The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-04-09
Some Tall
Thinking"
on
Copyright. 1913. Western Newspaper Unios)
By SAIDEE E. BALCOM

AsASs "eoSS1o HSWSbOpSE 0oiVO1
What is wrong with you, Hiram"
inquired Mrs. Parton as her husband
ficked the tanks Of the team of horses
he was driving. in a vicious sort OF
way that was not natural with his
usually easy-going nature.
Nothing that | know Of" respond
ed the farmer. except that | am doing
some tall thinking"
They had just been calling upon the
Doane family, and now were passing
two new bungalows in the course of
construction 1T the corner Of the place
nearest TO the town.
"A happy, well satisfied family re-
sumed Hiram refectirely. Two girls
lnarried-got good husbands-and our,
~" \ complaining, disappointed. what
seemed TO be a half enytous ~intonation
IN his speech caused his wife 10 re-
gard him with c~ensuring amazement.
why, Hiram Parton she ex-
Claimed. st ISN'T possible that you
wish - get rid Of Ruthie and PEARL"
You know | don't, mother" re-
turned Hiram promptly, but a talk
Will Ee.~Ihfr Doaue set me sort Of
casting ~ i.tneS. His daughters are
younger tiIan sSir>. and yet they are
settled in life. 1t has set me thinking
that ours are both of marriageable age
and yet they don't seem to hit it.
Young men nowadays are dawdlerS.
They hang around and enjoy it. but
NOT one OF the beaux Ruthie and Pearl
have had has come down TO business.
Aren't they spelling the chances of the
girls by not leaving the way clear for
young men really looking for wives?
I'm thinking of the girls, Rachel. Id
hate to see them left old maids
Don't let that trouble you spoke
Mrs. Parton quite tartly. "Prettier,
better behaved girls don't exist"
well you and l knew each other
only six months before we got spIiced.
Haven't we been happy eve sincey'
Rachel could 0 demur nor deny,
but remarked: Verne Walters and
Barry Grey are two fine, sensible
young men They like our daughters
oAo tAS &ilIS hIoS ~. III dIC sldu vi
it. Give them time, Hiram-you will
have to part with them sooner than
you wish, maybe" ."
well, Doane gave me a few ideas
today" said Hiram. "Those fellows
have been coming to the house for
over a year regularly and ought to
know their minds by this time"
Yes, and they enjoy it, like all the
young people. Who wouldn't? for you
help like all the rest of us to make
them welcome. | am glad to show real
hospitality and encourage it in the
girls
Nothing more was said just then.
but when they had reached home and
Hiram was alone in the barn putting
up the horses he muttered: 9TH take
Deane's advice and try some new tao
tics. I'm spelling those young fellows
with two much kindness. They've just
got to declare themselves"
Verne Walters was counting Ruthie
Parton and Barry Grey her sister.
Pearl. according to local gossip, and
had indeed become almost domesti-
Gated with the Partons. The place had
got to be like home TO them and they
and the girls enjoyed every moment
or heir harmonious companionShip.
Amid comfort, cOntentment and a gen
eral understanding as to what this
would lead to, the young men allowed
matters to drift, ard the girls were
glad of the opportunity to get fully
acquainted with the lovers they intu-
itively surmised would sooner or later
breach the subject of marriage. The
following Sunday afternoon, on their
way to visit a sick friend, Verne and
Barry drove up to the Barton farm
house in a buggy. 1t was raining and
usually Mr.. Parton led their rig to the
barn, but on this occasion he sat in a
corner Of the porch and made no
move. When, after half an hour, the
young men departed. he awarded them
a mere nod of the head. Ruthie
glanced at him r~eproachfully and
Pearl was rather frightened at his
unceremoniOus manner
He let cross-grained unfriendly Tige
loose about the time the young men
returned and the animal by no means
gave them a cordial greeting. It had
always been the custom for Mr.. Par
ton to go down into the cellar about
eight o'clock In the evening and bring
up some of his prime cider and chat
In n gracious way with the visitors.
On the present occasion he ~steadfast-
" smoked in solitude and there was
a decided tension in affairs as the
young nlen left early and the girls
went to bed feeling that a cloud had
come Over the pleasant home life.
The ensuing Wednesday evening
Hiram persevered in the same line of
tactics. He was uncOmmunicative, he
turned out the parlor light early and
the lovers strolled about the garden
by themselves glad to get away from
the glum sullen behavior of their for
NOR pppi01 host