The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-08-22
Bred in The Bone.
By LoTTIE DROWN

know. Miss Munser says I'm wicked by
mater, and if l am, where's the use in
trying to be anything elsa? You can't
make water run up hill''
Jessie ratified out Il lively measure,
with the heels Of her boots, upon the
side of the table on W hich she had pcrcl,
eG horsclf, and aimed IL kernel Of Dop
ped corn at Rex, who had been holding
the corn porper over the dim fire for
tull half hour.
1t isn't wickedncss, Jcss-it's DC
culiar something without name. a
boiling over, an inward rebellion wild
sort Of what-dyc call it, said Rex, with
lofty show Of patronage,
Yes, that is Just it. It's an uncon
trollablc sort of what his name that
ov:rpowers me, and stirs M. in.c kind
of effcrvescence which,
My dear: and Abbie' soft eyes wore
lifted from her work, and flashed re
bukc-if the look could be designated
by so loud term into her sisters
face.
YOU'RE all right! You're just as
suro ofinhcriting the kingdom rs am
Of Rex, the corn is smokingn
They were an odd family-a family
of opposites. Rex was great, square.
shouldored, long limbci, idl, fellow
with the fire of genius holding a war
with common sense cverlastingly within
him, and as they were poor, and had few
and narrow means for Il living, he was
TO say the least, drag
Abbic was, of all women, the softc,,
and slowest. In the the course of
year she accomplished great deal, be
cause she 'pegyed away us Jessie torn
cd it and was never idle; but her moder
tion was we'll known.
Jessic-I am not up to her Jescrp
tion. fancy one should have perfe..
health and beauty, and an ::cntire fee
dom from care, to be one whit like her
Even then / am not sure that thar. an;
who could reach her.
They were very poor, and Jessie
was, as she expressed it, the poorest OF
the family.
Rex liked his loling, dawdling style
of living-liked to roam about all day
over the marsh with his gun, yettin.
an occasional shot ut brI which they
could not cat, or skctchi ng some DIT of
rccl or brok Gu down fence, the Ike OF
which may be seen in hundred thou
sand portfolios
He was sure of a living, for they
owned tho house; and by little gcuteel
farming could raise vegetables enough
to supply their own table the year
round.
The dry groceries, Abbc earned with
her knowledge of needle work and mu
sic.
Jessie could do simply nothing to
ward adding to the family income. un
less the little stcwing and fussinc
she did in the kitchen could be called
Ahelp.'
On the night in question, when Rex
was struggling with the corn pepper
and Abbic straning her eyes over
piece Of fine embroidery, Jessie had
been enumerating what she could do
and what she couldn't. What sh |
couldn't sweled the list, and what she
could do amounted to nothing in PC
cuniary sense.
'Ifyou would only rightly apply
yourself and energies, you might do
wonders suggested Abbie
very true; Ill tell you what I can !
do-Rex never can, to any advantage,
and you never will can get mar
ried 2
Jessie pleaded Abbic.
You are born fool 7 shouted Rex.
'Am We'll, they take far better
than sensible women. Yes, can mar
ry rich man.
Victor Danforth is not rich, suggcs
ted Abbie.
who. said anything about Victor
Danforth? I didn'tp
you make eyes at him every time