The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-05-19
Beulah and Her
Chicken Overcoats
By HAROLD SINCLAlRE.



Miss Beulah Jones was cutting up a
cake with piece of silk thread to
prove its lightness, 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 a hopeless eff
fort at tidying up
81 do hope it isn't the minister, or
anybody but some neighbour" futtered
the neat and circumspect little lady.
ITS only me, Beulah," spoke the
bluff voice Of giantlike John Moore,
her distant cousin. about once a
year 1 get around here Why don't
you ever come and see us, BeulahY
"You know I never 20 anywhere
now" she said, briefly.
"Well," spoke John, Pumping down
into an easy chair. 'Tve heard some
wonderful things about those pet
chickens of yours, and I've come to
find out about them. Welll Well!
Welr
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 a full score of Plymouth Rock
chickens We're parading proudly, at
tired in "lose-ftting oyercoats.
ITS great idea,' said John, but
it's the funniest thing l ever saw
81 don't see anything very funny
about II" resented Miss Jones. "Some
of the poor things froze up last win
ter. They shan't this"
John Moore grinned the harder as
he strobe to the window and again
looked out. John Moore fancied he
saw something spectacular in it all.
1--WE got an idea, Beulah," he said
I'm looking for a novelty and that's
what brought me here l want to buy
those chickens"
Miss Bculah regarded her cousin
sharply and then suspiciously.
They're not for sale" she declared
at once.
Then / want to borrow them
rent them, Wen call it. We are work
ing up a procession" John went on
to explain; "torchIights, music and
all that. We're going to have a hay
rack, showing prosperty--heaps Of
apples, corn, goddess Of liberty and the
like. I want to scatter those winter
clothed pets of yours over the load
1t will be great catch"
It proved a greater catch than the
ingenious committeeman had expected
II was two days later when Miss
Jones saw a wagon draw up to the
yard Her pets, wen fed and lively
were aeiug 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 mp.
neared that the overcoated chicks had
been the novelty Of the procession
The district had a great many chicken
farms. The home display had wor
over this interest they had voted fol
Allen Parsons, and that candidate was
elected.
Allen Parsons! How that name
awolle painful memories in the hear
of the recluse! She had drawn oper
q drawer in the old-fashioned score
tary and had taken thence a sheet o.
paper, closely written over. and s
photograph The latter was a photo
type of the portrait Of the successful
candidate in the paper There was {
knock at the door Miss Jones opened
II to face the successful candidate,
81 had to call to thank you for tn,
great support your pets gave me-
spoke the stalw0rt finelooking visi
tor. "Why, Miss Jones Beulah"
At sight of the man she had loved
still loved in secret her estranget
fance, Miss Jones puled, tottered, ant
Allen had to help her to chair il
the sitting room. As he started t.
leave her his face fell upon the pho
tograph and the letter. His eyes di
lated as he traced line or two in tn
latter
"Bculah," he said, his lips set kindl,
but determined, "has this letter any
thing to do with your rejection Of m,
suit two years ago"
ut has everything to do with IT.,
faltered poor Beulah. "Can you looI
at It and wonder why? You wrote It,.
Eyes, wrote It. but as model 70
a friend who wished to propose to
young lady in another town How di
It come into your possessionY
"Miss Simmons brought it to me-
she said she found IT,"
"Stole It, more likely" asserted Al
len. MY old landIady and mischief
makerl oh, Beulah And has thi
foolish misunderstanding kept us S
cruelty apart an Of this timer"
John Moore, coming into the hous
TO see his cousin, halted, stared, stoo
rooted to the spot and then retroate
softly with a great chuckle Of sati.
faction
For Bcuah was resting confdingl
in the strong, protecting arms OF A
len Parsons All had been eXplaine
and the fcathery campa.mers h0
| done ~
Just So.
! oT don't miurp language"