Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-06-02

IL comes, announced MISS Selma Lue.
"He said he had been minding his
own business and not having to bother
with other folkses affairs for more'n,
thirty years, and now he had to hear
every fool rooster In the neighborhood'
express his opinion rs to whether,
day was nigh or not. He Jest wrapped,
his head up in a old flannel shirt,
and went about his work as usual,I
hearing only what the shirt wouldn't,
stop. He was mad plumb through
and he had EN- all walking around,
on they toes like crawfsh. It's
strange how one persons crank can
turn the wheels Of the whole family"
Mr.. Alan laughed heartily at the,
idea of the old refuses protest at
being dragged into the world again.;
and Miss Selma Lue Joined in merri-,
ly. From the back of the grocery,
came faint. sleepy chirp which had
more energetic echo.
"There now they are all a-waking
up" said Miss Selma Lue. but
maybe they'll be quiet while tell
you about the bridegroom and the
cake that + had the trouble with at
Carrie Louises wedding as come on
over the Ridge. It always did seem.
shame to me how folks hand bride
around on feather. SO to speak, and.
jest let the poor groom shift fer,
hisself, like he were some sort OF
criminal. Andy were all dressed;
in his wedding clothes about four
o'clock and awaiting. Somebody
oughter been setting by ter keep his.
mind often hisself; but the poor boy
wandered down the back hall to the
porch to git a drink Of water to
quench his thirst and help him swol-
Ter the lump in his throat and had
the misfortune to git mixed up with
the wedding cake what they had set
on table in dark corner by the
door to be lit up with candles. When
got there they was both on the
floor, and he had run his foot plumb
through it and was gormed with frost
ing something terrible. used soft
soap and patience. and by hard work
got him and the clothes ready to
stand up at the wedding. Then |
whirled in and mixed another sixty
egg cake in milk crock and baked
1t in dish-pan with astonishing luck.
frosted it liberal with curly-cues,
and me and 1t both was ready by tho
time folks got to coming. ] laughed
all the way down the road next day
at the remembering Of his face when
I found him" And Miss Selma Lue
chuckled at Mr.. Alan's shout Of amuse-
ment.
WATT" he said, as she rose to go
in and quell the calls from the soap
boxers, which were fast becoming q
demonstration. TELL me some more;
let them roar
There's not much more to tel"
she said, as she looked up and down
the quiet street. A temporary lull
had descended upon the back regions.
Il drove in here along about shutdown.
knew that Tom Withers. Warren
county man. kept grocery some
where on the Blur. But 1t wasn't
like this is now. They was q crowd
OF loafers setting on the steps talk
ing loud and they was counter
back there where the soap-boxes are
now, with kegs and bottles under It.
And his poor wife was consumpted
almost to death. Before laid my
head on the pillow In the lean-to that
night had bought him out at a fair
price, with the horse and rockaway
to-. boot, SO he could start right on
with her to the west. It dug a hole
in my sock OF money. but that woman
was a-dying and had to go"
$50 you hadn't intended to enter
commercial life?" esked Mr.. Alan. his
eyes bright with interest.
ooh, no" answered Miss Selma
Lue, "but had to put my mind SO az
to follow any good leading that come.
II you had seen me 60 at this grocery
with broom and mop the next
day-and first thing I rolled all the
kegs out into the street and emptied
'em, and the bottles, too-you would
have thought had come jest fer that
special purpose. A young man team
driver started to say something Inn
polite ter me about the river Of beer
down the street, but Mr.. Dobbs
stepped over by him and that ended
It. And Ethel Maud was horned that
very highland I've had my hands
full ever since"
"And your heart. too" added Mr.
Alan.
eyes, looks like God do pour it full
to running over on other folks. Il
but here comes Bonnie! How was
Miss Cynthie, honey?" .
''Shoo," answered Bonnie. Didn't
nothing sting her; she Jest laughed
and said, 'Thanky, ma'am, fer the
campfire, she'd save 1t till something
did Mr.. Alan. l told her you give
me the dime to hurry back and tell
you If she was hurted, but she got
red and said you could wait to hear
till ] could git hot tea-cake from
the cook. But here's the dime. cause
didn't hurry" Rennie rendered the
bit OF silver in q hot, dirty. but hon
est little hand.
"You oughter done as Mr.. Alan
said, Bonnie, honey" said Miss Sc
lima Lue in mild reproof. Course be
was worried until he heard; 20
was l.
"Bennie," said Mr.. Alan with CLINT
in his eyes. keep the dime: You
earned It,"
(To BE ooNTINUnn)
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