Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-04-22
Beulah and Her
Chicken Overcoats
By HAROLD sINcLAIRE.
ta. lgsl- wsstern Newsnaner Ila.a-. !.

MISS DSuidh Johes was cutting I'D
cake with a piece of silk thread tn
prove its lighness, as there came a
knock at the door. She passed through
the sitting room with many a hurried
reach for scattered garments and
fragments of cloth in hopeless eff
fort at tidying up.
Il do hope it isn't the minister. or
anybody but some neighbor," luttered
the neat and eircumspect little lady.
It's only me, Beulah," spoke the
blum voice of giantlike John Moore.
her distant cousin. about once a
year | get around here. Why don't
you ever come and see us, BeuIah?"
you know l never go anywhere
now,P she said, briefly.
"Well," spoke John, Pumping down
into an easy chair. "Pve heard some
wonderful things about those bet
chickens of yours, and I've come TO
find out about them. Well Well
Well!"
His ruddy face began to pucker COM
ically, and he let out a great guffaw.
What are you laughing at, John
Moore" demanded Miss Beulah, with
severity.
Her cousin could not reply for some
time. Waddling around in the chicken
yard full score of Plymouth Rock
chickens were parading proudly, at
tired in close-fitting overcoats.
Its a great idea," said John, ssbut
It's the funniest thing ever saw"
hI asCnft
about It," resented Miss Jones. "Some
of the poor things froze up last win
ter. They shant this
John Moore grinned the harder as
be strobe to the window and again
looked out. John Moore fancied he
saw something spectacular in it all.
I've got an idea, BeuIah," he said.
I'm looking for novelty, and that's
what brought me here. Iwant to buy
those chickens"
Miss Beulah regarded her cousin
sharply and then suspiciously.
They're not for sale," she declared
at once.
'"Then l want TO borrow them
rent them, Wen call it. We are work
'hS Wy q PiONtSstOlts bOltu went OH
to explain; "torchlights, music and
all that. We're going to have hay
rack, showing prosperity-heaps of
apples, corn, goddess of liberty and the
like. | want to scatter those winter
clothed pets of yours over the load.
1t win be a great CATCH"
1t proved a greater catch than the
fVfy0nin11c a
1t was two days later when Miss
Jones saw a wagon draw up to the
yard. Her pets, well fed and lively.
were Being returned safe and sound
to their coops, as her cousin had
promised.
The weekly paper had just arrived.
Miss Jones had flushed in startled
way as she read "the news" 1t APP
peared that the overcoated chicks had
been the novelty of the procession.
The district had a great many chicken
farms. The home display had won
over this interest. they Rad voted for
Allen Parsons, and that candidate was
elected.
Allen Parsons How that name
awoke painful memories IN the heart
of the reclusel She had drawn open
drawer in the old-fashioned secre-
tary and had taken thence a sheet of
paper, closely written over, and a
photograph The latter was a photo
type of the portrait of the successful
candidate in the paper There was a
knock at the door. Miss Jones opened
1t to face-the successful candidate.
81 had to call to thank you for the
great support your pets gave me-"
spoke the stalwart, fine-looking yisi.
tor. why, Miss Jones-Beulah !"
At sight of the man she had loved
stu loved in secret, her estranged
fiance, Miss Jones paled tottered. and
Allen had to help her to char in
the sitting room. As he started to
leave her his face fell upon the pho
tograph and the letter. His eyes di,
lated as he traced line or two in the
latter.
"Beulah," he said. his lips set kindly
but determined, "has this letter any,
thing to do with your rejection of my
suit two years ago?'
''It has everything to do with it,"
faltered poor Beulah Can you look
at It and wonder why? You wrote IT,"
''Yes, wrote it. but as a model for
a friend who wished to propose to
young lady In another town. How did
1t come into your possession
Miss Simmons brought it to me
she said she found it,"
"Stole 1t, more likely" asserted Al
len. MY old landlady and a mischief
maker Oh. Beulah And has this
foolish misunderstanding kept us so
cruelty apart all OF this timer"
John Moore. coming into the house
to see his cousin, halted, stared, stood
rooted 10 the spot, and then retreated
softly with a great chuckle of salts
faction.
For Beulah was resting confidinglv
in the strong, protecting arms of Al