The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-02


What's all this hear about thu
IDS scrapping?e he laughed mine
Oh know. not having any mother anc
t. IS a terror. chip Of the old block
m fraid, He laughed again Blu
don't allow any impoliteness If
;lom it. She just happened TO put i
me about my having mortgage OF
our place. That's how got at al
his She just imagined that. Doddy
earring me talk bout other mort
ages She never knew. or anybody
se | ever had anything on you
olks.'
y thought that was about the way
ii It. Aunt Doris said pleasantly.
We was always friendly about tn.
lu mortgage, wasn't we, Doddy?" ht
aughed again.
"a big old bill for a little school
ma am TO help pull against. But sht
didn't hare to. did she?" he said
Well. it's ali over" Aunt Dori:
said = never think of it,
4 do! I'll always feel just the SAME
10 You as told you felt then.
George Gardener did not laugh this
lime "Always-if you change your
mind
Aunt Doris turned away toward the
loase, laughing. That's not likely
Say George Gardener shouted
Bring the twins and come for a little
ride. It's the last we'll get this win
Ter. Wen go over ard get Leah
come on. Just TO show there's no hard
feeling"
Pleading twin-shrieks came down on
tae frosty air
oh, Aunt Doddy, lets; please
Siedsc let's,"
Aunt Doris and George Gardener
looked UP and laughed Aunt Doris
stood thinking moment. then look
came over her face that told how in
her happiness she wanted to forgive
everybody, everything, and to include
The world i'll her joy.
Well hurry" she said TO the twins
and I'll go i'll and slip on my tobog
gan cap
The twins and Leah Gardener got
more friendly than they had ever been
during that ride, and swore never To
quarrel again.
Anyhow, I've heard my papa say
YOUR Aunt Doris is the prettiest. girl
in town. and dang the lucky dog that
gets her, for he can't" said Leah, ex
actly as George Gardener must have
said it.
"He must mean Uncle CAL" Mar
cissa whispered.
He does Leah giggled.
The twins wondered if Aunt Doris
knew George Gardener talked thai
way of Uncle Cal Barry-it seemed
certain that she'd never have come
Tor the ride and taken the front sea-
beside him. The children were put
down at church and George Gardene,
took Aunt Doris home The Pollards
house was not far from the church
George Gardener took a roundabout
way there. driving through Main
Street He fourished his whip and
the sorrel span danced. and all the
Young men standing about dressed ur
LOT Sunday noticed him and the lady
With him.
The twins Aunt Doris. watching the
horses. looked neither to the right nor
left Mr. Calvin Barry, who stood
upon the corner with another man
sazed at her in vain. A little later
George Gardener came spanking
through Main Street alone. The man
with Uncle Cal Barry hailed him. He
pulled up at once, laughing iovially
until he noticed the young man who
was going to be the Pollard twins'
Uncle Cal. Then the laugh changed
to sneer.
See Doddy Pollard takin' a little
ride with me?" he threw out.
The man with Uncle Cal started To
speak about the right foot of one of
the span.
"Doddy likes things nice. she's crazy
about the new house I'm building. /
Just had her to see It" George Gar.
dener said, looking toward Mr.. Cal
Barry. -
Nh. Barry had gone very white.
told her it's woman's priyi.
iege to change her mind" George Gar
dener said. I've watched her grow
up: she amt the kind to be contented
with poor man, and think she's
got sense enough to see it-before it's
100 late," :
The man did not answer he was
locking at the horses and there was
nothing left but for George Gardener
to drive on.
"slong!" he said, and the span
frisked away.
The twins Uncle Cal drifted avav
from the man he had been talking to.
without word. He staggered. but
ms head was very high. his lips set
hard That afternoon they waited and
waited for him TO call at the Pollards'
ne day faded to twilight and Aunt
Doddy's cheeks paled little too,
Then evening came; they had supper
and after that Aunt Doris tried TO play
her guitar. but she often twanged the
wrong string and finally gave it up
and they were sent to bed. Grand.
mother Pollard took the light away az
Dough to punish the twins because
ncle Cal had not come.
You don't s'pose it's my using that
awful curse word last night, do YOU
Nctssa?" Valera broke out.
No Narclssa answered. uncertain
"
The next night, and the next he did
not come, or the next after that. and
time went on to the next Sunday. The
snow was nearly all gone. and there
had been two robins round the Pol.
lards' wood-pile. Just at church time
h Ir.aH Il H..