The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-11-11
Kate's Adventure.
| am hate.

an kate.
OF course can tell my own adventures
great deal better than any one can tell
them for me. That stands to nature. Pm
not practiced writer, and don't know
how to produce what the fashionable au-
thors call 'sgrand pen-affects, " but l believe
l can make you understand how 1t was.
AND that is all that is necessary:
Leeman had epraned his ankle-that's 3
,ny brother--and he could not 60 to town
with the load of russet apples that was al
ready piled INTO barrels, and stood waiting
under the big rcd shed.
ats too bad!" said he. "Those rlsset
apples are worth a deal at this time of year
and wo shall miss the market dayl"
"Can't you ask Nelghbor Hutton to talk 0
them9" said my mother.
"Neighbor Hutton is deal too sharp u
practitioner for me-" said Lceman. otis
hard thing to say about neighbor; but
l can't trust his honesty"
"Mr. Hall2"
''Hall would be casting it up In my face,
for the next six months, that had asked
Il favor of him." said Lceman. 'sNo, I'd
rather lose the apples than lose my indie
pendcnce. But it ls too provoking that
must needs have slipped on that piece of
orange-peel, now, of all times in tho year.
have been saving up these apples all the
winter with II special eye to tins particular
market day"
''Lceman," said l, sI'll Co."
"Nonsensel" said Lceman.
"But why not2" said l. s'Old Pomp is
"a gehtle as a kitten, and know every inch
O.: the way"
''But there are the Red Swamp woods
that flnaO10ta Of ch nf tbrt,a ,,,,Ioo I,
never house Oh either side of the way,
except the deserted cabin where the old
negro hanged himself, twenty years ago."
argued my mother.
"Who cares for the Red Swamp woods2"
said /, valantly. l never was afraid of
frogs and wbip-poor- wills, and Pm not
going to begin now. Lii, will you 20 out
and help me harRessed carly in the morn
ing, and"
ooh, wish was going tool Can't
60, Kate?" cried Lii, my hoyden young
sister, with her blue eyes glittering with
delight at the idea OF anything unusual.
''Stutf!" cried I, imperiously. "Ofcourse
you can't. Hasn't Pomp a heavy load en-
ough, without your ninety pounds Of mis-
chief loaded on2 Besides you must stay
at home and take care Of mother, and Lee
man, and finish the chintz curtain for the
big west chamber; for Colonel Hay may
come at any time now."
Colonel Hay was our city boarler-a
gentleman who had been recommended by
his physician to try the fresh, pine scented
brcezes Of the Shawaugeenta mountains,
and whom our rector had recommended to
the Icy Spring fam.
We were not rich, although mother and
Lecman had managed the farm cconomi-
cally and well since fathers death aud the
weekly addition to our income would be
something worth considering.
The idea of city boarder was very
pleasant, too, and Icy Spring farm was a
very lovely spot, although we seldom al
lowed ourselves to think Of that.
So, alter little, l coaXed mother and
Leeman to consent, and the next morniug
Lii and | were up long before daybreak,
Harvesting old Pomp, and getting ready for
the days journey.
rising sun touched old. Pomp's gray mane
with radiance, was driving through the
Red swamp, where the maple trees from
which it took It's name were all aglow will,
crimson blossoms, and the thrushcs anC
robins called to one another with flute.lik(
notes.
where I was going when l started. | solt
tho six barrels of russets to the man wht
kept the Park hotel for four dollars apiece
and that was more than Leeman himself
anticipated.
''Be careful you don't get robbed, now,
said the man, rs he watched ME put thu
bills into my little leather portm0nnaic
'Robbed3" said 1, with laugh "Why
who should rob me ?"
'Oh, don't know" said the landlord
There's always tramps and BURGLAR
around. They're a crop that don't belonl
TO any particular season Of tho year,
AS turned away--l did not NOTICE 1t a
the time, but 1t came back to me after
wards, Us things do come back, like a sud
den flash across tho dark shield Of mcmor,
"a man who was lounging on the step
looked hard at me. 4 .Es
colorcd little aud thought to myself
'Wcll, ho will know me the next time Ii
scts me-" and then forgot all about IT. fo
had mothers black bombazne to mute
and I.il's spring hat to buy, and some din
ner china to select, and the doctors pre-
scription for Leenlaii TO fill out at the drug
gisL's, sc it was we'll on to seven when
turned old Pomp's head homoward In til
suburbs of the town, with feeling Of els
tion which was quite pardonable, whe
ono considers my inexpericnces In til
marketing line, and my exceptionally 600
success.
The sunshine was warm and still on TIL
highroad, and ! was rather glad when {
last we, came to the cool shadows OF til
Red swamp, where the birds were all silcl
IN the noon-h heats, and the sweetest OF odo
came floating up from the tangled recesst
OF fern and qowslip on either side Of til
solitary, railed.in fence.