The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-11-18
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CUP IS FULL.

Jabez Carr sat outside his cottage on
n warm spring afternoon a fortnight
after the trial of Eric M~idthorne. There
had been six funerals at the Seaman's
home during the past two days, and
abe was reflective. Something GER
tainly was wrong at headquarters. He
could not understand why the grim
reape had been allowed such privi-
leges. Gross neglect on somebody's
part; that was quite clear. Six in two
days! Why, said he to himself, it must
have been downright criminal care
lessness on the part of the confounded
ships urgeo letting able. bodied.
healthy people die like that. Not one Of
them was a day over rs, he calculated
not a single one of them. There had
been no epidemic that he was aware of
no cholera, no small pox, no any
thing that you could put your finger
On. Then. what the dickens did they
mean DOWN there, letting people die be-
fore their time? There ought to be an
investigation, n very rigid one. said
Beason. bo's'n, was nigh onto so, but
he was as spry as q rabbit h last
time he came up to the gate. What
business had he to be dying?
Somehow. without really giving a
thought to 1T. the ancient gate keeper
sought out the only spot where the
sunshine struck brightly through the
tree tops. and there he placed his stool.
1t occurred to him that the warm sun
was unusually grateful to his bones.
No doubt, it was the gloom of those
six funerals that had got into his mar
row, but there was no getting around
the fact that the sunshine had a most
pleasing effect.
The sun rays struck the corner of
the cottage where the rain barrel stood.
So 1t was there that he put his stool.
With rare inconsistency he leaned his
~ N - ~g~, 49, 49, AZ
barrel, smoked his pipe in blissful
contempt of the rheumatism n other
ills that lay behind him. Sunshine! No.
ever came to grief by getting too
much sunshine; that is. if one didn't
overdo It. The days seemed shorter
than they used to be anyway, thought
Jabez. You could get up at sunrise,
attend to a few things here and there,
and the first thing you Knew the sun
was setting. And the nights, too,
seemed shorter OF late. Better get what
little sunshine there was, said he.
was something radically wrong some
where. He sat up suddenly, confronted
by an uncanny question:: would there
be more funerals on h morrow?
The squirrels frisked about him I'M
noticed. They sat up on their tails and
waited with admirable patience for him
to hurl sticks at them. They listened
for the mild epithets with which he
hectored them.
But he puffed on at his cold pipe. and
his thoughts were far away.
A strong voice called out a greeting
to him. He awoke from his long
reverte with a start. The sun had
moved away from the rain barrel and
cleaned warm against the cottage wall,
a dozen PAGES to the left.
Four young people were standing be-
fore him. He rubbed his eyes. blinked
and then shook the tobacco from his
pipe.
What day is this?" he asked hazily,
coming to his feet.
Sunday. Uncle Jabe,. said Eric.
any today he said. They never have
'ern on Sundays" With which, the
thought of funerals passed away. His
face frightened. The Jolly twinkle re-
turned n his eyes. A vast p~oliteness
seized him.
exclaimed. -Eere, Eric, and 8 jack.
trundie out them rockers for the young
ladies'. Be spry about it. Scat! You
little sdiTfis." This to the Joyous
squirrel: I'm uncommon pleased to
see you. Miss Joan. -ts a great honor"
trousers leg, and extended il TO meet
hers. lie then shook hands with Mary.
going farther. however, to pat the little
fingers with his free hand. afeat which
compelled him TO restore the pipe to
his lips. h 1t wsbbied uncertainty
deprived Of It's usual support Some
one has been tellin' me OF the weddings
that Is to be. For the life OF me. /
cant tell who tt Was.
lit wa ], Uncle Jabe," said Eric
coming up withsone Of the chairs
So 1t waes" said Jahez. yisibly re.
wed I'm getttns 30 Hanged forget
faA veil, Jnck. how. is Adain today
very comfortable. said Payaon. He