United States or Kazakhstan ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
They made a detour through the Sproul orchard to avoid possible observation by Louada Murilla, the Cap'n's wife, and by so doing showed themselves plainly to any one who might be looking that way from the widow's premises. This was a part of the showman's plan. He hoped to attract Reeves's attention. He did.
"'Fore the constables got to him, the boys took holt and throwed him out of the window. I reckon he's come to a realizin' sense by this time that the town don't want him for selectman." He rapped out the ashes and put the pipe on the hearth of the Franklin. "I'm fair about an enemy, Louada Murilla, and I kind of hate to rub it into Gideon.
The first selectman, his eyes gleaming, the horn of gray hair that he twisted in moments of mental stress standing straight up, rose and reached for his hat. "Mutiny on me, will they?" he growled. "We'll jest see about that!" "Where are you goin', Aaron?" asked the placid Louada Murilla, troubled by his ireful demeanor.
Cap'n Sproul looked around on the peace of his home, and some deep feeling seemed to surge in his soul. "Louada Murilla," he said, sadly, "this isn't anything to be written in the book, and I didn't ever mean to speak of it to you. But there are times when a man jest has to talk about things, and he can't help it. There was one thing that I've been sorry for.
"I reckon I can pertect ye from all the tramps ever let loose out of jails and and when I git to the bottom of this I predict there'll be bloodshed there'll be bones broke, anyway." With one more malevolent look at the Cap'n he started away. "It's only a short cut through the maple growth, Louada Murilla," said Sproul. "My rheumaticks is a good deal better of a sudden. Let's you and me go along."
He even told Louada Murilla that she was a darling, when she, who had been forewarned, produced a "treat" from a hiding-place in the cellar. "I knew you'd appreciate it all as soon as you got wonted to the honor, Aaron," she whispered, happy tears in her eyes. "It's the social prominence that's all there is to it.
"It won't take many clips o' the tongue to tell you what we've come for. We three here are a committee from the Smyrna Ancient and Honer'ble Firemen's Association to notify you that at a meetin' last ev'nin' you was unanimously elected a member of that organization, and " "Oh, Aaron!" cried Louada Murilla, ecstatically. "How glad I am this honor has been given to you! My own father belonged."
A flicker of gratification shone on his face at the thought that the Cap'n was so nobly and graciously rising to the spirit of the thing. "It's come, Louada Murilla it's come!" gulped Cap'n Sproul, as he staggered into the kitchen, where his wife cowered in a corner. "He's readin' a warrant. He's even got the Portygee's name. My Gawd, they'll hang me! I can't prove northin'."
He stood silent and looked at Louada Murilla steadily and severely until she realized that her absence was desired. She tottered out of the room, her terrified eyes held in lingering thrall by the woe-stricken orbs of the Cap'n.
"It aches like of course it aches!" roared the Cap'n. "Don't ask that jeebasted, fool question ag'in. I don't mean to be tetchy, Louada Murilla," he went on, after a little pause, a bit of mildness in his tone, "but you've got to make allowance for the way I feel. The more I set and look at that toe the madder I git at myself.
Word Of The Day