The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-09-08

says at first twas kind o. nice an
he liked ter hear it; but now, seems
as if he hain't got no appetite left
ey'ry time he sets down ter the table.
He don't relish eatin' such big words
an queer names.
An that amt ALL" resumed Ma
than, after a pause for breath. Jim
can't go hoein nor diggin' but she'll
folier him an tell bout the bugs an
worms he turns up-how many legs
they've got, an all that An the
moon amt jest a moon no more, an
the stars amt stars, They're speres
an planets with heathenish names an
rings an orbits. Jim feels bad-pow-
erful bad-'bout it, an he says he
can't see no way out of it, He knows
they haint had much schoolin', any
of em, only Katy, an he says that
sometimes he most wishes that-that
she hadn't, neither"
Nathan Kelsey's voice had sunk al
most to a whisper, and with the last
word his eyes sent a furtive glance
toward the stoop-shouldered little
figure in the low rocker. The chair
was motionless now, and its occupant
sat picking at a loose thread in the
gingham apron.
Il wouldn't "a spoke of it,"
stammered the man, with painful hes
itation, "only-well ye see, YOU"
he stopped helplessly.
q know" faltered the little wom-
an, You was thinllin' of-Alma."
"She wouldn't do it-Alma would
nit" retorted the man, sharply, al
most before his wife had ceased speak
ing.
NO, no, Of course not; but-Na-
than, We don't think Alma'd ever be
ashamed of us, do ye?"
Course mott" asserted Nathan, but
his voice shook. Don't ye worry,
Mary" he comforted Alma amt a.
goin' ter do no kerrectin' Of US"
Nathan, II think that's correct
in" suggested the woman, a little
breathlessly.
The man turned and gazed at his
wife without speaking Then his jaw
fell.
We'll, by sugar, Mary! You amt
a-goin' ter begin it; be ye?" he de-
manded.
"Why, no, course mott" she laughed
Come, it's time ter shut
up the house"
The date of Alma's expected arri-
val was yet a week ahead Is the
days passed, there came a curious
to the movements Of both
Nathan and his wife. 1t was on the
last night of that week of waiting that
Mrs. Kelsey spoke.
Nathan" she began, with forced
1--WE been over to Mis- Hop
kinss-an' asked her what special
things twas that Katy set such store
by. l thought mebbe if we knew 'em
beforehand, an could do 'em, an"
That's jest what I asked Jim ter
day, Mary" cut in Nathan, eXcitedly. !
Nathan, you didn't, now! oh, I'm
so glad! An Wen do 'em, won't we?
jest to please her?"
"Course we will"
you see it's four years since she
was here, Nathan, what with her
teachin' summers"
Sugar, now! Is it? 1t hain't !
seemed so long"
Nathan" interDosed Mrs. Kelsey, |
anxiously, 81 think that hain't' amt
i mean aren't right l think you'd
orter say 1t haven't seemed so
long"
The man frowned, and made an i'm
patient gesture.
"Yes, yes, ! know" soothed his
wife; "but-well, we might jest as
well begin now an git used to it.
Mis- Hopkins said that them two
words, 'hain't' an amt was what
Katy hated most of anythin"
Yes; Jim mentioned EN-, too" ack
sowledged Nathan, gloomily. But he
said that even them want half so bad
as his riggin' up nights He said that
Katy said that after the toll of the
day they must don fresh garments
an come ter the evenin meal with
minds an bodies refreshed"
"Yes; an, Nathan, amt my black
silk"
"Ahem! Tr a-thinlin' it want me
that said arr that time" interposed
Nathan, dryia
Dear DEAR Nathan!--did 1? 0.
dear, what win Alma say?" !
1T don't make no difference what
Alma says, Mary. Don't ye fret" re
turned the man with sudden sharp
ness, as he rose to his feet Il guess
Almall have ter take us bout as we
be- bout as we be-
Yet it was Nathan who asked. just
as his wife was dropping of to sleep
that night:
Mary, is it three O. them. collars
I've got or four2 billed ones.
mean"
At five o'clock the next afternoon
Mrs. Kelsey put on the treasured
black silk dress, sacred for q dozen