im so, a living monument to a
dead past.

ELINORE STEWART.

XII

A CONTENTED COUPLE

_October 6, 1911._

DEAR MRS. CONEY,--

... I once "heared" Sedalia Lane telling some of her experiences, and
she said she "surreptitiously stole along." One day, when I thought the
coast was clear, I was surreptitiously examining the contents of the
tool-chest with a view toward securing to myself such hammers, saws,
and what else I might need in doing some carpentry work I had planned.
The tool-chest is kept in the granary; both it and the granary are
usually kept locked. Now the "gude mon" has an idea that a "wooman"
needs no tools, and the use and misuse of his tools have led to numbers
of inter-household wars. I was gloating over my opportunity, and also
making the best of it, when a medley of burring Scotch voices brought
me to a quick realization that discretion is the better part of valor.
So I went into seclusion behind a tall oat-bin. It seemed that two
neighbors whom I had never seen were preparing to go to town, and had
come to get some tools and to see if the Stewart would lend them each a
team. Now Mr. Stewart must be very righteous, because he certainly
regardeth his beast, although he doesn't always love his neighbor as
himself. He was willing, however, for friends Tam Campbell and Archie
McEttrick to use his teams, but he himself would take a lighter rig and
go along, so as to see that his horses were properly cared for, and to
help out in case of need.

They made their plans, set the day, and went their ways. As soon as I
could, I made myself scarce about the granary and very busy about the
house, and, like Josiah Allen, I was in a very "happyfied" state of
mind. There is nothing Mr. Stewart likes better than to catch me
unprepared for something. I had been wanting to go to town, and he had
said I might go with him next time he went, if I was ready when he was.
I knew I would not hear one word about the proposed trip, but that only
added to the fun. I had plenty of time to make all preparations; so the
day before they were to start found me with all in readiness. It was
quite early in the spring and the evenings were quite chilly. We had
just finished supper, when we heard a great rumbling, and I knew
neighbors Campbell and McEttrick had arrived on their way to town; so I
began to prepare supper for them. I hadn't expected a woman, and was
surprised when I saw the largest, most ungainly person