Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-20
THE WIDOW
PEPPERS TACTICS.
They Brought Quick Results In
Two Love Affairs.
BY HARRIET WHITNEY.

and the smoke of LOuiZy Cottonwood s
wash fire In the back yard was thread
ing its blue haze into the fresh. early
air.
Louizy's father, Lyman Cottonwood.
striking out cross lots. Jagged 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 the
smohehouse with tub In her arms.
"Louizyr'
The young woman turned her head
around, set her tub upon backless
chair and came forward. her low. fat
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.
"Louizy," said her father leaning an
tiDON of n COlltl VI thC hOlBNis
was goin' TO tell you an furgot; the
Wilder Peppers a-cOmin' up today fer
a basket of windfall Spy apples to
make dumplin's, 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
s.and?"
Il amt carin' how many Spy apples
she gathers. Reckon apples wasn't
the only thing you an her was settlin'
about yes'day cvenin."
"WuIl"-Lyman looked off slantwisc
across the hopper got 'er penned
Up es clost cs you ever kin pen wo-
man. The darned contrary birds won't
never give YOU n square out yes tell
after the 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-
ful-"secin' how happy you're a-goin
TO be. you'd begrutch me-an'-an'-
Sam
Her father came up from his loung
ing attitude with jerk.
.Jouizy Jane Cottonwood. how many
times / gotter tell you that's dihrunt'
Now, listen yere"-he licked on his
points with the forefinger of his right
hand In the spread palm Of the left
told YOU the whut fors an why SOS yes
day, an that's huff said. An now lis
ten at this: Ell I don't find Sam Dor
kins at Harris thrashin' today it's
sign he's over yere. an Of he Is you II
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 east many sharply inquisi-
tive glances at the red rings of the
forlorn maiden's eyes.
"I.ooky 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 you:'
Louizy shook her head.
Il wouldn't care spcck il he mar
ried tomorrow If he'd have the man
ners TO leave me an Sam Dorkins
alone"
"Humph" said the widow. "Whut $
he layin' up against Sam
"Nothin' partickIer. but he lows
there's no sense Of me a-marryin' fer
half dozen years CT so. He's count
in on takin' a lot OF city folks to
board Of summers after You an him
air married. an he says two women "
be needed to cook fer EN-"
well. say Mrs. Phebe Pepper
brought the exclamation out with n
chop. Then she stopped in tho path
snd laughed with hesrtincSs that
threatened 10 break hcr apron strings.
Mrs. Pepper was short and wide. and
her little round. dark face expressed 4
mixture Of good nature. shrewdncss
snd obstinary.
Hes curious old plant. your paw
is said she. hut Two jist got this to
say: IF any man ~ mine over takes
any summer boardcrS he'll do the
cookin' or else he'H hire " done
I,nuizv shook her head diSse1fiIcly.
You'll think different when paw
gefs you."
"Hc amt cot me VII" said the wid-
ow chcerfuliy ~Iooky here. Lowry.
how old air VOW
Thirty threc.- confessed Louizy.
with slight blush
The law mo, An yo1're scared Z"
marry without your paw says you
lin:r
The blush widcned. taking in Joui-
zy's ears.
You don't know paw said she dis
msliv.
Couldn't more than kiH Ton. could
he7-
sc,rnc fofks' tongues fe worse than