The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-06-12
CHAPTER II.
Out Of the Cistern.

ander, she says she'll run home and
tell her husband right off.
And all the time EImira is moaning
in that chair. One woman says Eli
mira orter have a cup O tea, which
she'll lay off her bunnet and go to the
kitchen and make it fur her. But Ell
mira says no, she can't a-bear to think
of tea, with poor Hennerey Arranging
out there in the shop. But she was
kind o. enjoying all that fuss being
made over her too. And all the other
women says:
'Poor thing But all the same they
was mad she said she didn't want any
tea, for they all wanted some and
didn't feel free without she took it too.
Which she said she would, after they'd
coaxed awhile and made her see her
duty.
SO they all goes out to the kitchen.
bringing along some of the best room
chairs, Elmira coming, too, and NE
tagging along behind. And the first
thing they noticed was them hatirons
on top of the cistern door. Mis- Prlnl-
rose. she says that looks funny. But
another woman speaks up and says
Danny must of been playing with them
while Elmira was over town. She says.
"Nas you playing they was horses,
Danny?"
was feeling considerable like liar
by this time, but | says l was playing
horses with them, fur l couldn't see no
use in hurryng things up. waS
bound to get a lamming purity soon
anyhow When l was kid could
always bet on that. SO they picks up
the tlatirons, and as they picks EN- up
they come Il SpaShing noise in the els
tern. thinks to myself, Hanks
corpse'll be out Of there in minute.
One woman, she says:
Goodness gracious sakes alive.
What's that, Elmira?"
Elmira says that cistern is mighty
full Of fish. and they is some great big
ones in there. and it must be some of
them a-topping around, which If they
hadn't of been all worked up and talk
ing all to Oncet and all thinking OF
Hanks body hanging out there in the
blacksmith shop they might Of SuSpi-
cioncd something, for that Topping
KEEP up steady and a lot Of spashing
too. I mebby orter mentioned 1t soon
er it had been Il dry summer, and they
was only three or four feet Of water in
our cistern, and Hank wasn't in scarce
ly up to his big hairy chest. so when
Elmira says the ciStern is full of fish
that woman opens the trap door and
looks in Hank thinks its Elmira
come to get him out. He allows he'll
keep quiet in there and made believe he
is drowned and give her good scare
and make her sorry for him. But when
the cistern door is opened he hears a
lot Of clacking tongues all of a sudden
like they was 4 hen convention on. He
allows she has told some Of the neigh.
bOrs, and he'll scare them too. 50
Hank, he laid low. And the woman as
looks in sees nothing, for it's as dark
down there as the insides of the whale
what swaltered Noah. But she leaves
the door open and goes on a-makins
tea, and they amt skeercly sound
from that cistern, only little, ripply
noises like it might have been fish
Pretty soon woman says:
1T has drawed, Elmira. Won't you
have a cup?"
Elmira she kicked some more, but
she took hern. And each woman took
hern. And one woman. a-sipping Of
hern. she says:
"The departed had his good pints,
Elmira."
Which was the best thing had been
said of Hank in that town fur years
and years.
Old Mis- Primrose, she always prded
herself on being honest. no matter
what come. and she ups and says:
Il don't believe in no hippercritics
at time like this, no more'n no other
time The departed wasn't no good,
and the hull town knowed it. and FL
mira orter feel like it's good radiance
of bad rubbish and them is my senti-
ments and the sentiments of rightful-
ness
All the other women sings out:
ivy. Mis- Primrose. I never"
And they seemed awful shocked. But
down in underneath more Of 'em
agreed than let on. Elmira she wiped
her eyes and said:
"Hennerey and me has had our
troubles They amt any use in deny
ing that, Mis- Primrose. 1t has often
been give and take between us and be-
twixt u.s. And the hull town knows
he has lifted his hand agin me more'n
oncet But always stood up to Hen
mercy. and I fit him back, free and
fair and open. I give him as good as
he sent on this here earth, and amt
the one to carry no annermosities be-
yond the grave. I forgive Hank all
the orneriness he done me. and they
was lot Of it, as is becoming unto
q church member, which he never
was"
And all the women but Mis- Prim-
rose, they says:
'Elmira Appleton, YOU have got a