Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-07-25

terested that, until almost the close OF
the interview, she held her bread and
butter and apple sauce and sugar at q
sort of way station on its journey to
her mouth
"That's a nice thing to ask me to
do"' stormed the unfortunate William.
"Ye gods. Do you think Joe Bullitt' $
mother would dare to-
"Wait, dearie!" Mrs. Baxter begged
Practically, Il just want to EXPLAIN
Explain" Ye gods.'
"Now, now, just minute, Willie!"
she said. What wanted to explain
was why it's necessary for you to go
with Genesis FOR the
"Neyerl'' he shouted. Never. You
expect me to walk through the public
streets with that awful lookin' old
niger
Genesis isn't DID," she managed to
interpolate. He
But her frantic son disregarded her.
Secondhand washtubs!" he vociferat.
ed. And tin clothes boilers. That's
what you want your son to carry
through the public streets in broad
daylight! Ye gods
"Well, there isn't anybody else," she
said. please don't rave so, Willie,
and say 'Ye gods so much. 1t really
! isn't nice. I'm sure nobody'll notice
YOU
Nobody" His voice cracked in
anguish. "Oh, no. Nobody except the
whole town! Why, when there's any
thing disgusting has to be done in this
family--Why do ! always have to be
the one? Why can't Genesis bring the
secondhand washtubs without me?
Why can't the secondhand store deliv-
er 'em? Why can't
That's what want to tell you," she
interposed hurriedly, and as the youth
lifted his arms ON high in gesture of
ultimate despair and then threw him
self miserably into a chair she obtain
ed the floor. The secondhand store
doesn't deliver things" she said. II
bought them at an auction, and it's go
ing out of business, and they have to
be taken away before half past 4 this
afternoon.
Genesis cant bring them in the
wheelbarrow because, he says, the
wheel is broken, and he says he can't
possibly carry two tubs and wash
boiler himself. And he can't make
two trips because it's mile and
half, and l don't Like to ask him, any
way. And 1t would take too long, be-
cause he has to get back and finish
cutting the grass before your papa
gets home this evening. Papa said he
had to! Now, | don't like to ask you,
but it really isn't much. You and
Genesis can just slip up there and
"Slipg' moaned William. "Just slip
up there" Ye gods"
Genesis is waiting Oh the back
porch" she said. Really it isn't worth
your making all this fuss about
"Ye godsr' He cIasped his head in
his hands, crushed, for he knew that
the curse was upon him and he must
go. Eye gods!"
Genesis and his dog were waiting
just outside the kitchen door, and Of !
all the world these two creatures We're
probably the last in whose company !
William Sylvanus Baxter desired to
make public appearance. The aged,
grayish, sleeveless, reckless garment
which sheltered Genesis from waist |
to collar bone could not have been
mistaken for. jersey.
Upon the feet of Genesis were things
which careful study would have re-
vealed to be patent leather dancing
pumps long dead and several times
buried, and upon his head pressing
down his markedly criminal ears, was
a once derby hat of brown not far
from Genesis own color, though de-
cidedly without his gloss. A large
ring of strange metal, with the stone
adorned a finger Of his right
hand, and from corner Of his mouth
projected an unlighted and spreading
cigar stub.
And Genesis dog. scratching himself
at his masters feet, was the true COM
plement Of Genesis, for, although he
was youngish dog, he was dog that
would have been recognized anywhere
n the world as colored persons dog.