Williams news., 1913-05-03
When Spring
 Comes

Well, it's beginnin' to look a little like spring, ain't it?" ventured the groceryman as he tramped muddy path across the kitchen floor and be- gan dumping the supplies on the table. 'I ain't seen no robin yet, like some of these guys that's writin' to the pa pers, but I kin sort O feel it in my bones. Spring fever, guess, huh?"
 The pretty cook smiled disdainfully as she brought out the mop and start ed to clean up her floor.
 That's good name to call it, sup pose," she said. q know when my brothers back on the farm got so lazy they couldn't do anything but go fish ing they used to talk about spring fe- yer. But my poor old father had to do all the chores-he was too busy to have spring fever"
 That's the way-jump on me-" said the groceryman mournfully. "Just when I thought prob'ly you'd get a little bit sentimental about the comin' of spring and matin' of birds and-and all that. Don't you never feel that way in the spring, Evelina? You know-like you ought to have strong arm to lean on?"
 Any time want a strong arm to lean on I know where to find one," retorted the pretty cook. '1f you don't want to feel a strong arm your self you'll go along out of this kitchen and let me get my work done" The groceryman sighed and moved slowly as far as the door with his box under his arm, but he kept his gaze on the pretty cook.
 q wisht could think up some way of makin' you feel the way do," he said gloomily, "so's you wouldn't hand me bump like that every time I try to talk about somethin' besides groce- ries. I should think you'd want to look ahead little bit and sort O think where you'll be five years from now. Let's figger little, Evelina, won't you?" he added, anxiously. The pretty cook jerked the kettle off the stove and poised it menacing- Iy, but the stream splashed into the 1ishpan a moment later, and the groceryman breathed more freely. 'If that's the way spring fever makes you talk she said, you'd bet ter go and see a doctor and get it out of your system. I'm too busy to do any figuring this morning, and that wagon load of groceries you've got out there in the street will get wilted | if you don't hurry along with lem. What are you waiting for, anyhow? We pay our grocery bill by the week, you know"
 T know" said the groceryman, edg- | ing slowly toward the door. q ain't worryin' none about your bill. If you folks was to fall little behind and the boss should mention it to me, Eve lima, I'd just pay 1t myself on account of you, rather than say anything to your missus. Honest, I'd settle it up and work it all out if 1t took me six months. That's the kind of friend I am."
 What do I carer" said the maid. scornfully. "I shouldn't be surprised if it took you six months to earn what our grocery bill is every week-the prices that man you're working for is charging nowadays"
 "Aw, now, didn't expect you to get into the knockers club about the prices,' protested the groceryman I've told you half dozen times that We don't get the money! It's them farmers that's gettin it all. Haven't you been readin' about 'em ridin' around in automobiles and havin' tele- phones from the house to the barn to give the hired man orders, and all that? Us folks are payin' for that swell business, and it's the poor grocer who gets the blame. That's just what I was thinkin' when it felt so balmy and springlike today-if I only had a nice little place in the country, with a few pigs an calves"
 You'd feel right at home, wouldn't you?" snapped the pretty cook. That's where you'd shine. The pigs wouldn't mind how much you loafed- they're used to it, from al I've seen of pigs. And the calves wouldn't care how much noise you made-you could stand around and talk to them all day and not bother 'em bit But folks happen to have work to do, and if you get in their way you're likely to get into trouble"
 The groceryman sighed again and slowly edged his way out to the back porch. But still he hesitated.
 T can't understand it," he unused aloud Now, to look at you, Evelina, anybody would think you was a real sentimental girl that would sympa. thize with feller when he's feelin'-"
 With a delft move the pretty cook stepped behind the door and closed it on the sentimental groceryman.-Chi ooo on noi1v Nrauc