The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-01-10

as a prop to lean on, as a help in
their troubles, not as an alternative
to dread punishment in the hereafter
John and his wife were together in
the old mans sanctum. The woman
cut queer figure standing just with
in the doorway out of the blazing
morning sunshine. She still had q
saucepan in her hands, which every
now and then she wiped with a dish
cloth, although it was already dry.
The fact was she had arrived at a
sudden determination inspired by a
visit from Mary on her way out for
, her ride. The visit had occurred
whilst Mrs. Verricker was in the
midst of her morning wash-up, and
she had proceeded at once to invade
the privacy of her husbands study.
Pen in hand, John was sitting back
in his rigid chair, gazing at her with
twinkling, deep-set blue eyes from
beneath a pair of shaggy brows, while
his long, lean fingers raked thought
fully at the roots of his flowing white
beard.
The woman's thin, broad face was
af1ame with the heat of her purpose,
and her alert brown eyes were flash
ing ominously.
Its your duty, JOHN she said,
with an emphasis that set her hus-
bands eyes twinkling the more.
Its my duty to tell Ferman that
his wife has one too many men
friends?" the man retorted, in that
sing-song voice which Scotchmen
never quite lose.
"John. you're foolish, which isn't
usually your way. Mary's a good
girl, and I like her; but Ferman's
making a fool of her by setting her
on a sort of pedestal and having ev-
erybody wait on her. including him.
self. What she wants is occupa-
ton, and not to be allowed to fritz
death of her life up there at the
farm, and she'll either get i'll Or
there'll be trouble of some sort. It's
come to this: some ones got to speak.
You're his greatest friend-''
She broke off, and wiped vigorous
ly at the dry pot.
'Now look here, EN-. I've had to
face one or two awkward situations
in my time out here, as. you well
know; but I draw the line at step
ping in betweene husband and wife"
The pot received terrific polish
You're afraid she exploded.
you're afraid, and Ferman only a
man. Al your time of life"
"At my time of life hope I have
learned sense
Sense! You're as bad as him. ]
shall do it myself the very next time
see him."
EN-, be careful. Ferman is the
best man 7 know, but don't think
he'll stand any meddling-''
"Meddling! Who's going to med
die? I shall tell him plainly he's a
fool, and If he doesn't like it I can't
help it."
Print dress, sun-bonnet, spring-side
boots, pot and all, disappeared with
rush through the door into the
kitchen hut. And the missionary
amusement.
Ferman Elwood's friendship for
John verricker was in fat contradic-
ton to his strongest prejudices. But
then it was wholly in keeping with
his breadth of mind and strength of
character. He knew that John was
honest and good, and. above all, a
man of the gentlest sympathy for the
benighted creatures under his care
Rugged, rough-spoken, and of mill
tant spirit, he yet loved his flock of
black sheep, as he called them, in his
, dry way, better than anything else in
spouse. And it was this love of his
that first brought the two men into
touch and sowed the seeds of their
great friendship.
WlLn1u QdlI-dH-IIOur Oh EMILY de-
parture the doorway of the sanctum
darkened again, and the subject OF
their recent debate presented himself
| The ScotchMan was pleased enough
to welcome him, and his smile was
broader than usual as his thoughts
went back to his wife's recent threat
He wondered how En- would feel
when confronted by Ferman's steady
inscrutable eyes.
Hello, Ferman; what's up now?" he
inquired.
"Kotze is back He'll be here in a
few minutes"
| Instantly all thoughts of Emily and
her mission died out of the old mans
mind. He and this man were not
only friends; they had work in COM
| mon.
Things will be moving, then
Good
| Eyes, things will be moving" And
Elwood deposited his great body into
native-made armchair that had
nothing to recommend it but its
strength. He glanced round the
room. Then his eyes came back to
the pile of manuscript on the table.