The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-23
RAINY DAY IN HILL COUNTRY
From the Kansas City Star.

From the Kansas City Star.
TIME old man came tramping across
the lane from the barn. The mud
i in the road where the cows had
trampled was deep and before entering
the house he sat down on the edge OF
the loose planked uncovered porch to
clean his boots.
Too much rain," he muttered to him.
self. Crops can't do well II it don't let
up
Then he fell to digging the mud from
his boots.
| Presently the latch on the door ratified
and his wife stuck her head enveloped
in an apron, out at the space.
elias" she called, there comes Bill
Madden down the hill. Wants to see
Hubby, l reckon
| The old man STAMPED across the rafting
planks and entered the house before he
answered.
Yes, | reckon" he said.
The young man in question came swing
ing across the orchard. When the door
was reached he did not stop to Knock but
threw it open and walked right In with
a hearty salutation to the two.
"Huldy," called her mother, heres
BILL.
at amt a-carin ., came the prompt re-
snonse from the other room where the
girl was busy sewing
Bill laughed and went ON into the room
where she sat.
"Howdy. Hubby" he said.
"Howdy. Bill" she answered, without
lifting her eyes from her work
/ In the kitchen the old man left the stove
and went to the window. The drizzle out
side had freshened and the drops were
clearly distinguishable now. me stream
running down inside the gutter fell into
the cistern with noisy splashing.
In the corner of the yard the chickens,
from the shelter of their house, now and
then craned their necks out to pestow d
troubled look on the clouds. Tney seem
ed to be specializing as to how long they
were TO be deprived of their usual pleas
pre Of foraging over feld and meadow
Down at the old log barn the hogs and
horses had crowded in beneath us n"iier
Gus sheds and, while the former 1ough'
over the dusty holes in the ground the ia'-
ter stood with their heads dropped iaziiy
and their eyes half closed.
Farther on beyond the barn was no
sign of life. The trees and ground lay
drenching in the rain Down me
branch. almost dry the day preceding
coursed a volume of yellow water.
The man at the window found him
self wondering II the rain stopped al
the crest Of the hill as 1t seemed I" 90.
His wife went about her work OF pre-
pairing supper. AS she bent to open
tho oven door a howl arose from under
| II y rtove and a long shaggy dog bolted
out with such CELEBRITY as to almost up
set the stove.
Get out of here, shep," cried the
woman, and the old man, as he opened
the door to permit the dogs exit, aimed
an angry kick at him.
"If 1t don't let up rainin' we won't
have no crops" he began again to COM
plain. The woman did not answer.
At the door leading to the next room
Hubby and Bill suddenly appeared. Bits
arm was around Hubby and she offered
no objection.
.sPa and me-" Hubby began.
"Folks-' Bill interrupted.
"We're goin' to get married." they
continued in unison. do you carer
The older woman started toward the
couple, then stopped. quick half sob
came from her throat.
NO, l reckon not" she managed to
say.
The old man walked up to Bill and
laying a hand on his shoulder, said:
"Bill. you'll be good to our little girl;
Well then you can't take her."
He paused and turned to his wife
when he resumed speaking it was for
both.
"Huldy, girl. your ma and me are glad
you're goin' to be married because you'll
be happy. Amt we, MAJ"
YES" Answered the mother. The ex-
preston in her eyes belied the CHEEKY
tone in which the word was uttered.
As the young couple turned from III {
door the arms Of the old man went