The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1922-08-03
THE new COAT.
BY MARIE 7. soNNER.
'SS1e9eSe9 Se9eSeSeSe9e

possessed a goodly portion Of tina
leaven Of human a1airs-the dramati
sense. Living as she did in the iso
lation of northern Maine farm, he
} husband and few neighb0rs afforded
small opportunity to use that sense
but, given the chance. she made tn,
most Of 1t. sr1
1t was one October evening when sh,
and Ephraim-her husband-sat to
gether In their kitchen.
Finally she spoke, casually enough
Winters mo- here!"
Means III have to build new COW
shed directly, reckon" he growled
Her husband sighed again, IN fetch
me home new pair of rubber boots
next time I'm in the city" he said.
Samantlla'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 coat" she
cried.
Eph sat erect. "Now, Samantha !
| You know ! amt able to fetch you a
new coat! That COW shed'll cost
me nigh OH sixty dollars an that
storm door! I'll have to pay Abe
Colts fifteen dollars to the cent to
tx ib-an'-!" he spluttered into 81.
lence.
In the shadow Of the lamp light Sa.
mantha's eyes narrowed-and though
she said not another word about the
coat the thought Of 1t never left her
mind and remained there even until
the next day when she went over to
a neighbours for chat.
Mrs. Carter was a crisp tongued old
lady who lived alone on the farm near
est the Haskins house.
Samantha laid the matter before her,
II reckon I'll need new coat this
winter, Mrs. Carter"
my shed needs paintin'-" observed
Mrs. Carter pointedly.
Samantha stared at her in amaze
ment "Why Mis- Carter!' she rasped.
II can't climb ladders anyway, cause
my skirts will catch and trip met"
"Put on overalls!" Mrs. Carter sug-
gested.
I'm Pop-over Junction. cried Sa-
mantha. aghast. Then she laughed.
"They'd put me outa church! Reverend
Simpton jes' preached agin them New
York women wearing knickers las Sun;
day"
But2Nfrs. Carter persisted. "Come
over Thursday noonl Mos every
body'll 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 of. ;a;..
''G'by, Samantha! I" he called as no.
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.
II got 'em ready for you." she an
nounced.
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 a sound Of wheels
In the road.
ITS Eph. Samanthyw whispered
Mrs. Carter. "Now. when he gifts OPP
posite, you turn round, careless like,
and holler. Have . good time at the
conferencer"
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 |" 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 &C.
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 of them trousers |"
he ordered.
"Why, Eph! You'll miss that 1 80
II you don't step on right lively" she
cried. and waved gaily at him.
For answer Eph began to descend
from his seat.
II reckon you'll get the coat now,
Samanthy." observed Mrs. Carter.
.What was you aimin' to paint sheds
for, Samanthai" he demanded.
"She's earoin' some money" replied
Mrs. Carter smartly. before Samantha
could speak.
II reckon I kin earn plenty for me
an mine, retorted Eph hotly. /
"Even to winter eoats1" asked Mra
Carter coolly.
For . second dime. Eph found moth
ing 10. ~. ~Cnon home. Samantha 7" /
he growled /