Middletown transcript., 1910-10-01
BIZ HARRIET WHITNEY, DURBIN

must be over.sensitive, for shei
been a.cryin, I could see BY he
eyes this mornin'. Now me :
Settass rampaign' don't bottle
me a speck, long as it's only M
she's a.jawin', But Jane-Jane'
q nice, good tempered / lookin
little creetur, and it put me al
on aige, somehow, to see he
brow.be .beat.that.a.wsy. Here l wa
q layin' off to gether this corr
to-day, but seems like now
don't keer if it's never gethered-
Setta er no Setta. Still-I'vt
said too muchAto 'er not to say
some more. Well-shucks; reckon
I'll go up'n see how the winds
a. a.bloWin'.
He swung himself off the fence
and went up through the mea
dow.
1t was baking !day, and Mrs
Kettler's temper had an extra
tang of pepper in it, for she had
burned her hand and scorched
several pies. The kitchen was
hot. Jane Lark, sitting out on
the porch placidly chopping cab
bage, irritated her. So did the
sight Of Bijah stalking up to the
house at this untimely hour.
When he came into the kitchen,
Mrs. Kettler's eyes were spark
ling ominously. She looked point
edly at the clock, which had just
struck three. S'pose you thought
it was supper time, she remarked
with some sarcasm.
Nav, drawled Bijah, I didn't
reckon it was. Thought I'd
come'n have a little consultation
and see if there was any dough.
nuts laying around loose I?
There amt. What's to be con.
suited about?
Well, nothin' very special,
onless it's what we was a-talkin'
about tn other day. If you ever
'spect to be Mrs. B. it's time you
was lettin' me know something
about it.
Oh, indeed, retorted the widow.
Well, l don't. Ishan't even think
of it until you've gethered every
cob O corn out O. the round lot.
After that don't know as I'll
have you, anyway; you're too
shiftless; and I want you to quit
pesterin' me about it. I'm sick
Of always havin' lazy folks
around re.
Ali right, returned Bijah, Sc.
renely. Want some kindlin'P
There was a more cheerful
smile on his face as he went out
Of the kitchen than most mittened
lovers wear.
Land Of Hominy, reflected Mrs.
Kettler, when the baking was
done and her household cares
folded away for a time. I'm
'fraid I said more'n I meant to,
that time-I was so het up and
riled. l never meant to refuse
him fat-footed. It's all that Jane
Lark's fault-she riles a body
so, lookin' cool as a cabbage leaf,
and always SO ready to up and
CAB with Bijah. I shall kite her
off tomorrow. And that mess OF
pickles she made without no on.
ions'n come out of her pay, too.
AS for Biiah, he'll soon be honey
in round me again, like a fly
round q molasses-jug.
But someway, the widows
forecast went astray this time.
Bijah held aloof from all senti.
mental ground in his daily con.
versation. Several weeks fed
by, during which his usual tasks
were performed cheerfully and
Well-but the corn in the round
lot remained ungathered. Under
Mrs. Kettler's increasing uneasi
ness her tongue lost somewhat
Of its sharp edge. It was with 6
beguiling smile in place of the
olden arrogance that she brought
up the subject one day: Aim
you going to gether that corn il
the round lot soon, Bijah? Seems
to me we're leavin' it overlong.
Nom, Bijah replied, amiably
but I'll see it's done for you
JEFF Peters, he wants my job
and ] told him I'd speak to yor
today, that I've just bought me
q farm over on Cottonwood Crick
and I'll have to tend it now, soor
as you find some one to take my
place. An I thought you'd best
hire JEFF Peters when you have
the chance, he knows his work.
/ got to fix up the house some
too, and furnish it. and then Jane