The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-03-27
When Spring
Comes

We'll, it's beginnin' to look little
like spring, amt it," ventured the
groceryman as he tramped a muddy
path across the kitchen floor and be
gan dumping the supplies on the table
II amt seen no robin yet, like some
of these guys that's writin' to the pa
pers, but | kin sort O feel 1t in my
bones. Spring fever, l guess, huh?'
The pretty cook smiled disdainfully
as she brought out the mop and start
ed to clean up her floor
That's a good name to call it, I sup
pose," she said Il know when my
brothers back on the farm got so lazy
they couldn't do anything but 60 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 comm
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 a strong
arm to lean on?'
ANY time | want a strong arm to
lean on I know where to find one"
retorted the pretty cook. IF 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.
Il wisht I could think up some way
of maxim you feel the way I do he
said gloomily. SOS you wouldn't hand
me bump like that every time I try
to talk about somethin' besides groce
res. l should think you'd want to
look ahead little bit and sort O.
think where you'll be five years from
now. Let's f1gger a little, Evelina,
won't you?' he added, anxiously.
The pretty cook jerked the kettle
off the stove and poised it menacing-
ly, but the stream splashed into the
dishpan a moment later, and the
breathed more freely.
IF that's the way spring fever
makes you talk she said, you'd bet
ter go and see 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 'em.
What are you waiting for. anyhow?
We pay our grocery bill by the week,
you know"
II know" said the groeeryman, edg-
ing slowly toward the door. Il amt
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, Id settle it up
That's the kind of friend l
am"
What do I careo" said the maid,
scornfully. II 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"
CAV, now, I didn't expect you to get
into the knockers club about the
prices, protested the groceryman.
I've told you half a 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 l
only had a nice little place in the
country with few pigs an calves
You'd feel right at home, wouldn't
your snapped the pretty cook.
That's where you'd shine. The pigs
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.
Il can't understand it," he unused
aloud Now, to look at you, Evelina,
would think you was a real
sentimental girl that would sympa-
thize with teller when he s feelin'-"
With a def move the pretty cook
stepped behind the door and closed it
on the sentimental groceryman.-Chi-
cago Daily News.