The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1908-06-25

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 mtasted.
Pears like ! hain't no appetite late.
ly. Shoe! shoe, there. now" 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:
" Twoudnt 1e no use; couldn't eat
a whole chicken, an'-'twouldn't taste
good, no how"
She was out cutting kinding for the
night and stick flew as she struck
it. and gave her blow in the face
"Oh, fly, IL it suits ye better" she
grumbled. Il uster think / didn't need
any mans help, but now"
Here, here! Give me that ak afore
ye kill yerself; Inever did see woman
that could chop wood!' said old Jo-
siah White.
Wall, don't want to rarn,' said
'Cinda, handing him the AK
There he remarked, "that'n last
ye nigh on to a week. Ill cut some
more for we by the time that's gone;
it's shame there's no one TO look
arter ye."
~ 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 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 sakes! If taint
Eben's weddin coat! Morn 80 year"
she mused "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 shelling 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
cerning her. Now, what's that OLD
wretch doin' there ag'in? He's mighty
spruced up. He kin just keep hisser
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 Ebeu
made a 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 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 20 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.
"Where1l you have these things un-
loaded ma'am?"
| Then don't belong here" cycling
the shining brass bedsteads and the
plump-looking mattresses longingly,
and a glimpse of a 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
you, | reckon"
Uncle Eben laid his hand on 'Cinda' s
shoulder.
"Land-o'-massy, vhere'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
ton.
'Cinda laid her withered hand on
his arm. 1T was awful lonesome
without you, Eben. We jest mustn't
be so techy. We know each others
ways an we don't need no third per
son to tell us, do we?"
mo, 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 ct cap at that. Now lei
us take this stuff into the house an
see how 1t looks" said he.
Goodness! l never thought I'd have
things so nice" answered Aunt 'Cinds
gratefully.
Uncle Eben Iut his arm around her
Together we armed the money, an
together we'll hev the good of It, NC
won't leave it for others to squander