Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-11-11
THE NEW COAT.
BY MARIE 7. BONNER.

Being a woman, Samantha Haskins
possessed goodIy portion of that
leaven of human affairs-the dramatic
sense. Living as she did in the iso-
lation of a northern Maine farm, her
husband and few neighbors afforded
small opportunity to use that sense.
But, given the chance, she made the
most of it,
1t was one October evening when she
and Ephraim-her husband-sat to-
getller in their kitchen.
Finally she spoke, casually enough,
winters mo- here"
Means I'll have to build new COW
shed directly, l reckon" he growled.
Her husband sighed again. "Tll fetch
me home a new pair of rubber boots
next time I'm in the city" he said.
Samantha's eyes frightened and she
rocked her chair with short, nervous
jerks. %That'll be capital, Eph-jes'
what you need An fetch me some
black goods for new coatl" she
cried.
Eph sat erect. snow, Samantha
You know amt able to fetch you a
new coat! That COW shed'u cost
me nigh on sixty dollars an that
storm door! I'll have to pay Abe
Colts fifteen dollars to the cent to
fix it-an'-!" he spluttered into sic
lence.
In the shadow of the lamp light Sa-
mantha's eyes narrowed-and though
she :.dd net another word about the
coat the thought of it never left her
mind and remained there even until
the next day when she went over to
neighbor's for chat.
Mrs. Carter was crisp tongued old
lady who lived alone on the farm near
est the Haskins house.
Samantha laid the matter before her,
Il reckon I'll need a new coat this
winter, Mrs. Carter!"
my shed needs paintin'-" observed
Mrs Carter pointedly.
Samantha stared at her In amaze
ment Why Mis- Carterr' she gasped.
q can't climb ladders anyway, cause
my skirts viii catch and trip me!
Put on overallsi" Mrs. Carter sug-
gested.
an Pop-over Junction." cried Sa-
mantha, aghast. Then she laughed.
"They'd put me outa church Reverend
symptom jes' preached agin them New
York women wearing Knockers las Sun
day."
But Mrs. Carter persisted. "Come
over Thursday noon Mos every
body'n be down to Saco to the Meth
dist conference"
by noon Thursday practically every
one had gone to the conference. Eph-
RAIN was to leave by the half-past one
train. Finally he was off.
"G'br, Samantha ~ he called as he
rolled out of the yard into the road.
Samantha waited until he was out
of sight, then struck out across lots to
Mrs Carriers. She arrived breath
less. Mrs. Carter was waiting for her
at the gate.
Il got 'em ready for you" she an
nouneed.
Now that she actually saw the
things, Samantha hesitated and drew
back; but Mrs. Carter urged her on.
She rushed the reluctant Samantha
into the overalls. Just as she was
gingerly trying the first step of the
ladder there was sound of wheels
In the road.
It's Eph, Samanthy!" whispered
Mrs. Carter. Nov, when he gifts OPP
posite, you turn round, careless like,
and holler. Have good time at the
conferenceY"
Here he is Samanthy," prompted
the woman on the ground.
Samantha chung to the ladder with
one hand and half turned toward the
road. "Eph! Eph!' she called. The
driver hauled up the horse until his
fore feet left the ground.
Samantha y he roared, and his eyes
bulged and blazed.
His wife trembled on the ladder.
do you reckon he'll divorce me.
Mrs. Carter?" she murmured.
Mrs. Carter was equal to any oc-
casion.
'Have a rale nice time to the con-
Frence. Eph! Samanthy's painting
my shed for mel"
Ephraim found his tongue. "Come
down off'n that ladder fore you break
y neck; an take off them trousers /"
he ordered.
"Why, Eph YOu'll miss that 80
Ii you doat step on right lively" she
cried, and waved gaily at him.
For answer Eph began to descend
from his seat.
Il reckon you'll get the coat now,
Samanthy," observed Mrs. Carter.
"what was you amin to paint sheds
for. Samantha?" he demanded.
ashes earnin' some money" replied
Mrs. Carter smartly, before Samantha
could speak.
81 reckon l kin earn plenty for me
an mine" retorted Eph holly.
'Even to winter coats?" asked Mrs
Carter .coolly.
..,o.,y1 III