Mexico Missouri message., 1909-03-18

ealing him -Nssn fnanoisr- uaa I'd
sorts Of names.
~sof" says L Thea dOnt eco that
Miss Pags had any complaints. 'Tain't
usual for q young woman TO kick be-
cause her steady company II making
too much money. There's somothing
else. Out with H. TN keep my mouth
shut"
So then he told me lsttlo--much e
he knew, I guess likely. Seems that
he was acquainted with tho Teller they
call the butler--sort Of q steward,
judged he was-over at the Page girls
house. And this butler was sweet on
the 'maid"--the young woman valet
who took care Of Agnes buds and
spare rigging. And one night this maid
happened to be In the CONSERVATION"
which presumed likely was the
heightened name for the preserve clos
st-and Miss Page and Hartley was in
the setting room. And Agnes was
laying into Martin for staying down
town and neglecting her.
The maid said she could hear only
part of the talk, but twas more than
average sharp and vinegary. Agnes
told Martin he was getting moro mer.
cenary every day he lived. That all
he thought Of was the ONCE and ma
king money. She detested a mercen-
airy. hard. money-grasping man. Said
money.lovlng was the worst vice there
was, and she thanked God she had
none OF II. meaning vice. of course
she had money enough to sink q ship.
Then Martin he speaks up proud and
short and says he has been working
hard and had been trying TO make
money. Said he had a good reason for
II, and some day he would tell her
what II was. She said he could tell her
now or hang his May-baskets on some
body else's door-or words to that Of.
feet. He says Very WE'LL" and she
says something else. but the maid
didn't hear It because Just then old
lady Page come in and give her her
walking papers for listening.
And So" says Lord James, the en-.
gagement was broke on. And good
thing. too. say. watts the use OF 'er
lowering 'erself to marry a man whose
father got is money in trader"
How did Vans dad get his money!
I asks.
by Inheritance" says he. "Of course
Mr.. Edward dabbles In shares, but,
Lord love you. only for the fun OF It.
How was the inheritance come by
In the first placer" says l. He didn't
know, but / found out afterwards
Grandpa Van Brunt was an alderman,
The Twins come back into the house
then. They come in shaping and
jawing. ! judged that the mosquitoes
was living the Natural Life too. The
Eeavenlies set down on each side Of
the fireplace-I had a wood FIRE going
Just for sociableness-and smoked
and talked.
BY and by Van rummages out that
Natural book and spreads It open.
Martin" says he, bark to the
voice of the oracle. Come In here
skipper. and improve your mind"
But me and his lordship was i'm
proving the dishes Just then. and
when that was done. he had beds Il
make and had bread to mix and nreI
to lay and wood to chop and q couple
Of million other chores to do. Thu
Twins read and talked until they go
sleepy, which was about half past nin'
or so; earlier than usual, but nelthel
OF 'em had rested well the night afore
guess. Anyhow, they went upstairI
to turn in and kept on with my work
Lord James turned In too. He had thu
back bedroom, the one over tn
kitchen.
Twas stIli as still could be. Tn,
door and windows was open and Their,
want q sound except the mosquitoe
humming glad and thankful. and tn
breeze whining In the pines outsid
and the waves moaning along the ba,
shore of the island. Once in awhile II
hear his lordship thrash over In be,
and fetch a grunt or a groan in hi
sleep. He had one OF the late Maj
cellus' cornhusk mattresses, and
wouldn't wonder II there was q col
end or two in with the husks. A rak
across the back from a corn cob ain
the most comforting thing In the worl
even when Teller Is used to II, an
Lord James had been brought u
tender.
Pretty soon l went 10 the back doc
to throw out some fiBh bones an
things and then I heard somebod
tramping through the sand up to tn
house. Neighbors are scarcer tina
snakes finger-nails round HorsefoC
Ozone and ! couldn't think who wa
coming at this time OF night / ain
nervous chap, generally speaking
but remember how old Maroeiius ha
died in this very house all sole alon'
and the short hairs at the back OF m
; neck begun to bristle up. I cal'late
II anything would fetch sot old Coz
ger like Mar6ellus out OF hlH grav'
the doings OF the Heavenlies was tbs
: thing.
But in a minute more the walker &
tntn tha liohf from the d00r and