The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1913-10-17

1 Ou NOu IHtHN ttldt. AdIid
Don't ask me-" admonshpd Maria
Garkly. after shaving myself over
them hattiSh ana an extra high short
cake-anG ! may say that | never saw
a little man that could tuck away such
a sight of food. BarnabaS after SIav-
Ing myself all the morning. lOt to
mention molasSes cookies, BECAUSE you
said he WAS partial to 'em. to have
him eat and run in this way is Jest
downright scanGa!ou>.
Il don't blame You. Maria" said the
captain mr"Iily.
Maria rocked herself t. and FRI. fan
Ming herself with a corner of her "iug-
ham apron.
I'm goin" down 10 The ?uStofice to
inquire if Hnybudy'S Senn him. If Ma
ria Pitt once c'IIpCd an eye on him
she would never forget him Always
reminds me of Il camera. that wuman
does" grOwled the captain. Struggling
himself into his hinp coat and dragging
his cap over his white hair.
When his sta!wart form had diSap-
rearcd over the bridge by the flour
mill leaned back in my chair ami
ool,ed up into the IraCy grppnurss OF
he big paper mulberry tree.
| remained in this attitude. gazing
Upward. open mouth"d and staring.
Miss Teiham, Land ~akrs. What's
the matter gj%ped Maria SHdir.lr.
Look" murmurcd. rniutin" M
ward where The p1,c face of AuanisS
Slime rcerrd G"wu az u% from the nigh
branches Of thr mulberry tree.
Land >hri:ird Maria And she
too. calr'd II he strange sight.
Nothing was visible save Ananias'
mean lit;le face. ana that WAS pa!c
ana drawn with fright There was
something c'H~ire about Tie fave M
there. 1t reminded me Of the Cheshire
cat in "Alirc In Wonderland" and
wondered If AnGuius' face would fade
away as dill the cats. leaving only
smile behind
It looked ro~eibir for Mr.. Shines
mustarhe WAS twitrhu.s in an attempt
at a smile. but every i.9y and THEN his
prominent blue eyes rolled downward
to the lower branches Of the tree aS if
there was something to he feared be-
meath him.
Presently ! followed his glance AMI
saw. and Marin saw ut the same time.
and we We're Speechless before the
quecrHeSS of IL all. In lower crotch
Of the tree. her back supported by the
smooth trunk. her feet inc&Scd in hal
tiers. was the Widow EowclI. AnariaS'
prospective laul!ady. Her hawklikc
nose and her sharp chin almost met in
witchlike feTcenrss as she knitted
bUsily away at Il long. red WOODEN
stocking.
Maria was the first to recover her
self.
"IIettie RowelI. whatever do y0u
mean by such ac,i0nS:" she Shricked.
going TO the edge of the piazza, where
her head was Oh & level with that of
Mrs. Rowell.
Mrs. ROweil smiled swpet!y down
upon Mrs. Fish. and her almost vertical
eyebrows went mp to meet her gray
hair.
Dear Maria she liSpeI pleasantly,
I'm just waiting for my bodrder. Ana
MAS. He thought he'd like to get
view of the harbOr from the top of
the tree"
"Pshaw, Ananias, What does this
mean:" shouted Maria up into the
treetOp What air you doing with
your carpetbag up there and the viii
Ow sitting here in the tree like a-a-
catbird"-
Like a cooling dove. Maria Fish" in
terrupted the widow with Il dangerous
smile.
Like a cooling dove knitting Il red
ly. 81 ask what is she doing here. Ana
nias:"
Waiting for me. Mrs. Fish" said
Ananias quite mCekly. she came aft
er me, she did. saying shed been wait
ing dinner for me two hours. and when
l told her I'd been invited to spend the
night here and | couldn't come to her
house till tomorrow. why. she up and
flew at me sU's-well. I'm IL seafaring
man. as yOu may see. ma'am, and
faint no hard job for me to get up
into the rigging when things are hot
below" Now AnaniaS actually smiled.
well. Hettie. what you got to say?
Air you crazy" demanded Maria an
grily.
The captain engaged board for Mr..
Slime from me. Maria. and. 'tdin't no
manner of use for you to try to keep
him away from my house. attempting
him with all sorts of cookery" she
said in her dulcet tones. He's my
bOarder. and he's going home with me
if | have to stand here all night and
wait for him
Maria was pale with anger. Take
your boarder and GO" she said coldly.
And | wish you joy of each other"
And she went into the house
Half an hour later ! saw Ananias
Slime come down the mulberry tree
with his shiny black bag. lie east Il
reproachful glance mt me rs he passed.
but he followed closely in the wake
of Mrs. Hettie Rowell.
When We related the incident to
tired Captain Barnabas he shook his
head dismally.
Il fOresee the end already" he muir
INJURED. 'Ananias has met his match
in the Widow Rowell. She's buried
two husbands and calculates to plant
third before she dies. I'll warrant
Ananias will be the third
Until that happy release I'm sure
wish them JOY of each other" shifted