Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-27


wife Eva just as grimly.
you are obstinate as a mule.' snarl-
ed jeremiah.
"And you are ugly as SIM" retorted
Eva.
I'VE might as well give up this cat
and dog life"
II for one would be glad to expert
ence a peaceful existence"
The result of this mutual disagree
ment was that the Butterfelds sep
arated and went to live at opposite
ends Of baskerville, in the cyclone belt.
jeremiah took as his share Of their
mutual possessions all the farm imple-
ments and stock and the WORKOUT fur
niture Of the house, while Eva Butter
field was content with the rest of the
household furniture and the fat car
rage horse and little phaeton.
jeremiah went to farming, for it was
the only thing he knew how to do, and
his wife opened a summer boarding
house because she could cook better
than anybody within ten miles Of Ii
lac villa, as she called her new home.
Because jeremiah stuck to his farm
ing he marketed his crops promptly
and placed money in the bank every
month. he soon became prosperous,
but he was not happy. Every time he
walked over his broad acres and saw
the titled land and the green growing
crops and the comfortable green paint
ed farmhouse, with the red painted
barns and outbuildings, he tried to feel
proud and satisfied, but he only sue
ceeded In suppressing pang Of sorrow
at the thought that he had parted from
Eva, whom he really loved after all.
AS for Eva, her house was filed each
summer with city people. who praised
her cooking and said that nowhere in
the world had they tasted such deli
cious homemade bread and biscuits,
such light cake, such toothsome ap-
| pie pies and doughnuts. Mrs. Butter
! field would. nod her brown head in
acknowledgment Of their compliments,
| and that was all. for she cared not a
whit'for the praise Of any man or 30
miah, from whom she had voluntarily
parted herself forever-so she said.
"For I'll never give in," she said
obstinately, though her heart ached
every time she made an apple pie, and
she vaguely wondered what sort OF
food the Widow Bentley was serving
Jeremiah in her capacity Of house
keeper for the lone farmer.
"I'll not give in," was Jeremiah's
slogan, and he meant 1t, although fine
wrinkles gathered about his eyes and
the hair on his temples became gray.
OF course they were foolish. and, al
it often happens in cases of this sort
fate stepped in and settled their diff
culties in the strangest sort Of way.
Working up to a storm" wheezet
the Widow Bentley one afternoon a
she met jeremiah in the front piazz,
when he came up from the fields. Sh
was big and ponderous and of violen
temper that brooked no contradiction
even in matters of small Importance
and Jeremiah Butterfield had learne
that the easiest way to get along wit
his housekeeper was to acquiesce il
everything she had to say.
Eyes, yes" he said pleasantly, f1xin
a doubtful eye on the clear pale blue o
the sky aud the glorious orange an
crimson of the sunset.
81 feel it coming in my bones,
wheezed Mrs. Bentley once more, sink
ing heavily into rocking chair. 81
looks clear enough now; but, mark m
words, we'll have trouble before to
morrow night"
81 guess you're right, Mrs. Bentley,
agreed jeremiah pleasantly. "W
might as well get snugged up for
storm. l find you're a pretty goo
weather prophet"
Mrs. Bentley nodded her head sage
~. Its to be the kind that make
you glad you've got good cyclone ce
lar" she said significantly.
"Cyclone?" repeated Jeremiah increC
ulously. This isn't cyclone weather.
The Widow Bentley's- brow darh
ened, and she arose and shook he
white apron at an encroaching her
81 wasn't born and raised in tn
cyclone belt without knowing some
thing about cyclones she said. wit
I dignity. and departed for the kitchen
|
e the evening meal to the accompan
ment of Gathering crockery and ra
Ting pans.
/ 1--WE gone and put my foot In
d now" unused jeremiah as he fed b
horses for the night. ~ expect III
widow will see TO It that l can't es
t any supper tonight. I'll bet yo
= everything will be either too salty
too sweet. That's the widows wa.
and / wish I'd known 1t before l Ell
n gagged her. It's easier hiring a hous
g keeper than it is getting rid of on
Cyclone weather. Huhr'
1t had been an oppressive day. an
(, the setting of the sun brought SON
relief to the overheated earth. No
light. fleecy clouds showed high In ii
l. heavens, and over in the northwest
low rim of black clouds bordered II
horizon.
u al don't know but what the wido
10 was right after ALL" admitted Jer
miah Butter6eld as he went in to su
per. and he told Mrs Bentley thi
h but it was too late, for. although Il
hoEsekeeper smiled triumphantiy. Il