Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-04-22

So says: See here, Mr.. Blueworthy,
could use another man in the stable
1t the Old Home House. If you
want the Job you can have it, only
you'll have TO work. ana work hard"
Wen, sir, would you believe It? His
face fell like II cookbook cake. I'll
III consider your offer" he says.
That was too uta! for me. We'll,
III be yartlarmcd"" says | and went
off and LEFT him considering. / don't
know what his considerations amount
cd to. III | know is that next day
they took him to the poorhouse.
And from now on this yarn has got
to be more or less hearSay.
Seems that while l was down noti-
flying Noteworthy Cap'n Poundberry
had gone over 70 the poorhouse to tell
the Widow Badger about her new
boarder. The widow was glad to
hear the news.
He'll be somebody to talk to. at
any rate" says she. Poor old Betsy
Mullen amt exactly what you'd call
company for n sociable body. But Ill
mind what you say, Cap'n Benijah.
I'll make that lazy man work or know
the reason why"
So when Asaph arrived per truck
wagon at o'clock the next afternoon
Mrs. Badger was ready for him. The
minute he landed she sent him out by
the barn with orders to chop a couple
20 30 e, he, 1ot niInI
there. He groaned and commenced to
develop lumbago symptoms, but she
cured 'em in a hurry by remarking
that her doctors book said Vigorous
exercise was the best physic for that
kind Of disease and SO he must chop
hard. She waited till she heard the
Ak chunk" once or twice. and then
she went into the house. figgering that
she'd gained the first lap anyhow.
But in an hour or SO 1t come over
her all Of sudden that twas awful
quiet out by the wood pile. She hur-
ried to the back door. and there was
Ase setting on the ground in the
shade. his eyes shut and his back
against the chopping block and one
poor. lonesome slab In front Of him
with couple Of splinters knocked
Off 1t. That was his afternoons work.
Maybe you think the widow want
mad. She tiptoed out to the wood pile.
grabbed her new boarder by the coat
collar aud shook him till his head
played Johnny Comes Marching
Home" against the chopping block.
You lazy thing. your says she.
with her eyes swapping. Wake up
and tell me what you mean by sleep
ing when told you to work.
.Sleep!" shutters Asaph. kind Of
reaching out with his mind for life
preseryer. IL want asleep"
You want. hey says Deborah.
Then twas the best imitation ever
see. What was you doing. If faint
too personal question:"
I IL guess L must have faipted. I'm
subject to such spells. You see. rna'am.
I amt been well for
"Yes. know. ! understand all
about that. Now. you march your
boots into that house. where l can
keep an eye on you. AID help me get
supper"
| Bluewortfy. he marched. but 'twa MT
as joyful parade as ali Odd Fellers'
! picnic. He could see he'd made a
miscue-a clean miss. and the white
ball in the pocket. lie knew. too. that
a lot depended on his making a good
impression the first thing. and instead
Of that he'd gone and fooled his ap-
proach." as that city Teller said last
summer when he ran the catboat
plump into the end Of the pier. Debo-
rah. she went cut Into the kitchen.
but she ordered Ase to stay In the
dining room and set the table-told
him to get the dishes out Of the closet.
All the time he was doing it he kept
thinking about the mistake he'd made
and wondering II there want some
way to square up and get solid. with
the widow. II he could only find out
something that Deborah Badger was
particular interested In. then he be-
lieved he could make ten strike.
And all ut once down in the corner Of
the closet he see big pile of papers
and magazines. The one on top was
the Banner Of Light. and underneath
that was the Mysterious Magazine.
Then he remembered all Of sudden
The town talk about D.b5y's believing
In mediums and spOoks and fortune
tellers and such. And he commenced
to set up and take notice.
At the supper table he was as mum
rs a rundown clock just set In his
chair and looked ut Mrs. Badger. She
got nervous and tidgety after a spell
and fin'lly bursts out with. What are
you staring at me like that fOr:"
He didn't answer for minute. but
he looked over her head and then
away acrOst the room. rs IL he was
watching something that moved.
"Your husband was short. kind OF
deshy man. as remember. want he?''
says he absentminded-Iike
Course he was. But what in the
world
"'Twa'n't him. then. I thought not. "
Him? My husband?- What do YOU
meanY"
And then Asaph begun to put on the
fine touches. He leaned acrost the ia.
BILE and says he ina sort Of mysterious
whisper, Mrs. Badger" says he, "do
you ever see things"
mercy mer' says the widow. mo-
Do your
''Someumes seems g II l did. Jest
now as l set here looking at you II
seemed as If I saw a man come up
and put his hand on your shoulder"
Well. you can imagine Debby. She
Jumped out Of her chair and whirled
around like kitten in a it. GOOD
land" she hollers. "Where? What;
Who was it?"
Il don't know who twas. His face
was covered up, but it kind Of come to
me-a communication, as you might
say-that some day that man was 60
ing to marry you"
Land Of love! Marry me? You're
crazy! I'm scarf to DEATH"
| Ase shook his head, more mysterious