Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-22

just as there are cares that shrivel it
and leave it tired and cold. Love light
ems Ivory's Affections, but that is
something you and I have to do with
| out. so it seems"
II suppose little Rodman is some
comfort to the Boyntons, even If he is
only ten?" Patty suggested.
NO doubt. He's a good little fell
low, and, though it's rather hard for
Ivory to be burdened for these last FIVE
years with the support of a child
who's no nearer kin than n cousin.
still he's of use, minding Mrs. Boyn-
ton and the house when Ivory's away.
The schoolteacher says he is wonder
full at his books and likely to be
great credit to the Boyntons some day
or other"
You've forgot to name our one great
| blessing. Waity, and I believe, any
way. you're talking to keep my mind
off the earringsw
You mean we've each other? No,
Patty, 1 never forget that, day or
night. 'Tis that makes me willing to
bear any burden father chooses to put
upon us. Now the bread is set, but
don't believe have the courage to put
a needle into your tender flesh, Patty.
really DON'T
"Nonsensei I've got the waxed silk
all ready and chosen the right sized
needle, and I'll promise not to jump
or screech more than can help. Well
make a tiny lead pencil dot right in the
middle of the lobe, then you place the
needle on it, shut your eyes and jab
hard! 1 expect to faint, but when
come to- we can decide which of us
will pull the needle through to the
other side. Probably it will be you,
I'm such a coward. If it hurts dread
fully I'll have only one pierced today
and take the other tomorrow, and If it
hurts very dreadfully perhaps I'll go
through life with one earring. Aunt
Abby Cole will say it's just odd enough
to suit mer'
You'll never go through life with
one tongue at the rate you use it now
chided waitstill, "for 1t will never last
you. Come, We'll take the workbasket
and go out in the barn where no one
will see or hear us"
"Goody, goody! Come alongw and
Patty clapped her hands in triumph.
Have you got the pencil and the
needle and the waxed silk? Then
bring the camphor bottle to revive me.
and the coral pendants, too, just to
give me courage. Hurry up! It's 10
o'clock 1 was born at sunrise, so I'm
going on eighteen and can't waste
any timer
Foxwell Baxter was ordinarily called
"Old Foxy by the boys of the district
and also, it is to be feared. by the men
gathered for evening conference at the
various taverns, or at one of the rival
village stores.
He had small farm of fifteen or
twenty acres, with a pasture, wood
lot and n bayfield,, but the principal
source of his income came from trad
ing. His sign bore the usual legend,
West India Goods and Groceries"
and probably the most profitable ar
ticles in his stock were rum, mo-
lasses. sugar and tobacco, but there
were chests of rice. tea, coffee and
spices, barrels of pork in brine, as well
as piles of cotton and wooden cloth
on the shelves above the counter. His
shop window, seldom busted or set in
order. held few clay pipes, some
glass jars of peppermint or sassafras
lozenges, black licorice, stick candy
and sugar gooseberries. These dain-
ties We're seldom renewed, for it was
only a very bold child or one with an
ungovernabIe appetite for sweets who
would have spent his penny at Foxy
Bakers store.
He was thought a sharp and shrewd
trader, but his honesty was never ques-
toned, indeed, the only trait in his
character that ever came up for gen.
eraI discussion was his extraordinary,
unbelievable, colossal meanness. This
so eclipsed every other passion in the
man and doomed so bulkily and insis-
tentIy in the foreground that had he
cherished a second vice no one would
have observed it. and if he really did
possess q casual virtue it could scarce
ly have reared its head in such ugly
company.
1t might be said. to defend the fair
fame of the church, that Mr.. Bakers
deaconhood did not include very active
service in the courts of the Lord. He
had experienced religion" at fifteen |
and made profession of his faith, but |
all well brought up boys and girls did |
the same In those dayS-tnelr parents
saw TO that, If change of conviction |
or backsliding occurred later on that |
was not their business! At the ripe |
age of twenty-five he was selected to |
fill a vacancy and became a deacon, |
thinking it might be good for trade, as |
1t was, for some years. He was very |
active at the time of the "Cochrane |
craze" since any defense of the creed |
that included lively detective work and
incessant spying on his neighbors was |
particularly in his line, but for many |
years now, though he had been regular
in attendance at church, he had never
OBLIGATED at communion and his dea-
conal services had gradually lapsed !
into the passing of the contribution
box, a task of which he never wearied,
it was such a keen pleasure to make
other people yield their pennies for a