The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-11-11
the space for something else.

the space for something else.
Joe was fascinated into decency for
a week or two. He did not under
stand. And now, every few evenings
Reuben would saunter over to the
widows porch and sit on the steps
and smoke. He got to exchanging
dry jokes with Name, who was so ex-
cited about this wary new specimen,
that she forgot to bereave Sade Du-
gan, four doors on, of her latest beau.
1t was Reuben Farr's custom each
night to paddock his front gate-also
made Of wire like the fence. One
dawn, early in May, he arose to find
the gate wide open. The Jones Jer-
sey was peacefully browsing on the
last of the young sweet corn stalks;
the Jones hens were scratching In
the BEDS the rabbits were busy with
the clover planted to protect the
newly sprung up lawn grass. It was
pretty bad.
Farr called Joe over and sternly
helped him to get the creatures out
His eyes were blazing, and his lips
close set. Old Dugan, who came
along, said he heard the outraged
gardener swear, but Dugan had a
fine imagination.
This time, Mrs Jones dared not
even apologize To do her justice,
she was stiff with fear And the mis-
chief was not all intentional. Piqued
by the paddock Joe, like all boys, had
tried all the keys which he could
find He had a large assortment One
of them did fit the paddock, which
opened with difficulty-but which
would not lock again. He had shut
the gate, but the COW, pulling up her
stake, had pushed 1t wide. The boy
was frightened, and his under-exer-
cised conscience was working. He
kept himself out Of the way the fol-
lowing evening, being sure that
something would happen.
It did; but 1t was not the expected.
Reuben Farr, after his supper, came
over to the Jones house, dressed in
his best, newly shaven, and smiling.
Name began something and got the
surprise Of her life. He simply asked
Mrs. Jones If. she would send the
children away while he spoke to her
a moment. Angry and surprised,
they went, standing out Of earshot,
but anxious as to what was going on
The man talked, and the widow, from
a showing Of fear at first, began to
protest, then to laugh, and protest
again. Finally he showed her paper
and Name held her breath. Had it
something to do with the law? They
continued to talk. Then the widow
went indoors.
Name followed, eagerly, but got no
word Of an answer. to her inquiries,
save a command to help her mother
get into her best dress. The girl had
an idea that her mother wished to
make a good impression on some
magistrate and did as she was bid
den. Joe had sneaked up behind the
house, peering around to see what
had happened.
1t was still broad light when the
widow and Reuben Farr went to-
gether down the street Sophie, at a
safe distance, trailed them-and came
back to report that they had gone to
the pastors, few blocks off. 1t
seemed that the church was to inter
vene! The whole neighborhood, in
shirt sleeves and dressing sacks, came
out on the porches, and into the yard.
What had happened? Even Joe re-
gained his impudence, and in a half
hour, or less, when in the first dusk
the two came slowly back, he waited
boldly In the front yard as one who
stood on his native heath.
AS the boys mother and Reuben
Farr stepped into her yard, with the
eye of the world upon them, young
Joe INDUCED in a gesture Of defiance
and contempt. Then Fate descended
upon him Reuben Farr caught the