Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-10-10

at suit Fanny say, AN you be good
'nouncer, cause you fine, big man
an got big, gram voice. Men you
learn befo' long be waituh, Genesis
an git dolluh an half ev'y even you
waitin', sides all at money you make
cuttin' grass daytime Well, sub, rs
STAN up dom at 'nouncin' ve'y mex
night. White lady an germun walk
todes my do, step up to 'em-I ster
UP to 'em this away"
Here Genesis found it pleasant tc
present the scene with some elabora
ton. He dropped the handle of the
freezer, rose, assumed stately but
ingratiating expression and stepped
up" to the imagined couple, using a
pacing and rhythmic gait.
Then, bending graciously, as though
the persons addressed were Of dwarf
ish stature, "'Scuse me-" he said, "but
kin ! please be so p'lite as to 'quiah
yo' name?" For moment he listen
ed attentively, then nodded, and, re-
turning with the same aristocratic un'
uulatlOuS W al liildS may uooA wy
near the freezer, "NIisto an Missuz Or
losko Rinktum!' he proclaimed sono-
rously.
Jane looked at him thoughtfully
"Do you like it better than cuttin'
grass, Genesis?" she asked.
He paused to consider. "Yes'm-
when BAN play all lem tunes! My
gooness. do SCUM gram . .
"You can't do it tonight. though.
Genesis said Jane. "You hat to be
quiet on Sunday nights, don't your
"Yes'm. Ain got no mo- kaytunun
till mex Friday even"
ooh, bet that's the party for Miss
Pratt at Mr.. Parchers" Jane cried
Didn't guess right?"
"Yes'm. reckon I'm a-goin' see
one yo' family at night-see him dane
in, wait on him at ref-eshmuns."
James expression became even more
serious than usual. "Willie? l don't
know whether he's goin', Genesis
Ian Manner Genesis exclaimed.
"He die eff he dom git invite to at
ball"
"Oh, he's invited!'' said Jane "Only
l think maybe he won't CO."
"My goodness! Why ain he goin'?'
Jane looked at her friend studiously
before replying. well, it's secret"
she said finally, "but it's very inter-
sting one, an I'll tell you if you never
tell"
"Yes'm: ain tellin' nobody"
Jane glanced round, then stepped a
little closer and told the secret with
the solemnity it deserved. "Well, when
Miss Pratt first came to visit Miss
May Parcher, Willie used to keep pa
pas evening clo'es in his window seat,
an mamma wondered what had be-
come of 'em. Then after dinner, he'd
slip up there an put 'em on him an
go out through the kitchen an can o.
Miss Pratt.
Then mamma found EN-, an sh'
thought he oughtn't to do that, so sh'
didn't tell him or anything, an sh'
didn't even tell papa, but she had thu
tailor make 'em ever an ever so mucl
bigger, cause they were gettin' to-
tight for papa. An, well, 80 after that
even if Willie could get 'em out 0
mammals clo'es closet where she keep
'em now, he'd look so funny in 'em h'
couldn't wear 'em. Well, an then h'
couldn't 60 to pay calls on Miss Pratt
In the evening since then, because
mamma says after he started to g
there in that suit he couldn't 60 with
out it, or maybe Miss Pratt or the 9th
er ones that's in love of her would
think it was pretty queer an maybe
kind Of expeck 1t was papa's all the
time.
Mamma says she thinks Willie mus
have worried a good deal over reasons
to say why he'd always go In the day
time after that an never came In the
evening. An now they're goin' to have
this party. an she says he's been get
tin paler an u iar every day since ht
heard about IT, Mamma says he's pale
some because, Miss Pratt's goin' away
but she thinks it's good deal more
because well, if he would wear those
evening clo'es just to go calm, how
would it be to 20 to that party an moi
have any? That's what mamma thinks
an, Genesis, you promised you'd new
err tell as long as YOU liver :,
"Yes'm; | ain teliin',' Genesis
chuckled. I'm a-goin Il git me one
mem waituh suits befo long myself
sos kin quit wearin' at ole Henry
Gimlct suit what b'Iong TO Fanny az.
have me priyut suit O. my OWE
They's a secon'han' stO' ovuh on the
avynoo. where they got swnliertai
suits all way rum sevum doliuhs t.
nineteen dulmhs an ninety-eight cents
I'm a.
Jane started, interrupting him. Ssh!
she whispered. laying finger warn
in@ly upon her lips.
William had entered the yard at, the
back gate and, approaching over the
lawn. had arrived at the steps OF the
porch before Jane perceived him. She
gave him an. apprehcnsive look, but he
passed into the house abSentmlndedly
not even finchmg at sight of Clematis
And Mrs. Baxter was right-Willlam
did look pale.
II guess he didn't hear us said
Jane when he had disappeared into the
interior. HE acks awful funny" she
added thoughtfully. First when he
was in love of Miss Pratt he'd be mad
about somep'n almost every minute he
was home.
Couldn't anybody say anything to
him but he'd just behave as if it was