The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-01-09
Acting Up"
Ga1
BY LINCOLN RoTHBLUM

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES sSSSsSssSssssS
Copyright, 1918, by Mcclure Newspaper
syndicate)
Mirandy jenkins folded her checked
Gingham apron triangle fushion, and,
tucking the corner in ut the belt, rest.
ed her arms on the fence railing.
II was summer time In the outlying
farm districts OF the town Of Carroll
ton and the air was red0lent with the
green odor of alfalfa. Mrandy dis,
tended her nostrilS to get the difruSing
fragrance. On the crest OF the hill,
topping the road which led past the
house, appeared none too strong
horse. II dragged with tagging feet
rig of doubtful origin, II would have
been difficult to tell the occupation Of
the driver who sat beneath the ragged
and saEging top If not for the sack
which lay at his feet labeled In letters
of warning size, ~. S. Mail" AS the
outfit started down grade the man
raised his crushed hat and made an
effort to brush the outstanding hairs
into place. a ribbon tie was next
adjusted and to its already numerous
stains were added few more from
the dusty hands. When these offices
had been performed, he shifted the
reins from his right to left hand and
waved In recognition of Mlrandy's
futtcrng handkerchief,
"Nfornln', Mandy" was his greeting.
as he drew up before the gate.
"Mornln', Seth. Any mail for me|
"Nothin', 'cept the county newspa'
per- tIOw's y'r grundpawT
Poorly, poorly, Seth. The doc says
he won't last much longer
"Then we'll get married, Mandy, and
no putin II off again. EhI'
Mirandy bIushed as If this were the
first time the subject had been
broachcd to her. LA, Seth, how you
do talk" was the flirtatiOus response; {;
"but It just seems like Wen never get
there. First 1t was grnndmaw who
kept us from getting married, what
with being so sick and cantnnkerous,
and then you lost y'r job-nnd Of
course we couldn't get married til you
was appointed this route, and now 1t
he my grandpaw sick and ailin' and
eatin' up the revenue"
Seth Spat out Il generous quld of to-
baccO and after replacing 1t with n
fresh supply. shook his head resigned
ly. "Wcll, I'll be round tomorrow.
Mandy--so long"
$50 long Seth. I'll be expectln'
you"
And AIirandy's workwOrn figure
dropped MS her eyes followed the de-
parting buggy. Sentenced TO the hard,
manual drudgery Of badly managed
farm before securing even such ele'
mental education ms the village Of
fered: saddled with aged grandpar'
ents who fought OFF every innovation
which might have lightened her Ia.
bors, and forced by eternally present
financial straits to forego any pleasure
which involved the expenditure Of
money, Mirnndy'S youth had slipped
away almost without her knowledge
until she found herself well on the
rond to forty with n vapid complexion
and toil-hardcned hands as her only
assets.
But in this sacrificing and unher
aided martyrlOm. to which she had
given herself with neither complaint
nor hone for reward, there were two
pinnacles of Joy. One was Seth, tC
whose everlasting credit must be said
that none Of the obstacles which hnd
delayed his wedding to Mlrandy hat
lessened his fidelity.
btlrandy crcpt into bed, where des
pite the straw tick she soon fell asleep
She arose unrested, The morning sun
scarcely awake, suggested another
round of toils0mc tasks. Perhaps
every morning il was the thought o.
Seth which hastened the always rapit
dressing and the chores were wei
completed as she retreated to her bed
room TO fuss up before whiting a
the fence.
But this morning Seth was destined
10 walt himself into impatlence, fol
no aproned figure leaned against tn
gate as he drew up, So he walked &
meet her.
! "Mornln', MANDY"
"sIornin', Seth. Any mail for met
J "Nothln' 'cept the county neWspa