Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1912-10-24

for? To talk about the minister,
s'pose. How on earth did Laviny ever
come to let him out alone?"
Mr.. Pepper, Mr.. Abishai Pepper, 10.
cally called Ryan" (Cayenne) Pepper
because of his red hair and thin red
side whiskers, was one Of Trumet's
Characters" and in his case the
character was weak. He was born in
the village and, when yougster, had,
like every other boy of good family
in the community, cherished ambitions
for seafaring life. His sister, La
vinia, ten years older than he, who,
after the death Of their parents, had
undertaken the job of bringing up
her brother, did not sympathize with
these ambitions Consequently, when
Ryan ran away she followed him to
Boston, stalked aboard the vessel
where he had shipped, and collared
him, literally and figuratively. One
of the mates venturing to offer objec-
ton, Lavinia turned upon him and
gave him a piece Of her mind, to the
immense delight Of the creY and the
loungers on the wharf Then she re-
turned with the vagrant to Trumet.
That was Kyan's sole venture, so far
as sailoring was concerned, but he
ran away again when he was twenty
five. This time he returned of his
own accord, bringing wife with him,
one Evelyn Colt of Ostable. Evelyn
could talk a bit herself, and her first
interview with Lavinia ended with the
latter's leaving the house in a rage
swearing never to set foot in 1t 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-
reaved one, who was sitting on the
front stoop of his dwelling with, so
people say, a most resigned expression
on his meek countenance, looked up
and saw her.
my land! Laviny," he exclaimed
turning 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 'em, it's you. You can tote my
things right in" she added, turning
to her grinning driver, "and YOU
'Bishy, go right in with em. 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 unWittlngly'
81 couldn't take 1t easy afore she was
buried, could II"
GO right in," was the answer
march,"
Abishai marched, and had marched
under his sisters orders ever since
She kept house for him, and did IL
well, but her one fear was that some
female might again capture him, ana
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, 10
help him in his figgerin'," 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. Gwen his tall
hat; and in this fog! do believe he's
coming counting, Aunt Keziah."
Mr.. Pepper entered diffidently.
IL" he began. We'll, 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 oil
wanted to speak with you about some
thin, Keziah, So Oh! I didn't see
you, Oracle. Good mornin."
He didn't seem overjoyed to see
Miss Van Horne, as it was. In fact
he redeemed perceptibly and backed
toward the door. The girl, her eyes
twinkling, took up her jacket and hat
"Oh! Pm not going to stop, Mr.
Pepper" she said. 81 was only help
ing Aunt Keziah little. that's all.
must run on now"
Run on-nonsense! declared ne
ziah decisively. You're goin' to sta!
right here and help us get that stove
pipe down. And 'Bishy'l help, toe
Won't you, 'Bish?"
The stovepipe was attached to tn
"air-tight" in the dining room. It
the pipe-rose perpendicularly for
few feet and then extended horizon
tally, over the hlgh-boy, until 1t Ell
tered the wall. Ryan looked at it an
then at his Sunday clothes"
"Why, I'd be glad to, Of course" b
declared with dubious enthusiasm
"But don't knows I'll have time. Pc
haps I'd better come later and do i
Laviny, She"
"Oh, Laviny can spare you for
few minutes, guess; specially as sh
don't know you're out. Better tax
your coat off, hadn't you? Grace, fetc
one of those chairs for Ky-fc
Bishy to stand on"
Grace obediently brought the chai
It happened to be the one with
rickety leg, but its owner was he'll
ing the reluctant Abishai remove tn
long-tailed blue coat which had bee
his wedding garment and had adorne
his person on occasions Of ceremor
ever since. She did not notice II