.0
THE WE8T SHORE.
" That," aaid Horn, i. the bold-facodoBt humbug
a-goin', an' IJoUy, ucuiiu' my love for her, 11 a oia
fool."
iit !(!. Imw tin vb know ver wifeisnerer
1 don't uo lights nor hear no noise nor talkin', an'
(hut kiu'l Marior's style."
" Tby keen it dark, Ebenezer, they keep it dark
ku' if ye bxl a dodorin' wife ye'd 'a' knowed that
: . i u:
fcfore Una. Hwiudlcawoua, greai, Dig, mouey-iunMu
fraud are mighty mysterious an' secret about their
coin's on, let me tell ye. I'd like to swoller the hul
buaincM," and hn shook bis fist menacingly in the
air.
" I'm a-goiu' to i6 wbat'i to be teen, an' do ye
watch thia here front door. It may bo somothin' like
sjKTritoolmm, au' sperrita hoi a way of gettin' outon
keyholes, but they're allua durn ture about takin' the
uh along,
Tbia smacked of soreness on Mr. Tibbita' part,
and bM'nittg to think of pant wrongi probably add'
ivl fuel to bit wrath, which by tbia time waa oonsid
rrable, and directed toward an unseen enemy and one
that it might take strategy to outwit But Ebenezer
waa alarmed. It waa not bia intention in life to as
aaino the aggniive, and be groaned
" Hi xia, of wo'uin bod set right down to borne
an' bed a quiet imoke, 1 believe thorn two women
would come wklkin' in alickor'n kittens. Ye tee, it'i
thii wy, Huiik, Marior'a mighty tot on bavin' bor
own way, au my mtorforin' ain't took gentle like, no-
waja."
InterferiuT'said Ho.ia, contemptuously, "well,
iuterforiu' or no iuterferin', I'm goin' to make things
lively around thia here ranch afore mornin'; air ye
oomiu' along?"
He would iitD to no remonstrance, but crept si.
leully around the house, firat one way and then the
other, lokving the wondering Ebenezer at the door
uon i.r sprit, rewful aa a lamb for Maria.
bold
II could diKvrn nothiug through the cUod blinds
carefully and eU!y drawn. 8tified of that, Hor.ia
came up to where Kloueor stood, and laid, in a
ghutly whisper -
" Eln-neter Hicks, I bet circumvented the tar.
minta, au' do ) I, t m K,m flr a.1X((tin. of .pm
W Ub that, be gr a Ud knock uxn the door.
At first I M silence, then there came a hurried
ouudiothe hall and the door w hold cautiously
0,7 ? ,!U " '' J rasping female voice In
uird wbkt wu wkuUsL
MVbaf.Mnt.vl-Mid lUia, " mam'. wanUvi"
M!.bM.,trvu-gMi,finWll8aruilk:
the m ,,iou.ly, raising her Mj han.Uhav.
" Don't ye sling none o' yer believin'g at me," Ho.
zia angrily replied, "I'm not the man what' to be
trifled with."
The woman made a motion to close the door, bat
Mr. Tibbits was too quick for her, and planted him.
self firmly and squarely between the door and the
jamb and demanded
" Is Mrs. Hozia Lelon Tibbits in this here place?
I won't bndge a inch till I know."
" There are two ladies here, but I do not know
their names. Praised be the Lord, they're arriving at
a knowledge of the truth."
Hozia, at that, turned to Ebenezer and said: "Eb,
kin ye tell 'er what close Marier hed on? That'll be
the surest way of findin' out Trust a woman for
knowin' every inch of stuff in t'other woman's dress."
" Mrs. Marier," said Hinks slowly, "hed on her
new perlese an' her new green and black fall bonnit
She is tallisb an' stoutish an' powerful convincin' ati
argnmint"
" I believe the description of one of the ladies ii
correct, but the lady who was with her is being treat
ed, and you will have to wait a while. Will you come
in?"
They could see that the woman was somewhat
mollified when she found that the intrusion was law.
ful, and she led the way silently and at onoe down the
hall. They stopped at a side door half way down the
ball, and she motioned, with finger on her lip, to the
men to enter. There sat Mrs. Ebeneaer Hinks, her
now "perlese" and "bunnit" lying on a chair by her
side. Her eyrs were closed, and on her face was I
lofty air of spirituality and content Slowlv she un
closed her eyes and cast about her, unable to realize
what daring bad prompted Ebenezer Hinks, the
spouse heretofore held in subjection, to seek her oat
and inquire into her doings. As soon as she saw who
it was she sat bolt upright, all traces of her late se-anco-like
aspect disappeared, and lookinir withering?
at Ebenezer, she exclaimed
" Ebenezer Hinks, what is the meaning of this?"
" That question, marm. I hev come here to ask
myself."
" Ebenezer Hinks. will von aa homn thin inotant?
There is no fool like a old fool."
" Tut' what I've allna mainUinAn Murinr. that's
what I've alius maintained. Thnra im fnnl like a
old fool-fomale fool-ye're right there, Marier, ye're
"fcui mere, an these here perceedin's is a monoomint
to that inscription."
At thia Mrs. Hinks broke into nrofruie weeoina
ever ready refuge of vanquished woman, and Eb
r took .wift and andd
tunity to score a lasting victory.
tno
eneio