The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-12-21

an q half barrel c. pork, an q keg o.
mackerel. an crackers an cheese, an
-gfngersnaps. an jells, we'll git along
on them. Les investigate"
Now IL you belong TO certain parties
and certain principles belong to you.
you will not be plased to think Of
Cap'n Tom and Cap'n Len. after their
toned. sitting beside the stove with
their pipes lighted. and each with a
long and steaming tumbler of the rum
they had found hid AVA for emergen-
cies of illness in the cupboard Of the
sisterinlaw's second cousins sisterin-
law. II call this comfort" said Cap'n
Tom, watching his smoke.
Solid" said Cap'n Len.
II wisht every one else in the world
was az well fixed"
Certain! Certaini"
Poor old lady Barnard"
And the rest on EN-"
NOW" said Cap'n Tom. 1.-THE ques-
TO supper tomorrer night. as you sorter
proposed"
"Me?"
"warn't Il your Well, faint neither
hero nor there. Well have 'em 70
supper sure; but-shall we let 'em 70
homer II we let EN- 60 back to the
place we've come from--thanks be to
sSos ~ S@A StA1 Soh kahAA0t0IB VA
o'-be-joyful every night; other ways
It'll hev ter be milk an water. We
won't hev n women ter fault US for
slim h foors. any women ter worr
the life out'n US wen an old ship
mate comes out 18th his long pipe,
any women In gray gowns or pink
calfkers ter say US nay. We can have
roast turkey instid O. corn beef Of we
let 'em go home; we can go inter town
ter the shows instid o. takin' { out
lookin, at the stars an wishin' by the
MOON. En-. what say7"
II say" said Cap'n Len, twill be
devilish lonesome 18th no women
| round!"
You're right, mate. You're right"
said Cap'n Tom. after a long silence,
knocking the ashes out Of his pipe. but
some thin's are broad AZ they're long.
Women are onsartin. We know"
"P'r'aps. But twas kind o. CHEEKY
that pink caliker."
She wouldn't be wearin' sech goods
In winter weather"
"Ef she he'd anythin' else"
T be surt, eff she was a-lin' here,
we'd hev. ter make out the proper
close fer her."
THE 'Cademy's on'y a mile round
the hill from here. eff a gel wanted
edication."
That's so. There's edication. All
stS va h"J . - tioAS z
with the old lady. 1--we fetched out
q lot o. shoes m slippers i found sence
we come. that was my sisteinlaw's
cousins notwithstanding Nancy.
She's never seemed to git any on them
wore out"
Closets full O. gownds. Almost
makes ye feel as II there was a wom-
an round.
There's suthin' goes to the heart
bout Mis- Barnard"
about the old man. too"
Tell We wat, Len! don't know
Jest how you'd look at It. But as
you've proposed it--your heart allus
fetch over the hull lot for keeps. an
Mis- Dolly ter wait on EN-. Eth? What
say? That's what Nancy must
'a'meant, whether she sensed 1t or not.
guess It's wa she'd like. anyway
I guess it's wat you an NELL like.
'Fust rate" said Cap'n Len. AS
for Nancy. I do mo-. an do mo- as
care. AS fer 0 an me. i should
say"
"'Twould be sociable. That's so,
Len. You a!lus did haul the line
taut."
There was a Are presently In every
room Of the little house that had q CHM
ney place. as IL the unwonted luxury
of sufficient heat in the sheds fore
handed big wood pile could not be
sufficiently enjoyed. The storm had
blown itself up the coast and over
seas, and the stars were like glints of
gold in the dark blue armament,
sparkling over snowy fields and sill
vered woods, when the big sleigh left
it's bewildered but happy load at Cap'n
Toms door.
"Come right in!" cried Cap'a Tom.
Come right in! It's perishin' cold
Here. leave me take We. ThereI You
go straight inter the bedroom, Mis-
You'll find thin's In the close-press
there ter put on. They're all yours.
There's a black silk gownd theren jest
about At ye," he whispered. Poor
Nancy! Put 1t on. Mis- Barnard, quick
meter. An them shoes. An, Mis-
Dolly, you'll find some thin's ter slick
up 18th upstairs In your room an
Isabel's's. Don't waste no time. The
turkeys brown as toast Already. Come.
Cap'n Barnard, I'll lose my guess II
suthin' a leetle hot inside Wouldn't
come near your easel" And the older
man, pleased with the misplaced title
which SO implied respect, and then
into his wife's room with h air OF
having come into his own.
Half an hour afterward. Mrs. Bar
nard, sitting at the head Of the table
with her husband on her left and
Cap'n Len on her right. with Mrs
Dolly and Isabel rivaling each other In
waiting on Cap'n Tom at the other end
Of the table. cleared her throat and
half rose from her chair. leaning light
ly on both hands. Being all together
here" she said In her sweet and gentle
voice. IAN told we are always to be
together here. an taken from that
sufferin' life we were Twin, makes me
feel as if-as If"
GAS II we'd died and rome to heaven
said the old man at here elbow.
Eyes" she assented. "And I was
a-goin' to say we're told thai in ouI
Fathers house are many mansions
And--and somehow I am sure that this
Is one of them!"
Christmas, 1901.
49, >utAr Cbrfsfnaa NkA n vnap