Barbour County index., 1909-02-24
SYNOPSIS.


was the successful suitor for the hand
OF Miss Agnes Page. who gave Hartley
up. Adventure at Fourth of July cele-
boy. known as "Reddy," from under a
horses feet and the urchin proved to be
one OF Miss Pages charges, whom she
nao taken to the country for an outing.
Out sailing later, Van Brunt, Pratt and
topper were wrecked in squall. Pratt
tSnded iMn Taan, safely and search for the other
were found. Van Brunt rented it from
Scudder and called it Ozone island. In
children Miss Taiford and Miss Page Wis
tied Ozone island. In another storm Van
Brunt and Hartley narrowly escaped be-
pigs etc., with which they were to start
a farm. Eureka Sparrow, a country girl,
was engaged as cook and Van Brunt
who for years had been claiming con,
sumption as an excuse for not working.
CHAPTER M.-Continued.
Washington Sparrow was there.
There want but one comfortable
rocking chair in sight and he was in
that, with his stocking feet resting on
the ruins of haircloth sofa. He was
pretty husky looking, seemed to me,
for man complicated with consump-
tion and nervous dyspepsy, but his
face was as doleful as a Grape bonnet,
and twas plain that he could see no
hope, and was satisfied with his eye
sight. He had a clay pipe in his
mouth and was smoking like a peat
fire.
How are you, Mr.. Sparrow" says
Martin, bright and clipper. "How's
the health this morning?"
The invalid rolled his eyes around,
but he didn't get out of the rocker.
Neither did he take them blue yarn
socks off the sofa.
Obi" says he, groaning something
awful. I'm miserable, thank you. Set
down and make yourselves to home"
There was only three settable pieces
of furniture in the room. He was
using two of 'em, and t'other was a
child's high chair. So we decided to
stand up.
Don't you find yourself improving
this beautiful weather." asks Hartley,
sympathetic.
Washy fetched another groan, so
deep tnat judged it started way
down in the blue socks.
NO." says he. I'm past improving.
Just lingering round now and suffer
ing waiting for the end. s'pose Reky
told you what l had, didn't she?"
Hartley looked troubled. why" he
says, she did say that you feared
tuberculosis. but"
"Tuber-nothing! That's just like
her! making fun of her poor sick IA
ther. What I've got is old-fashioned
consumption" Here he fetched cough
that was hollerer than the groaning.
"Old-fashioned consumption and nerv-
Gus dyspepsy. Can't eat a meals Wit
ties in comfort. But there! I'll be
through pretty soon. The sooner the
quicker l say. Everybody II be glad
when I'm gone. Don't says to 'em,
don't rag out in no mourning for me.
Don't put no hothouse wreaths on nv
grave. l know how you feel and
Get on my feet, you everlasting young
one! Think I'm ladder?''
The last part was to Dewey, who
had come in from the kitchen, and
was trying to climb onto the sofa.
Martin looked like he didn't know
what to say. BY and by he cleared his
throat and threw out a hint concerning
Eurekas coming to Ozone. The sick
man shook his head.
NO." he says. I'm self-sacrificing,
and all that, but somehow l can't make
up my mind to let her go. l can't
bear to have her out of my sight a
minute. You can't begin to think. Mr..
Whats-Your Name, what a comfort
tbs to me, agonizing here and suffer
Ing, to have Reky setting down along
side OF me day after day, the way she
does. You can't begin to think it, mis-
ter"
couldn't begin to think it-not
without what the doctor calls "stimu-
lants." The amount of setting down
that poor, hard-working Eureka got
time for wouldn't comfort anybody
much, it seemed to me.
She's my favorite child" went on
Washy, swabbing his eyes. "She al
ways was. too. Even when she was
baby thought more of her than I
done of all the others"
Eureka must have been listening
Tor she called from the kitchen:
Why, pa" she says. when was
baby there want any others. I'm
the Oldest"
The invalid bounced up straight in
the rocker. That's it," he hollers.
Make fun Of your helpless, poor old
father! Go ahead! pick at me and
contradict mel 1 s'pose when I'm
dead and in my grave you'll contradict
me every time 1 speak"
He blew on steam for much as five
minutes. Didn't ever remember to
stop and get his cough going. Hartley
turned to the door. 1 could see he was
disappointed.
VERY WELL" he says. I'm sorry.
I'm sure she is just the girl we need.
Good day. Mr.. Sparrow"
cal'late Washy want expecting
that. He hitched around in his chair