Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-05-26


it over" said her cousin. cts nice
sort of place. Lord, what fool Uncle
Thomas was, supposing Cousin Smith
would lend him the money to make
that payment. Uncle Thomas always
was CRATER If he'd only die, SO that
people couldn't throw it in our faces
that we've got relative in the poor
housed" ..s. \
Anyway, something's got to be done
about Cousin Thomas walking out
with that Shaw woman" replied Cousin
Martha sN III ,Sis@t} y y ,3553 III
1t was about three weeks later that
the sign ITO Rent" was taken out Of
the windows Of the old farmhouse. All
sPiketown was agog to learn who was
the lessee. The estate agent lived ten
miles away; otherwise, no doubt. he
would have been forced to render up
the secret. Gt.isgit ~. J${Ss35t 81.
5 5!$ IT do hope they'll be .neighborly
folks" said Cousin Sadie. "Not too
humble and not too stuck-up, you
know not the kind that mind other
peoples business, and yet not too
much Of the sort, that keeps to. them,
selves" \ Ii. "a .2.Sq.s.Y 4. y
They're coming Friday" said
Cousin Martha. II heard that there's
lot of swell furniture coming. The
station agent told me it was waiting
at Crowbury Junction" t.. 5g }.i2 a i 5Sl
It'll be nice to have somebody near
that. one can respect instead OF old
Uncle Thomas replied her cousin.
Millie was heartbroken to think that
the old place was to have other occu-
pants. It was the last straw; It was
far worse even than Uncle Thomas
eviction to see the farmhouse IN the
hands Of strangers. She told Wills
SO. :.@ly 70, X. e. VIII. i, .u t.j5
''Why, my dear, had talk with
Uncle Thomas at the poorhouse yester-
day. and he seemed pretty comfort
able" I he said. II don't think he has
very much concerned" 81.
81 Mile looked at him reproachfully.
Uncle Thomas hides his feelings"
she answered. ''sY GU don't understand
him. Oh, my dear, if only we. could
have rented the place. It was Just the
sort Of little home we wanted.
well, the new people may be a de-
cent crowd" said Willis, smiling.
The day came the great day. The
furniture had duly arrived and had
been Installed by the new housekeeper
from the city. A.housekeper, a profes
sional one who refused to answer
strangers questions, was a new thing
in Piketown. Nevertheless, although
an atmosphere decidedly unfavorable
had. been created, all the village as
sembled, casually, if you like, but de-
termined to see the thing through.
when the closed carriage from the
railroad station drew up before the
door. T.. II Z f.,. + ~, .L...4 IL
It opened and out stepped Uncle
Thomas. - -. III
He was wearing new suit and his
new hat was decidedly-well, natty IS
the only word. But the gasp that went
up was nothing to the amazement
when he handed out, all silk and satin
and lace, and with new lilac bonnet
s.-- Myrtle Shaw. s:.I x. -. "a &-l5sz
5 The old man turned and addressed
his nelghbors. slli' = r. :-5Elt,
..Friends,' he said, "come in I have
something to say to you, BY request OF
my wife. I didn't want to say it, but
she wants me to- and woman's word
is law. Come in. Hello, Cousin Smith!
Just run and fetch Mile, will you?
Never mind. That you, Willis ? n Car
you get her? It amt far, and what l
have to say will keep till she arrives"
In awed smazement the crowd fol-
lowed the old couple into the parlor,
and there, again, as they looked at the
mahogany and tapestries, they were
struck dumb with amazement. H., Es4
4. e "'Now, neighbors," began Uncle
Thomas, you will be glad to hear that
my affairs have taken. a turn for the
better. I'm back again, and my wife
wants me to say we'll be glad to see
you all any time, as before. but espe'
cially Sunday nights, when we're going
to have chicken suppers. Thatl be
about all" 5,r :: :. c&.j
= Outside the house the gaping crowd
surrounded Millie and her lover. 3 n
t"Well, it's about like this" admitted
Willis Carter. ut seems that Uncle
Thomas was In love with Mrs. Shaw
for years, but she wouldn't have him
because she lost all her money and
had nothing to bring to him. So he
pretended to have lost his and went to
the poorhouse-and when he'd con
yinced her he persuaded her to marry
him. They went to the minister last
Monday and then he let out that he
had a cool thirty thousand in hard
cash, Yes, it's strange his taking such
a liking to Mile and me and wanting
US to live there and be his heirs. Why,
what's the trocble?"
The trouble seemed to be the stimuli
taneous fainting of two elderly ladies
and Cousin Smiths uncertainty as to
which of them he ought to revive first.