Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-12

kitchen WINDOW.
Now, Foxwell Baxter had never been
a village Lothario at any age nor fire.
| quented the society of such. or late
| years. indeed. he had frequented no So
ciety Of any kind, so that he had miss
ed, for instance, Abel Days descrip-
/ ton of the Widow Tillman as reg
lar syreen." though he vaguely remem-
/ bered that some OF the Baptist sisters
had questioned the authenticity of her
/ conversion by their young and attrac-
/ tive minister. She made a pleasant
/ picture at the window. She was a free
I woman. She was a comparative new
| conner to the village. and her mind had
| not been poisoned with feminine Cos
! sip-in a word. she was distinctly
| hopeful subject. and, acting on blind
! and sudden impulse. he turned into the
| yard. flung the reins over the mares
! neck and knocked at the back door
I Her characters no worse than mine
/ by now if Aunt Abby Coles on the
road he thought grimly. AN if the
! Wilson's see my sleigh inside of wild
! der's fence so much the better. It'll
/ give 'em a jog. Good mornin. Mis-
/ Tinman." he said to the smiling lady.
III come to the pint at once. My
] Youngest daughter has married Mark
| Wilson against my will an gone away
| from town. an the older ones chosen
a husband still less to my likin'. DO
YOU want 10 come and housekeep for
meE"
II surmised something was going
on" returned Mrs. TillmaD. Il saw
, Patty and Mark drive away early this
morning. with Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson
wrapping the girl up and putting not
soapstOne in the sleigh and consid able
kissing and hugging thrown in
This knowledge added fuel to the
fame that was burning tiercely in the
deacOn's breast
We'll. how about the housekeep =
he asked. trying not To show his eager
ness and not recognizing himself az all
III the enterprise in which he found
himself INDUCING.
I'm very comfortable here" the lady
responded artfulIy. ''and / don't knows
/ care TO make any change. thauk you.
I didn't like the village much at first.
after living in larger places. but now
I'm acquainted il kind OF gains ur me-"
Her reply was carefully framed. Tor
her mind worked with great rapidity.
almost as soon as she saw til deacon
alighting from his sleigh. He 'aS nor
the sort of n man TO be casual caller.
and his manner bespoke an urgent err
rand. She had n pension of So "a
month. but over and above that sum
her living was precariuuS. She made
coats. and she had never known want.
for she was master hand at dealing
with the opposite sex. Deacon Bay
ter. according 10 common report. had
ten or fifteen thousand dollars slowed
away in the banks. 50 the situntion
would he rs simple Us possible under
ordinary circumstances. IL was as
easy 10 turn out one mans pockets as
another's when he was Il normal hu-
man being. but Deacon Baxter was
different proposition.
Il wonder how !on- he's likely TO
I've" she thought. glancing at him
covertly cut OF the tail OF her eye
His evil temper must have driven
more than one nail IN his coffin.
wonder II l refuse 20 housekeep
whether I'll get-a better offer.
wonder If could manage him II got
him. I'd rather like To set in the Pax
ter pew ar the orthodox meeting house
after the way some OF the Baptist sis
tiers have snubbed me since / come
here"
Not "A yestige OF these incendiary
thoughts showed in her comely coun-
tenance.
I'D make the wages fair" urged the
deacon. looking round the clean kitch-
en-. with <he breakfast table sitting
near the sunny window and the Odor
of corned beef and cabbage issuing
temptinGly from a boiling pot on the
fire. Il hope she amt great meat
eater" he thought. but it's too soon
TO cross that bridge yet. awhile"
I've no doubt OF it, said the wild
ow. wondering If her voice rang true.
but I've got pension. and why
should 1 leave this coy little home:
Would better myself any-that's rhe
question: I'm kind of lonesome here.
That's the only reason I'D consider a
move"
NO need o. bein' lonesome down to
the Falls" said the deacon. And I'm
in an out all day. between the barn
an the store"
This. indeed. was not pleasant pros
pect. but Jane Tiliman had faced worse
ones in her time.
I'm no hand at any work outside
the house" she observed. as II reflect
ing Il can truthfully say I'm a good
cook and have great faculty for max
Ing little go n long ways" (She
considered this n master stroke. and.
In fact. IL was. for the deacon's mouth
absolutely watered at this apparently
unconscious comprehension of his dis
positionJ "But I'm no hand ut any
chores I'm the barn or she'd" she con
tinued- My husband would never al
low me 10 do thar kind OF work"
s.Darhnra L cnrld ..Et Z. -. a.. -