Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-10-29

one Evelyn Colt Of Ostable. Evelyn
could talk bit herself, and her first
interview with Lavlnia ended with the
latter's leaving the house in rage,
swearing never to set foot in it again.
This oath she broke the day of her
sister-in-law's funeral Then she ap-
peared, after the ceremony, her bag
gage on the wagon with her. The be-
reayed one, who was sitting on the
front stoop Of his dwelling with. so
people say, a rlost resigned expression
on his meek countenance, looked up
and saw her.
My land, Laviny," he exclaimed,
t.4.ning pale "Where'd you come
from?"
Never mind where l come from"
observed his sister promptly. you
just be thankful I've come. II ever
body needed some one to take care
OF EN-, it's you. You can tote my
things right in" she added, turning
to her grinning driver, 'and you,
'Bishy, go right in with EN-. The idea
Of your settin' outside takin' 1t easy
when your poor wife amt been buried
more'n an hour!"
But--but-Laviny, protested poor
Ryan, speaking the truth unwittingly,
Il couldn't take 1t easy afore she was
buried, could II"
Go right H." was the answer.
March,"
Abishai marched, and had marched
under his sisters orders ever since.
She kept house for him, and did 1t
well, but her one fear was that some
female might again capture him, and
she watched him with an eagle eye.
He was the town assessor and tax col
lector, but when he visited dwellings
containing single women or widows,
Lavinia always accompanied him, ito
help him in his f1ggerin'," she said.
Consequently, when he appeared, I'M
chaperoned. on the walk leading to
the side door of the Coffin homestead,
Keziah and her friend were surprised.
He's dressed to KILL whispered
Grace, at the window Even his tall
hat; and in this fog! do believe he's
coming counting, Aunt Keziah."
Mr.. Pepper entered diffidently.
IL he began well, the fact
is, / came out by myself. You see,
Laviny's gone up to Sarah BIS to talk
church doin's. I-I-well, kind of
wanted to speak with you about some
thin, keziah, So Oh! l didn't see
you, Oracle. Good mornin'."
He didn't seem overjoyed to see
Miss Van Horne, as it was In fact
ne redeemed perceptibly and backed
twinkling, took up her jacket and hat
"Oh! I'm not going to stop, Mr..
Pepper" she said 81 was only help
ing Aunt Keziah a little, that's all. |
must run on now"
Run on-nonsense" declared Ke-
ziah decisively. You're goip' TO stay
right here and help us get that stove
pipe down And 'Bishyll help, too.
Won't you, 'Bish?"
The stoyepipe was attached to the
"air-tight" in the dining room. It
the pipe-rose perpendicularly for a
few feet and then extended horizon
tally, over the high-boy, until it en-
tered the wall. Ryan looked at it and
then at his Sunday clothes"
"Why, I'd be glad to, of course" he
declared with dubious enthusiasm.
but l don't knows I'll have time. Per-
haps I'd better come later and do It,
Laviny. She
ooh, Laviny can spare you for a
few minutes, l guess; specially as she
don't know you're out. Better take
your coat off, hadn't you? Grace, fetch
one of those chairs for Ky-for
Bishy to stand on"
Grace obediently brought the chair
1t happened to be The one with a
rickety leg, but its owner was help
ing the reluctant Abishai remove the
long-tailed blue coat which had been
his wedding garment and had adorned
his person on occasions of ceremony
ever. since. She did not notice the
chair.
ITS real good of you to offer to
help" she said. Grace and l didn't
hardly dast to try it alone. That pipes
been up so long that | wouldn't won
der If twas chock-full of SCOT. If you're
careful, though, l don't believe you'll
get any on you. Never mind the floor;
I'm goin' to wash that before | leave. "
Reluctantly, slowly, the unwilling
Mr.. Pepper suffered himself to be led
to the chair. He mounted it and gin
gerly took hold of the pipe.
Better loosen it at the stove hole
first" advised Kezlah. What was 1t
you wanted to see me about, 'Bish?"
"Oh nothin', nothin'," was the hasty
response. "Nothin' of any account
that is to say"
He turned redder than ever and
wrenched at the pipe. 1t loosened at
its lower end and the wires holding it
in suspension shook.
Il guess" observed the lady Of the
house, that you'd better move that
chest of drawers out SOS you can get
behind it. Grace, you help me. There!
! that's better Now move your chair. "
Ryan stepped from the chair and
moved the latter to position between
the high-boy and the wall. Then he
remounted and gripped the pipe in the
middle of its horizontal section.
Don't be in such a hurry" inter
rupted Keziah. Does stick in the chin
ney, don't it? Tell you what you can
do, Grace; you can go in the woodshed
and fetch the hammer that's in the
table drawer. Hurry up, that's good
girl
Kvan protested that he did not need
the hammer, but his protest was I'M
needed. With one mere glance at the
couple, Grace departed from the kitch-
en-, biting her lips She shut the door
carefully behind her. Mr. Pepper la
bored frantically with the pipe.
NO use to shake it any more till
you get the hammer" advised Keziah
"Might's well talk while you're waitin?