Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-05-26
By HARRIET NJ. B

The village Of Enderley was looking
forward to an era of prosperity. When
a STRIPPING in the postoffice called it
a boom Deacon Carder launched forth
into a TRADE against such q PROPOSE
ton.
"Butterworth's givin' good wages
he said, but you wait till he gifts in
a passed. Of foreign hands"
Easy, Carder, easy! They do say
he's buying land all along the river
road and going to put up these new
tangled model tenements,'' pacifed
the postmaster.
Passing down the street, the deacon
saw young Jack Butterworth rapping
at the door Of the Dyer girls and ex-
claimed:
EITHER on 'em old 'nough to be
his grandmother, an Analine bed
ridden at that. Humph! Prob'ly he's
up to his pas tricks an wantin' to
buy there an start a hifalutin sui
phite mill. Stuff an nonsense, l say!'
Meantime the young man was vigor-
ously using the ancient knocker on the
door of the small white house, but, re-
ceiving no response, was about to turn
away when the sudden shrill blast of
a horn from within assured him that
the dwelling was not tenantless.
"I'm coming" called a high pitched
voice, and a wiry little old lady in
Bingham gown and tapping s%unbonnet
appeared from the garden at the rear.
"Deary me! l vas out getting butter
beans, and when l heard sisters horn
I was all of d f1uster. But come right
in now, do!
"Sister, this is MI. Butterworth," in
troduced Miss Caroline d~eprecatingly.
But the sister, an invalid, waved her
hand with impatience. Don't mind
me. l amt to home. Been in Japan
the whole afternoon. Just going to
ride out in one O. them jimmy gocarts
this minute. Say" she continued IT.
%relevantly, with a birdlike change of
demeanor, did you hear my horn?'
She proudly tapped an old cornet as
she spoke.
Hear it, Miss Analine! My ears are
ringing yet. Do you play often?" he
asked, with lingering amusement.
"Sister doesn't really play" Miss
Carolipe fastened to explain.
mo, but she can blow like old 30
rax," the invalid rejoined, with 6
shrewd twinkle in her eyes.
"Boreas, Boreas, you mean. sister,
corrected the other gently.
"NNell, l call him BoraX." There was
the insistence Of a spoiled child in the
sick woman's tone. Zone toot means
Some one at the door Two toots
mean I want you myself"
Then she gravely observed, "The jim
ny gocart's waiting" and withdrew
her interest from the conversation.
I'm afraid it's hopeless" he admit
ted ruefully to his father afterward
eff the Dyer place didn't happen to be
located exactly as it i~s-fairly adjoin
ing the river road property-of course
we'd never give it another thought
And what would ever induce tina
quaint old pair to give up their home
Those poor souls! By the way, father
have you ever seer Miss Analine, the
bedridden one, who has a manin fol
travelling and so pretends she's con
stantly on the road:"
Mr.. Butterworth drummed abstract
eddy on his Office desk before answer
ing. "No, but l should think tn
change would suit the old lady to a Z
from all accounts.
"By Jove, father, do you know l be
lieve 1 have a scheme! I'm deter
mined to win yet, but I'll keep m.
plan to myself for the present"
"Well, success to you, Jack" wa
the hearty wish as the paternal gaz
rested admiringly on the animatet
face. 81 judge the Dyer girls ar
likely to have a persistent caller"
Subsequent events proved the trutl
Of the prophecy, for the following aft
ernoon saw the runabout again befor
the old house. The front door wa
ajar, and Miss Analine called with un
wonted graciousness: "Come in! Com
in if you want to! Caroline's over t
Mis- Skillins. but I'm just getting bacl
from Venice myself. I'll be home i
a jiffy. Ny" she exulted, "but it.
fine gondoling on the Grand canal!
She breathed a sigh Of rapture as sh
looked up.
"Enderley, too, is an uncommonl
pretty place to any one who has al
eye for natural beauty" he fnall
ventured.
Miss Analine's face clouded. "May
be-" she assented reluctantly.
1.-The town is improving fast" pun
sued the undaunted youth, launchin
into a glowing account Of recen
changes and bettered conditions
"Down in the village, now, on Mai
street, there's so much passing it.
sometimes absolutely lively"
The black eyes in the withered cour
tenance shone with speculative apprt
citation, and the speaker resumed: 3"
should think you and Miss Carolin
would-ahem!-take a notion one 9
these days to move down in the mids
of thinps where vou'd have NOR