The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1921-05-24
Beulah and Her
Chicken Overcoats
BY HAROLD SINCLAlRE.
%, 1921. Western Newspaper Union)

! knock at the door She passed through
| the sitting room with many a hurried
reach for scattered garments and
fragments of clot, in hopeless eff
fort at tidying up.
II do hope 1t isn't the minister, or
anybody but some neighbor," fluttered
the neat and circumspect little lady.
Its only me, Beulah," spoke the
blum voice of gianuike John Moore,
her distant cousin. about once
year l get around here Why don't
you ever come and see us, Beulah?"
"You know ! never go anywhere
now" she said, briefly.
SWELL" spoke John. Pumping down
into an easy chair. I've heard some
wonderful things about those pet
chickens of yours, and I've come to
find out about them. Well! Welt
Well!"
His ruddy face began to pucker COM
ically, and he let out 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
cnlckens were parading proudly, at
! tired in close-fitting overcoats.
ITS a great idea" said John, "but
it's the funniest thing 1 ever saw"
Il don't see anything very funny
about it," 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.
I've 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 Beulah regarded her cousin
sharply and then suspiciously.
They're not for SALE she declared
at once.
Then I want to borrow them
rent them, We'll call it. We are work.
ing up a procession" John went on
to explain; "torchlights, music and
all that. We're going to have a hay
rack, showing prosperity-heaps Of
| apples, corn, goddess of liberty and the
like. l want to scatter those winter
clothed pets of yours over the load.
1t will be great CATCH"
1t proved a greater catch than the
ingenious committeeman had expected.
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 had voted for
Allen Parsons, and that candidate was
elected
Allen Parsons, How that name
awOke painful memories in the heart
of the recluse, She had drawn open
a 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
it to face-the successful candidate
II had to call to thank you for the
great support your pets gave me-"
spoke the stalwart, fine-looking visi- !
tor, "Why, Miss ,Tones-Beulah %
At sight of the man she had loved. /
still loved in secret, her estranged
fiance. Miss Jones paled tottered, and
Allen had to help her to a chair in
the sitting room. AS he started to
leave her his face fell upon the pho
tograph and the letter. His eyes d.
lated as he traced line or two in the
latter.
"Beulah," he said, his lips set kindly
hut determined has this letter any
thing to do with your rejection of my
suit two years ago?"
ut has everything to do with It,"
faltered poor Beulah. Can you look
at 1t and wonder why? You wrote it."
"Yes, | wrote it. but as a model for
friend who wished to propose to
young lady in another town. How did
1t come into your possessionT
"Miss Simmons brought it to me
she said she found it."
"Stole 1t, more likely" asserted AL
len MY old landlady and 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 to the spot, and then retreated
softly with a great chuckle of salts
faction.
For Beulah was resting confdlngly