The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-10-12
A Suburban
DiplOmatist.
BY Elizabeth Lincoln Gould.

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Nobody could have looked at Cyrus
Toppan on the evening of his return
from visit to his nephew without
knowing that he had enjoyed the week
i've got little something to tell you
about my new NIECE" he said to Cap
tain Saunders and Captain Bolles.
when his wife had thoughtfully depart
cd to neighbours house, and left him
with his two friends
Tell on" said the two captains.
promptly. "You let us light up, and
then you needn't look for anything ia
the line of interruptions" added CAP
tain Bolles. We'll nod IL we see oc-
casion."
You know I've always had some
doubts what kind of a wife Teller
like Henry, with his head way up in
the clouds. would pick him out" said
Mr.. Toppan, and the captains nod.
ded
We'll, guess Providence had hand
In the choosing OF Emily" continued
the host. She's as neat little craft
as ever 1 set eyes on, and she's got
a flrst-class head-plece, what's more,
OF the city, In a mighty pretty little
suburb, and they've got the corner lot
IN a good neighborhood-nice houses
on both streets.
90 said to Henry, Doesn't 1t cost we
pretty steep?' For l knew his writing
didn't bring him in any great of an
income yet, though he's coming on
And he said, 1t don't cost what you'd
think 'twould. In fact, this wasn't
considered a very desirable lot til!
Emily got to work on it,
"Well, of course | wanted to know
the meaning of that So he told me
Just what happened. Seems they want
cd to be about that far from town
and they met the agent for a lot OF
new houses somewhere, and he tolc
'sm Of this place. Said he and his
wife had lived there for a few months
and then moved in town, and twas
pretty place. So they went right along
out to see 1t. The rent was reasonable,
so reasonable that Emily got kind OF
thoughtful. Henry was for taking 1t
as he always does good things, as If the
ravens had fetched it to him. But
Bmilys built differenN
"She looked the agent right in the
we, and she said, What's the out
about it?' And he saw 'twasn't any
use to make up any pretty stories or
beat round the bush, so he told the
truth.
You see that big house down
there?' he said. We'll, that man pays
ront for three OF these houses. his
own and two married sons and he
keeps hens.
Henry said Emily began to smile
and nod.
And every afternoon when they're
let out they make right for this corner
lot says the agent. L don't know
what tbs attracts EN- so, whether it's
the slope, or the grass is greener. o.
what but here's where they land. and
scratch and dig till they're called
home for supper. And he says he can
not help it-small fowl have got to
have their liberty And my wife
likes flower garden and smooth
grass
I see, Emily said, when he stop
ped. SO do I Ike a garden, and
shall have pretty one here. And that
very day Henry signed a five years
lease. with a couple of portable hen
houses thrown in.
Going to keep kens?' the agent
asked her, when she bartered for the
hen houses, and Emily smiled and
said. For a while, maybe
Henry was kind of uneasy till she
explained her plans 10 him, for he's no
farmer, nor he never took to hens.
But he saw the light after she'd talked
90 him a while They did their work
and moving mornings till the day thov
moved in-that was their first after
noon. Emily took a rest after dinner,
and when she got up and looked out on
the lawn, there sure enough, was a
whole posse o. hens and some chick
onsl Henry set their portable hen
houses up that night, and next morn
ing a farmer brought them some hens
and put 'em in the houses. likewise
chickens Henry superintendent the
Job. Emily never went near EN- nor
asked q question.
THAT afternoon Henry let out theis
live stock while Emily was taking her
rest Then he sat down and wrote for
an hour or so In a complete little place
they call his study, at the back o.
the house. When Emily walked up she