The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1880-12-23
PICKENs, S. c., THURSDAY, DECEMBER %, $780,

lshly standing before him with one little
finger thrust between herred lips in mock
| modesty and bashfulness. "You wouldn'i
object to my getting married?"
mo, not to good, honest, industrious
man. Why should I? A human heart
and especially of your sex, without love
Is as good as wrecked. No, my darling;
ind good man whom you can love with
your whole heart, and who loves you The
same, for am old-fashioned enough to
believe III such things, and I'll not only
give my consent but my blessing, some
thing worth havingfor start In life, and
such wedding as will make the old
rafters ring"
"And suppose, father" questioned the
blooming girl, half way between smiles
and tears, "suppose it should happen to
be Frank-Mr. Emmons, Imean?''
"Humph! don't know. He is.
Just as nice young fellow as ever
lived" interposed his wife.
Eyes, yes. can't say aught against
'I know" laughed Minerva at his con-
fusion, "when you really come to think
OF giving me up it is too much. That's
'I believe you are right child. But I
must go and see about an extra supply of
provisions. Gracious it will be fortu-
nate if we don't have famine"
He wiped away the mist from his old
eyes, brought there by the thought his
daughter had suggested; tried to whistle
bravely down the very situation he had
with the touch of rugged eloquence de-
tended, and fastened to call his man-of
an-work and give him instructions ssMi-
nerva has come back, Mike" he said
''and is going to have some kind of a
blowout on Christmas Eve She calls it a
tabier vevaught, or something of the
kind
GA fwhat ?" questioned the Irishman,
scratching his head in the most puzzled
manner.
'That's what sticks me, Mike, though
1 did not let her know it. Anyhow there
Is to be some kind of q female circus. and
the animals will want plenty to eat.''
"Blcssngs on the bright eyes of her,
and its ivrything on the old farm I'll Kill
If she wants it, the darlin'."
Eyes, believe you. That girl seems
to have faculty of twisting every one
around her finger, and"
'Dlv1l won more thin her ould fayth-
er, said Mike as he proceeded to obey
the orders he had received, "an' muther
lashins of poultry" well knowing that
his share of the feast would be no stinted
one.
To q late hour the making ready was
continued, and all went to bed tired but
happy. And tha next day was continual
hustle. Extra help was summoned, and
the kitchen fires roared, and the i'm
mense Dutch oHen, glowed and plenty
ruled triumphant, while the odd deacon
was in his glory bringing supplies from
town and making himself useful as well
as most REovQkipglE oficious.
So the day passed and the night came
with everything ready for the grand
time. 49,. =.
Early the house began to be filled with
merry company, and were welcomed by
father, mother and daughter. the latter
,fesplendant in robes of heecy white.
abundantly trimmed with soft, floating
laces and. looped with artificial flowers,
while natural roses, fringed with myrtle
and smilax, were half hidden amid her
golden hair and pulsated upon her Joy
ousl ly throbbing bosom.
For an hour there appeared to be g.
ceaseless Ginning of sleigh-bells. and
rosy, laughing loads deposited at the
door. Indeed, so. many were the teams
that Mike was frantic to know what to
do with them. But the Deacon believed
IN "the more the merrier" principle, and
kept every one busy and contented. Yet
for all the gaily dancing and singing
company, shade of perplexity now and
then crossed his face. He had not solved
the mystery Of the ta6te0u. and it. hung
I, .ol>A.
For hours the house rang and trembled
upon its strong foundation. 1t was a
Veritable beehive of fun and frolic. and
many soft cheek took on deeper roses
from stolen kisses; many an innocent
heart bounded more swiftly from the en-
circling arm and many pair of ears
tingled from the slapping of white hands
in payment for saucy jest or pilfered
caress.
But good, buxom dame Hannah had
almost rs much pride in her cooking as
in her one dear lamb, and when the
ancient clock made its huge, heavy,
cofin-like case throb with the ringing of
ten, she whispered to her husband, good,
prudent soul that she was, that "the
children must be getting hungry, and
she was going to see about the tables.
D., In response to her suggestion, he
sought their daughter and told her they
were going to have supper, and that the
young folks had better stop romping and
cool off, or some of them would be GER
tain to take their death.
eyes, father" she answered.; "but we
must have the t1bteGaG FIRST" and she
looked up, blushing more deeply than
damask rose in June into the face Of Mr..
Frank Emmons, upon whose arm she
happened to be leaning, ...
''All right" responded the old man
with q sigh of relief, for the burden would
soon be lifted from his soul. "Do YOU