The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-03-25
Some Tall
Thinking"
,~@
By SA1DEE E. BALCOM

Copyright, 1913, Western Newspaper Union)
"What is wrong with you, Hiram? p"
inquired Mrs. Parton as her husband
licked the t1anks of the team of horses
he was driving, in vicious sort of
way that was not natural With his
usually eaSy-goiEg nature.
Nothing that I 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 at the corner of the place
nearest to the town. i
"A happy, Well satisfied f;Gaily," re-
sumed Hiram retlectiwely. 1.-TWO girls
married-got good husbands-and ours
~ complaining, disappointed, what
seemed to be half envious intonatiOn
In his speech caused his wife to re-
gard him with censuring amazement.
why, Hiram Parton!*' she ex-
claimed. ut isn't possible that you
wish to get rid of Ruthie and Pearl ="
You know I don't, mother,' re-
turned Hiram promptly, "but a talk
with Neighbor Doane set me sort of
casting up things. His daughters are
younger than ours, and yet they are
settled in life. 1t has set me thinking
that ours are both of manageable age
and yet they don't seem to hit it.
Young men nowadays are dawdlers.
They hang around and enjoy If, 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 TO,
young men really looking for wivesI
I'm thinking Of the girls, Rachel. I'd
hate to see them left old maids"
Don't lek that trouble you,' spoke
Mrs. Parton quite tartly. HFrettier.
better behaved girls don't existj">
"Wel, you and I knew each other
only six months before we got spliced.
Haven't we been happy ever since?"
Rachel could not delnur nor deny,
but remarked: "verne Walters and
Barry Grey are two fine, sensible
>young men. They like our daughters
and the girls know it, and are glad of
it. Give them time, Hiram-you vi!
have to part with them sooner than
you wish, maybe"
well, Doane gave me few ideas
today" said Hiram. ''Those fellows
have been coming to the house for
over year regularly and ought to
know their minds by this time.'
eyes, 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
Doane'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
of their harmonious companionship.
Amid comfort, contentment and gen
eral understanding as to what this
would lead to. the young men allowed
matters to drift, and the girls We're
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 sick friend, Verne and
Barry drove up to. the Barton farm.
house in a buggy. It was raining and
usually Mr.. Parton led their rig to the
barn, but on this ocea sion he sat in a
corner of the porch and made nc
move. When. after half an hour the
young men departed, he, awarded then
mere nod of the head Ruthie
glanced at him reproachfully anG
Pearl was rather frightened at his
unceremonious manner
He let cross grained unfriendly Tige
loose about the time theNyoung mer
returned and the animal by no means
gave them cordial greeting. 1t hat
alWays been the custom for Mr.. Par
ton to go down into the cellar abou
eight o'clock in tyie evening and bring
up some of his prime cider and cha1
in a gracious way. with the visitors
On the present occasion he steadfast
ly smoked in solitude and there was
a decided tension in affairs as the
young men left early and the girls
il went to bed feeling that a cloud ha6
come over the pleasant home life.
The ensuing Wednesday evening
Hiram perseyered in the same line OF
tactics He was uncommunicative, he
turned out the parlor light early an6
the lovers strolled about the garden
by themselves glad to get away from
the glum sullen behavior of their for
mer genial host.
Ruthie and Pearl came in half ar
hour later looking consciously embar
rassed. Their father stole probing
g1ances at them. Then he noticed
what he was looking for.