The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-05-20
THE WIDOW
PEPPERS TACTICS,
They Brought Quick Results In
Two Love Affairs.
ny AARRlEr wHIrMEY.

ana the smoke OF LouizY Cotton wood
wash fire in the back yard was thread
ing it's blue haze into the fresh. early
air.
Louizy's father, Lyman Cottonwood,
striking out cross lots. Jagged a little
while he started his after breakfast
cob pipe. His gaze dwelt ruminative
ly upon the big ash hopper few mo
ments, then Travelled back TO the form
Of his daughter just appearing from tha
smokehonse with tub in her arms.
''Louizyl"
The young woman turned her head
around, set her tub upon backless
chair and came forward, her low, fiat
shoes patting softly over the short
goose grass" Her figure looked skimp
in its blue calico washing gown; her
locks were hempy In color and not too
plentiful; she had gathered them up
high and twisted them so tightly that
the outer corners OF her eyes were
drawn upward like those Of a Chinese
woman.
'Touizy," said her father, leaning an
elbow on corner Of the hopper, y
was goin' TO tell you am furgot; the
Widder Peppers a-comin' up today fer
basket OF windfall Spy apples to
make dumplins, an gotter be at
Harris all day helpin' thrash. You
show 'er where the good ones is at. an
don't you sass 'er none. You under
standy'
Il amt carin how many Spy apples
she gathers. Reckon apples wasn't
the only thing you an her was settlin'
about yes'day evenin'."
"Wull''-Lyman looked Off slantwise
across the hopper-"I got 'er penned
up es clost es you ever kin pen wo
man. The darned contrary birds won't
never give you a square ont yes tell
after tina preachers sent fer. But YOU
kin count on havin a stepma before
pumpkins is ripe"
Il wouldn't think, then, paw
Louizy's voice became mildly reproach-
full "seein' how happy you're agoin'
to be- you'd begrutch mean an
SAM
Her father came up from his loung
ing attitude With jerk
"Louizy Jane Cottonwood, how many
times ] gotter tell you that's diffrunt7
Now, listen yere''- he licked off his
points with the forednger Of his rignt
hand in the spread palm Of the left
told you the whut fors am why SOS yes'-
day, an that's nuff said. An now lis
ten BIT this: Eff / don't find Sam Dor
kins at Harris thrashin' today it's
sign he's over yere. an ef he is you'll
see me back. an you'll see me bounce
Sam over the fence into the bresh
quick enough to jolt his ears crooked
Now, mind whut I've told you"
Louizy shed so many tears over her
wash that morning that when the fat
little Widow Pepper came with her
basket she cast many sharply inquisi
tive giances at the red rings Of the
forlorn maiden's eyes.
'Looky here, Louizy Cottonwood" :"
said she at length as the two trudged
up to the orchard. you Amt been
actin the baby cause your paw wants
TO marry ag'in. hev your
Louizy shook her head
II wouldn't care speck il he mar
ried tomorrow If he'd have the man
ners to leave me ar' Sam Dorkins
alone"
'Humphp' said the widow. "Whut's
he Iayin' up against Sam%
"Nothin' partickler, but he lows
there's no sense of me a-marryin' fer
half dozen years er 80. He's count
I'M on takin' a lot Of city folks to
board Of summers after you an him
air married. an he says two women II
be needed to cook fer 'em."
"Well, sayp' Mrs Phebe Pepper
brought the exclamation out with a
chop. Then she stopped in the path
and laughed with heartiness that
threatened to break her apron strings.
Mrs. Pepper was short and wide. and
her little round, dark face expressed a
mixture Of good nature, shrewdness
and obstinacy
Hes a curious old plant, your paw
is," said she. sbHt I've jist got this to
say IF any man o. mine ever takes
any summer boarders he'll do the
cookin' er else he'll hire it done"
Louizy shook her head dissentingly.
you'll think different when paw
gets you"
He amt got me yit.' said the wild
ow cheerfully. ''Looky here Louizy.
bow old air youY'
"Thiriy three confessed Louizy.
with slight blush.
"The Law MO- An you're scared 80
marry without your paw says YOU
kim
The blush widened. taking in Loni
I zy's cars
''you don't know paw said she dis
mallv.
Couldn't more than kilI you. could
he?"
some folks tongues is worse than
KILN"
The widow trudged forward in silent
self communion. which lasted until
they reached the Northern Spy apple
tree Louizy began to fll the basket
with the bright streaked windfalls. but
Mrs Pepper pumped herself down