Barbour County index., 1908-04-29

nre with MS StuDDy fore nnger ana
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 l 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:
"'Twouldn't pc no use; couldn't eat
whole chicken, an'-'twouldn't taste
good, no how"
She was out cutting kindling for the
night, and a stick flew as she struck
it, and gave her blow in the face
"Oh, fly, if it suits ye BETTER she
grumbled. Il uster think l didn't need
any mans help, but now"
Here, here! Give me that ak afore
ye kill yerself; l never did see woman
that could chop wood" said old Jo-
siah White.
Wall l don't want to Iarn," said
| 'Cinda, handing him the ak.
There" he remarked, 'that'H last
ye nigh on to a week. I'll cut some
more 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 hide!"
The following week 'Cinda was up
in the garret 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 'tain't
| 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
| corning her. Now, what's that OLD
wretch doin' there ag'in? He's mighty
spruced up. He kin just keep hisser
away from Lucinda or I'll lick the hide
off'n him. did it when we was boys
an l kin ag'in," he muttered.
That night the children were unusu,
ally annoying, and when Uncle Eben
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 a 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 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 a van drove up to the house
'WhereT you have these things un.
loaded ma ann"
Them don't belong here" eyeing
the shining brass bedsteads and the
plump-lOoking mattresses longingly
and a glimpse of roll of bright-hued
carpeting filled her eyes with tears
She shook her head. mo, no! There
! is some mistakei"
mo, ma'am; l 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. vhere'd you come
from, Eben?"
up the barn lot way. 1 guess 1 AIM
fit to come in the front door," He
tried bravely to make a joke of it
but his voice was tremulous with emo
, ton.
l 'Cinda laid her withered hand or
his arm. 1T was awful lonesome
without you, Eben. We jest mustn'
be SO techy. We know each others
ways an we don't need no third per
2 son to tell us, do we?"
5 no, no! mustn't be so techy.
give M'lindy the house an ten-acre lo
" to find out some things, but the knowl
2 edge is dirt cheap at that Now le
us take this stuff into the house an
t see how it looks" said he.
y Goodness! l never thought I'd have
S things so nice" answered Aunt 'Cind;
gratefully.
D Uncle Eben Iut his arm around her
: Together We armed the money, an
e together We'll hev' the good of it. ~,
e won't leave it for others to squander
e 'Cinda."