The Delta independent., 1912-12-27

Nights well talk while you're waitin p"
What was it you wanted TO tell me?"
"Keziah, you're a single woman"
His companion let 90 of the chair.
which she had been holding in place,
and stepped back.
He is loony!' she exclaimed under
her breath. 4"
mo. no. l amt loony. I want to
make a proposal to you. want to see
II you won't marry me. I'm sick of
Laviny. Let's you and me settle down
together. l could have some peace
then. And ! think whole lot of you.
too" he added apparently as an after
thought. Don't stop to argue, Keziah.
I've got most fifteen hundred dollars
in the banS. Laviny keeps the pass
book in her bureau, but you could get
1t from her. / own my house. I'm a
man Of good character. You're poor.
but ] don't let that stand In the way.
Anyhow. you're frst-rate housekeep-
er. And really do think an awful lot
OF you"
Mrs. Coffin stepped no farther in the
direction OF the kitchen Instead, she
strode toward the rickety chair and
Its occupant. Ryan grasped the PIPE
with both hands.
You iserable-impudent-
began the lady.
why, Keziah. don't you want to-"
He spoke as II the possibility OF re-
fusal had never entered his mind. II
callated you'd be glad. You wouldn't
have to go away then. nor My soul
and body! some ones knockin' at the
door! And this dummed pipes fetched
loose!"
The last sentence was a smothered
shrek. KeZiah needed not. Neither
did she heed the knock at the door.
Her hands were opening and closing
convulsively.
BE glad!" she repeated. "Glad to
marry good-fornothin' sand.peep like
you! You sassy Get down off that
chair and out OF this house! Get down
this minute!"
Il can't! This stovepipe's loose. ]
tell you. Be reason'ble, Keziah. Do
don't you touch me! I'll fall II you
do. Please, Keziah!- o Lordy! ]
knew 1t. Laviny!"
The door opened. On the threshold,
arms akimbo and lips set tight, stood
Lavinia Pepper. Her brothers knees
gave way; in their collapse they
struck the chair back; the rickety leg
wabbled. Ryan grasped at the pipe to
save himself and. the next moment,
chair, sections OF stovepipe. and Mr..
Pepper disappeared with mighty
crash behind the high-boy. A cloud OF
SCOT arose and obscured the view.
Keziah, too indignant even to laugh,
glared at the wreck. In the doorway
Of the kitchen Grace Van Horne, ham.
mer in hand, leaned against the jamb.
her handkerchief at her mouth and
tears in her eyes. Lavinia, majestic
and rigid. dominated the scene. From
behind the high-boy came coughs.
sneezes and emphatic calculations.
Miss Pepper was the first to speak.
"Abishai Pepper" she commanded.
"come out OF that this minute"
There was a sound OF scrambling.
More SCOT noated In the air. Then
around the corner of the high-boy ap-
peared Mr.. Pepper. crawling on his
hands and knees. His hair was
streaked with black; his shirt front
ted and smeared with black; and from
his blackened cheeks his red whiskers
famed like the last glowing embers in
q fire-scarred ruin.
II was just tryin' to help Keziah
take down her stoveplpe." he ex-
planned. you see, she didn't have no
man to-"
Eyes, I see. Well. Judge you got It
down. Now you go out to the sink
and wash your face. Heavens and
earth! Look at them clothes!"
II do hope you didn't hurt yourself.