The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-03-13

could eat a gandstone right now If !
somebody'd bust it up and pass it to
me on a plate for real vtttles!''
"You ought to be ashamed Of your
self, Colonel Todhunter,'' smiled Mrs.
Todhunter, "after that dinner you ate
at the Daughters picnic. 1 declare to
goodness was afraid they'd all think
you never got anything fit to eat at
home"
"When I'm ashamed of having a
good appetite, Mary" replied Colonel
Todhunter, land specially IL I ever
come to that day when amt got it,
I'll ask the Old Marster up above, to
call me to my heavenly home. Tn. amt
no man got right TO turn away from
wholesome svittles when the good
Lords been bountiful enough to per
vide 'em for that mans eatin'. Nature
don't NEVER give a man such a right.
If he gets so he. can't relish his food
it's one Of her punishments for his
p1ayin' tom fool with himself, sinnin'
and skylarkin' around. And I amt
never seen ne trifIer at meal times that
was fit to do a mans work"
Mrs. Eodhunter laughed outright
eff yoIfre eating to get ready for hard
work, Colonel Todhunter, Tn certainly
glad to see you eat hearty, because
you're likely to be Kept mighty busy
nominatin' Colonel Strickland for gov
ernor Of Missouri You could nominate
yourself heap easier
Maybe could, honey" replied Colo
mel Todhunter, 'Fbut Bill Strickland's a
mighty popular man, all the same, and,
he deserves to be. reckon I could be
nigh every Democrat in Mizzoorah, but
I'd make a mighty poor governor. You
got to handle some all fred measly
customers in politics, and I, amt got
patience enough to handle 'em right.
That's exactly where old Bill Strick-
lands got me beat. He can use all sorts
o. men, crooked and straight, to gain
honest ends-he proved it when he
was chairman of the state committee
and that's what governors got to do
to accomplish anything worth while
That's why I'm worlzin' for Bill Strick-
land. He amt only my friend-he's
far and away the best man for COVER
nor of Mizzoorah visible to the naked
eye at the present writin'."
Mrs. Todhunter's comprehending eyes
rested softly on the colonePs grizzled
vfsage. '"Thurston." she said, 'I know
better than that. 1 know better than
you do why you'd rather have Colonel
Strickland run for governor than to run
yourself. It's because they couldn't
pull you. away from Nineveh and this
old home OF ours with a yoke of
oxen.''
Something of incredulous surprise
flashed into Colonel Todhunter's face
Then his eyes swept lovingly across the
familiar Missouri landscape spread out
before him. He-1ooked> at Mrs Tod
hunter and smiled.
81 reckon you've guessed it, honey
he spoke at last, almost wonderingly
''But I'll be tarred and feathered If
ever realized it until you told me. The
good Lord above us, Mary, if I was
elected governor and knew had to live
up yonder in jeff City for four years
I'd die of inconsistencies the first dash
out O. the box. TIL amt no money and
no fame could pay me for dom it,
suh!'
Mrs. Todhunterss eyes cleaned with
laughter. That's you all over, Thurs
ton, and wouldn't have you changed
speck. not for anything in the world.
No, not even If the dear Lord himself
told me he was wil1in' to do itY'
Colonel Todhunter contemplated his
wife gravely. That's a mighty lucky
thing. Mary he replied then. his eyes
| twinkling just a tride. Lucky for you
and blamed sight Iuckier for me,
cause reckon got to stay just like
am to the end of the chapter. honey
At that moment the sound of young
voices was heard from the twilight
shadowed avenue leading up to. the
house. 4ThensA buggy drawn by singh
stepping bay mare came into view. ? !
That's Mary and STAN Tucker
now said Mrs. Todhunter. "And I'm
glad Mary's home. I don't like that
skittish horse STAIN Tucker drives"
'"That there mare o. STAINS amt a
bit more skittish than Mary Todhunter
| herself" Colonel Todhunter responded.
chuckling. ''And they're both a-goin
to give Siam the surprise OF his life
one o. these days. Just look at Mary.
honey! You'd think she was q kitten
set right down by a saucer o. cream.
she's so tickled. She's havin' as good a
time with STAN Tucker as IL they
want no such young man as Tom
Strickland in all the world. And right
this minute she wouldn't give Tom
Strickland's little finger for STAN Tuck
er's whole body and soul and all old
Eph fuckers m-:,cs thrown in to
bootv'
Mrs. Todhunter laughed lightly.
"bFary's Just beginning to receive COM
pany, Colonel Todhunter.' she expound-
ed "And, like all girls. she wants to
have good time with her beaux. Il it