The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-07-15

| linEulSueu us Sneepman. lie was n
little, old stoop shouldered hombre
about as big as a gun scabbard, with
scraggy white whiskers, and condemn
ed to the continuous use of language.
"But that Marilla girl was benefit
to the eye. And she was the most ele-
giant kind of housekeeper. | was the
nearest neighbor, and l used to ride
over to the Double Elm anywhere
from nine to sixteen times week
with fresh butter or a quarter of veni-
son or a sample of new sheep dip Just
as a frivolous excuse to see Marilla.
Marilla and me got to be extensively
inveigled with each other, and | was
pretty sure was going to get my rope
around her neck and lead her over to
the Lomito.
zone day Just after the fall shear
ing I rides over to the Double Elm
with lady's magazine about fashions
for Marilla and a scientific paper for
old Cal.
while l was tying my pony to a
mesquite out runs Marilla, tickled to
death with some news that couldn't
wait.
"'Oh. Rush. she says, all flushed up
with esteem and qualification, what
do you think? Dads going to buy
me a piano. Amt it grand? 1 never
dreamed I'd ever have one
Its sure joyful says /. L always
admired the agreeable uproar of
piano. It'll be lots of company for
you. That's mighty good Of Uncle
| Cal to do that
"Old Cal was inside, lying on a cot.
He had a pretty bad cold and cough.
l stayed to supper.
"'Going to get Marilla a piano,
hear says l to him.
"'Why, yes, something of that kind,
Rush. says he. She's been hankering
for music for long spell, and allow
to fix her up with something in that
line right away. The sheep sheared
six pounds all around this fall, and
I'm going to get Marilla an instru-
ment If it takes the price of the whole
clip to do it.
"'Star wayno,' says I. The little
girl deserves it
"T'm going to San Antoine on the
last load Of WOOL says Uncle Cal, and
select an instrument for her myself
"'Wouldn't it be better 1 suggests,
to take Marilla along and At her pick
out one that she likes?
"'No, sir; 1t wouldn't says he, pull
ing at his white whiskers. There
amt better judge Of musical instru-
ments in the whole world than what
am. l had an uncle says he, that was
partner in piano factory, and I've
seen thousands Of 'em put together. I
know all about musical instruments,
from a pipe organ to a cornstalk
fiddle
"'You get me what you like, dad
says Marilla, who couldn't keep her
feet on the floor from joy. OF course
you know what to select. I'd just as
lief it was piano or a organ or what
"Along about Tuesday Uncle Cal
put out for San Antoine on the last
wagon load of wool. Marilla's uncle
Ben, who lived in Birdstail, come over
and stayed at the ranch while Uncle
Cal was gone.
1T was ninety miles to San Antoine
and forty to the nearest railroad sta
ton, so Uncle Cal was gone about four
days. ! was over at the Double Elm
when he come rolling back one even
ing about sundown. And up there in
the wagon, sure enough, was piano
or a organ-we couldn't tell whitehall
wrapped up in woolsacks, with a wag-
on sheet tied over it in case Of rain.
And out skips Marilla, hollering, oh,
ohr with her eyes shining and her hair
a-fying. 'Dad-dad.' she sings out,
have you brought it-have you
brought itY and it right there before
her eyes, as women will do.
"'Finest piano in San Antone,' says
Uncle Cal, waving his hand. proud.
Genuine rosewood and the finest, loud
est tone you ever listened to. / heard
the storekeeper play it. and l took it
on the spot and paid cash down
Me and Ben and Uncle Cal and a
Mexican lifted it out of the wagon
and carried it in the house and set it
in a corner. 1t was one of them up
right instruments and not very heavy
or very big.
"And then all of a sudden Uncle Cal
flops over and says he's mighty sick.
He's got a high fever, and he com
plains of his lungs. He gets into bed,
while me and Ben goes out to unhitch
and put the horses in the pasture, and
Marilla flies around to get Uncle Cal
something hot to drink
when l came in from the pasture
Marilla was in the room where the
piano was. | could see by the strings
and woolsacks on the floor that she
had had it unwrapped. But now she
was tying the wagon sheet over it
again, and there was a kind of solemn.
whitish look on her face.
"'Ain't wrapping up the music
again, are you, MarillaY | asks.
What's the matter with just a couple
Of tunes for to see how she goes under
the saddleY
"'Not tonight, Rush. says she. 4
don't want to play any tonight. Dads
too sick. Just think, Rush. he paid
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