on steep grade steer
! ing for Miss Simkins' modest abode
".Iumpin' Jericho he cried. gazing
| frantically about for some avenue OF
escape.
Already the front gate was blocked
| by the bachelors pompous form. In
the rear Miss Simkins was coming mp
! the path. So with the agility of %
squirrel he darcd into the smoke
/ house, climbed ladder and squattcd
! silently amid the gloomy rafters, from
which dangled numerous uncured hams
| and pieces of side meat.
Straight to the open door came
Bige. then paused and removed his
hat as Miss Simkins approached
why, how dye do?' he began. bow.
ing effusively,
"Oh, Mr. Ellet." replied Miss Sim
kins. I'm so glad you came. need
somebody to help me smoke that meat
why. certainly, num-" said Bige
his rotund face turning scarlet with
pleasure.
He took the basket from her and
dumped its contents upon pile of
leaves on the middle of the smoke
house floor, then struck match and
touched 1t to the leaves.
"Oh, Lord" groaned Abner from his
elevated perch as thin cloud OF
smoke began rising 81 wish a cyclone
would come along, wish the town
would catch fire I wish somethin
would happen to make 'em go away
don't know what am goin' to do
at is certainly very kind of you
Abliah," said Miss Simkins, bushing
"A lone woman has u hard time try
ing to get along" She sighed effec
lively.
Must have thunderin hard time
TO want to marry widderer with six
children" said Bige dryly.
great cloud of smoke was rising
from the fire. Abner was nearly chok
ed and was rolling his eyes desperate
ly to keep from sneezing. The tears
We're running down his cheeks il
streams.
"Why, Mr.. Ellet," began Miss Sim
kins amazedly. what do you mean?'
Heard that you were goin' t.
marry that old idjit of an Abne
Moon" came Bige's complaining voice
Then the door closed with bang, an(
a bolt flew into place.
Miss Simkins sat down on the door
step and looked up at Bige. 81 dom
care" she said "Mr. Moon has beef
. a very kind friend Of mine, and. be
! sides, some men don't seem to have
have sand enough to declare their feel
ings."
Bige blushed scarlet and stammered
= Really, Miss-Miss Simkins." he said
I-l-that is, long have-have nour
ished IA deep regard
But just then from somewhere with
j. in the dark recesses Of the smokehous
S anne an unearthly noise.
Observation-Disclosures! Good Lord-ke,