The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-08-31

father merely scowlcd at Barbara's In.
termittent little gurgles. which refused
20 stay entirely pent up. lie frowned nj
her seemingly inane interruptions OF
the technical discussion into which he
had Immediately plunged with the
East Coast company's engineer until
he could no longer ignore the smile
which pulled at the lips OF the latter.
too. at every fresh attempt OF the girl
to swing the conversation into an ut
terly irrelevant channel lie looked
around the table then and caught the
CLEAN In Caleb's eyes. lie took note OF
Miss Sarah's Illuminated face and gave
way to a burst Of querulousncss not all
stimulation.
what IL the joker he demanded In
q voice that set them all to rocking IN
their chairs. Let me In on Il, let mo
laugh. too. II there Is anything worth
laughing at. Cal. you're growing old
old and feeble witted."
Barbara bobbed her head meekly.
Her giggle. however. was shameless.
Allison had had experience with his
daughters seeming meekness. More
over. the working OF Caleb's and Sa.
rah's faces bafiled him. lie waited.
tuning
"Just before you and Uncle Cal came
In we've were talking about the
weather" the girl gurgled. "Mr. O'Mara
predicted II would rain soon. and Just
wanted TO ask him what made him
think so.'
IL was very quiet for a moment.
Steve sat. little red Of face himself.
gazing across into the girls starry eyes.
Go ahead" she prompted him. with
q gasp
Then his lips began 10 curl until
smile overspread his face and half
closed his eyes. lie leaned back aud
raised obcdiently quantity solemn.
quaintly boyish treble
Il want gucssin'." he averred sober.
1ly. "ner ] want thinkln' Il VIII tn
Jest be rainin' come sun up, and ital be
good fer TIL Wednesday fer sure"
At the beginning OF that quavering
statement Dexter Allison's lips fell
apart They remained open long after
Steve had finished. Once he started to
,rise. and then dropped back into his
chair. dumfounded. There was 10
ioubt concerning the success Of his
tiaughter's query. At last he got to
bis feet and padded around the table.
with hand on either OF the boys
Shoulders he turned that Drowned face
hp 20 his own.
"You." he murmured weakly. you!
And Elliott said that you could out
guess dear old Mother Nature herselfl
Well. Tim blankedr'
They talked no more business at
onble that morning. and Allison found
ocant opportunity 10 make himself
beard ut all Even the reticence which
oeemed a part OF Stoves grave face
Ind big body was swept aside before
Die tumult OF questions that tumbled
rom Barbara's lips, promptly to be
supplemented by Caleb whenever her
Breath gave out.
II was minutes before Allison could
Fedge I'm a single remark. longer than
Dat before he stopped frowning to
0mself In a fashion which made Caleb
Rmember that moment OF inexplicable
vehemence outside on the veranda.
They had retrogressed as far as the
Snjine"-tbe steam injine"-when Al
Don finally made himself heard.
"What I can't remember II just why
gDu left us so suddenly. know II was
Dme sort Of rumpus, with Barbara
it-there's always woman. OF
cDurse-but l can't recall"-
He paused TO ponder-paused and be-
ome aware Immediately OF Barbara's
sEift silence and Steve's hint OF self
3nsclousness Then Il all returned to
I'm with>a rush. He had his turn.
rOh. but DO remember" he
fawled. "Why. OF course-of counsel
I was a matter OF knight errantry and
sdies fair! But who was IT whose
boice confllcted with your ,ownT'
lie cooked his head on one side. mock
soughtful; then he fell 10 pounding
b knee and roared with laughter.
~Archie Wickershamr' he shouted.
richie wickersham-oh. Lordl ! new
really appreciated that melee until
minute. And you promised that
"a be back, didn't you. and-well,
ID. here you arel Shake hands
In. Steve. And. II ] may be par
I'd the idiom, allow y,me TO assure
that II was some battier'
II did nothing else, Alllson's pom.
nus raillery served one end. II re-
I'd any sentimental awkwardness
,h might have attached 10 the cpl.
and yet the girl rather resented
being soN completely reduced 20
OF farce comedy. When the men
after breakfast. to go down int
pwn. she. too. declared her inten-
of accompanying them. as though
&c the expected thing. She cross
b lawn at Steve's side. ahead OF
sther and Caleb. with Miss Sarah
ding from the door. Both men