Middletown transcript., 1911-02-18


road and tell him I haven't.
Don't you think it would do
just as well to wait until he comes?
Jacqueline asked demurely.
Why, no, Toms long, nimble
legs were already on the move.
Tisn't but q step across, and its
a good deed to save a neighbor
the trouble Of coming for nothing.
Oh, you dear old mole of q
brother, grumbled Jacqueline,
with a rueful laugh, as she
watched him cross the road. But
it was only a few minutes before
Tom came swinging back with
Mr.. Fenley at his heels.
You made a mistake, Jacky,
he reported. Mr.. Fenley doesn't
care about the turnip-lot-he
wants to talk sheep; you know I
have an elegant flock.
Oh, answered Jacqueline, sed-
ately dropping her eyes to her
fancy work.
From that night Mr.. Fenley
grew so much interested in the
subject Of sheep that he had to
make quite frequent calls upon
bis neighbor; and be came usual.
ly in the evening. Tom Hutton
enjoyed the long chats they had,
on his own account, but was
somewhat concerned about his
sisters matyrdom. 1t must be
an awful nuisance to you, he told
her, compassionately, to have to
sit and listen to our sheep and
crop discussions.
Oh, no, she answered him,
sweetly. I don't mind it the
least bit.
If he wouldnt come so early,
Tom considered. He ought to
wait until | get through with the
afternoon chores-then you
wouldn't have him on your hands
so long, at least.
! manage very well, said Jac-
queline, amiably.
Once a week Tom rode out FIVE
miles into the country to ex-
change opinions and farm papers
with an old farmer who lived in
what was called the Gourdseed
Settlement. He offered several
time to take his sister along to
visit the old mans family but it
always happened that Jacqueline
was making a cake, or setting
sponge for bread, or the pantry
closet needed clearing out so
Tom went alone. One pleasant,
smoke,scented afternoon be re-
turned from a. trip in quite a
whirl Of excitement. I've asked
Ellie Newton to come and stay
with you a while, he told Jacque.
line, and she'll be here next week
its so dull for you.
Oh, Jacqueline smothered a
d is mayed exclamation, then
smiled sunnily. Well, I'll fix up
the spare room and bake a choco-
late layer cake. How long will
she stay, Tom?
Well-ah, Tom began to choke
and sputter, and his tanned face
grew as red as if he had been
boiled. I've been SO worried
about you, Sis, being so lonesome
like and all that, and I-kind-of
thought it would be nice for you
if you had a sister-in law to keep
you company, and So
A sister-in law thrilled Jacque.
line, dropping her soup ladIe into
the peach marmalade. Oh-ee-
you delicious old sly boots-how
elegant! I've been worrying
myself into every shade of blue
that ever existed because I was
afraid Id have to leave you to
keep bachelors hall again-not
knowing whether you'd come and
live with Ron and me orr
Ron-a and-you- wondered
Tom, in a dazed way.
Poor, dear Bud-I suppose it
was because you were 50 absorb
ed in this Ellie business that you
couldn't see an inch and a half
beyond your nose-and it isn't q
long nose, either, derided JAG.
queline affectionately. But Mr..
Ronald Fenley asserts it to be a
fact that since the dinner I cook
ed for him by mistake on my
arrival in Bean Blossom, he has
never been able to take his
thoughts off the cook. Ofcourse
that indicates feebleness Of mind,
as pointed out to him, but-still.
Hoo-hoo.hoo.ray, yelled Tom,
as a fl ash of understanding
caught him. Good for Ron |!
There'll be two bachelors halls
gone, TO smash at one lick.
Just so, agreed his sister. Now
stpn along. Rud whiIn Y,orr tha