United States or Namibia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Justice Benaja Widdup had his shoes on, for he was expecting the visit. In his presence Ransie Bilbro handed to his wife a five-dollar bill. The official's eye sharply viewed it. It seemed to curl up as though it had been rolled and inserted into the end of a gun-barrel. But the Justice refrained from comment. It is true that other bills might be inclined to curl.
"I don't know as anybody's a hound dog," said Ransie, in a martyr's voice, "fur to not want to say good-bye 'less you air so anxious to git away that you don't want me to say it." Ariela was silent. She folded the five-dollar bill and her decree carefully, and placed them in the bosom of her dress. Benaja Widdup watched the money disappear with mournful eyes behind his spectacles.
Widdup, cheerfully. "Miss Coulson, she ran away with the iceman last night, sir!" I never cared especially for feuds, believing them to be even more overrated products of our country than grapefruit, scrapple, or honeymoons. Nevertheless, if I may be allowed, I will tell you of an Indian Territory feud of which I was press-agent, camp-follower, and inaccessory during the fact.
Widdup," said old man Coulson sternly, "that I find it so cold in this house?" "Cold, Sir?" said the housekeeper, "why, now, since you speak of it it do seem cold in this room. But, outdoors it's as warm and fine as June, sir. And how this weather do seem to make one's heart jump out of one's shirt waist, sir.
Justice-of-the-peace Benaja Widdup smoked his elder-stem pipe. Late in the afternoon he got his weekly paper, and read it until the twilight dimmed its lines. Then he lit the tallow candle on his table, and read until the moon rose, marking the time for supper. He lived in the double log cabin on the slope near the girdled poplar.
"I reckon if you gimme till to-morrow," pleaded the husband, "I mout be able to rake or scrape it up somewhars. I never looked for to be a-payin' no ali-money." "The case air adjourned," said Benaja Widdup, "till to-morrow, when you-all will present yo'selves and obey the order of the co't. Followin' of which the decrees of divo'ce will be delivered."
Justice-of-the-peace Benaja Widdup interposed as they started for the door, forgetting his presence. "In the name of the State of Tennessee," he said, "I forbid you-all to be a-defyin' of its laws and statutes.
Ransie Bilbro was stricken to dumb perplexity. There had been no previous hint of alimony. Women were always bringing up startling and unlooked-for issues. Justice Benaja Widdup felt that the point demanded judicial decision. The authorities were also silent on the subject of alimony. But the woman's feet were bare. The trail to Hogback Mountain was steep and flinty.
Herein fail not, so help you God. Benaja Widdup, justice of the peace in and for the county of Piedmont, State of Tennessee." The Justice was about to hand one of the documents to Ransie. The voice of Ariela delayed the transfer. Both men looked at her. Their dull masculinity was confronted by something sudden and unexpected in the woman. "Judge, don't you give him that air paper yit.
"'In the spring," quoted Mr. Coulson, curling his mustache, "'a y that is, a man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love." "Lawsy, now!" exclaimed Mrs. Widdup; "ain't that right? Seems like it's in the air." "'In the spring," continued old Mr. Coulson, "'a livelier iris shines upon the burnished dove." "They do be lively, the Irish," sighed Mrs. Widdup pensively. "Mrs. Widdup," said Mr.
Word Of The Day