The citizen., 1911-03-31

/
with other folkses affairs for more'n
thirty years, and now he had to hear
every fool rooster in the neighborhood
express his opinion as to whethei
day was nigh or not. He Jest wrapped
his head up in a old flannel shirt
and went about his work as usual.
hearing only what the shirt wouldn't
stop. He was mad plumb through
and he had 'em all walking around
on they toes like crawfish 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 recluse's 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
a more energetic echo.
There now they are all a-waking
up" said Miss Selma Lue But
maybe they'll be quiet while l tell
you about the bridegroom and the
cake that | had the trouble with at
Carrie Louise's wedding as | come on
over the Ridge. 1t always did seem
a shame to me how folks hand a 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 drink of water to
| quench his thirst and help him swol-
the misfortune to git mixed up with
the wedding cake what they had set
on a table in a 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 I
whirled in and mixed another sixty.
egg cake in a milk crock and baked
it in a dish-pan with astonishing luck
frosted It liberal with curly-cues
and me and it both was ready by the
time folks got to coming laughed
all the way down the road next day
at the remembering of his face when
found him" And Miss Selma Lue
chuckled at Mr.. Alan's shout of amuse-
ment.
Wait" he said, as she rose to go
in and quell the calls from the soap
boxers, which were fast becoming a
demonstration Tell me some more;
| let them roar"
There's not much more to tell" !"
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 sundown
l knew that Tom Withers, a Warren
county man. kept a grocery some
where on the Bluff But it wasn't
like this is now. They was crowd
of loafers setting on the steps talk
ing loud-and they was a 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 fair
to boot, so he could start right off
with her to the west 1t dug a hole
in my sock Of money. but that woman
was a-dying and had to CO.
$50 you hadn't intended to enter
commercial life?" asked Mr.. Alan. his
eyes bright with interest.
"Oh, no." answered Miss Selma
Lue. but | had to put my mind so as
to follow any good leading that come
If you had seen me go at this grocery
day-and first thing rolled all the
kegs out into the street and emptied
EN-. 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
| pOllle lei me dDOui tue river Ol D6ST
down the street, but Mr.. Dobbs
stepped over by him and that ended
it. And Ethel Maud was borned that
very highland I've had my hands
full ever since"
And your heart too" added Mr..
/ Alan.
Yes. looks like God do pour it full
to running over on other folks. I
but here comes Bennie. How was
Miss Cynthie, honey?"
"Shoo," answered Bennie Didn't
nothing sting her; she Jest laughed
and said. 'Thanky a'am, fer the
campfire, she'd save 1t till something
did Mr.. Alan. I 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" Bennie rendered the
bit of silver in hot, dirty. but hon.
est little hand.
you oughter done as Mr. Alan
said, Bennie. honey" said Miss Sc
lima Lue in mild reproof. Course he
was worried until he heard; so
was l."
"Bennie." said Mr. Alan with a CLINT
in his eyes. keep the dime; you
earned It,"
(TO BE CoNTINUED)