Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-09-19
CHAPTER X.
Speaking Of Early MARRIAGE.

which had excited the aged mans 40
miration. II can remember things tina
happened when was four years old.
william coughed with certain i'm
portance. do you remember" he ask
ed, when you were married? How
did you feel about it? We're you kim
Of nervous, or anything like that, be
forehand?"
Mr.. Genesis again passed a waver
ing hand across his troubled brow.
IL mean," said William, observing
his perplexity, were you sort Of shak!
FIR instance, as if you were taking
an important step in life?"
"Lemme see" The old man ponderet
for a moment. 81 felt mighty shak!
once, rickalect-dat time yalla m'lat
ia man shootin' at me FUN behime
snake fence"
"Shootin at you" Jane cried, stirred
from her accustomed placidity. "Mr
Genesis! What did he do that forT
Muffin" replied Mr.. Genesis, will
feeling; muffin in de wide worl! HI
boun' to shoot somebody an pick Oh
me cause 'uz de handles"
He closed his knife gave the little
boat a final scrape with the broken
glass and then a soothing rub with the
palm Of his hand. Dab, honey nc
said, and simultaneously factory whls
ties began to blow, "dah yo' liz steam
boat good as | kin git her widout NO
bller ner no smokestack. l reckon 20
pappy'll buy 'em fer you"
Jane was grateful. Its beautiful
boat, Mr.. Genesis. do thank your
Genesis, the son, laid aside his tools
and approached "Pappy finish whit
tim spang on 'em noon whistles he
chuckled Come long, pappy. bet
you walk fas' huff goin' todes din
nuh. l hear fry cakes ploppin' In
skilletr' o
William and Jane watched the brisk
departure of the antique with sincere
esteem and liking.
HE must have been SIXTEEN said
William musingly.
"When?" Jane asked.
William, in deep thought, was still
looking after Mr.. Genesis. He was al
most unconscious that he had spoken
aloud, and he replied automatically:
when he was married"
Then, with a start he realized into
how great condescension he had been
betrayed and hastily added, with pro-
nounced hauteur: "Things you don't
understand. You run in the house."
Later Jane was in the front hall, and
she jumped for toy, pointing to the
open door. "Look! Looky there" she
called to her brother. Richly orna-
mented, he was descending the front
stairs, his embellishments including
freshly pressed white trousers, new
straw hat, unusual shoes and BIAS
phemous tie. "I'm goin' to get to sail
nv boat" Jane shouted. Its goin' to
rainp'
1T is not" said William, irritated.
Its not going to anything like rain.
1 s'pose you think 1t ought to rain just
to let you sail that chunk Of wood"
Its goin' to rain! It's goin' to rain!
Jane made little singsong chant OF 1t.
otis goin' to rain-it gives Willie .
paints goin' to rain-it gives Willie
q paints goin' to-
He interrupted her sternly. look
here! You're old enough to know bet
ter. l s'pose you think there isn't any
thing as important in the world a.
your getting the chance to sail that
little boat! l s'pose you think business
and everything else has got to stop and
get ruined, maybe, just to please you!
As he spoke he walked to an umbrella
stand in the hall and deliberately took
therefrom q bamboo walking stick
Of his fathers. James eyes became
strange and unbearable. She uttered
q shrek:
"Willie's goin' to carry cane"
He went down the street trying to
swing the cane In an accustomed ana
unembarrassed manner.
Jane made this difficult.
"Willie's got Gamer she screamed
He's got papa's canew Then, resum.
ing her little chant, she began to sing:
Its goin' to rain-Willie's got papa's
cane-it's goin' to rain-Willie's got
papa's canew She put all Of her voice
into final effort Miss PratfH get vet
II pou don't take an umbereller-r-r"
The attention Of several chance Pc
destrians had been attracted, and the
burning William, breaking into an ag-
onized half trot, disappeared round the
corner. Then Jane retired within the
house, feeling that she had done her
duty. 1t would be his own fault II he
got wet.
Rain was coming. Rain was In the
feel of the air and in James hope.
She was not disappointed. Mr.. Gen.
esis, so secure Of fair weather in the
morning. was proved by the afternoon
to be bad prophet. The fat cloud
was succeeded by others, fatter. A
corpulent army assailed the vault OF
heaven, heavy outriders before giant
of evil complexion and devastating
temper. The rain came with swish,
then with a rattle and then with
roar, while people listened at their gar
ret doorways and marveled. Window
panes turned to running water-it
poured.
Then it relented, and out came the
children. Shouting, they ran to the
flooded cutters. Here were rivers.
lakes and oceans for navigation.
James timely boat was one Of the
first to reach the water.
Her mother had been kind, and Jane,
with shoes and stockings left behind
her on the porch. WAS q happy sailor