The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-09-14

uoouy ueShS, lOTlneu IUClng frame f01
the central figure, small, spare man
with iron gray hair; erect as porcupine
quilts, a face like withered cral
apple, and keen blue eyes, in which
twinkled a CLEAN of humor, as he
caught the critical glance taking in the
appointments of the room. A puzzled
expression deepened the wrinkles in
his forehead, as he looked from the
card in his hand to the face of his
visitor.
"E. V. Coulac," repeated he, as if t
himself. Excuse my curiosity. sir
but your face is strangely familiar.
though l am sure ] have never heard
your name before. What is it in full ~
edward Vining Coulac."
ANY relation to Colonel Vining, of
Bel Air?"
"He was my grandfather, sir" said
the young man.. drawing himself up
proudly.
The banker grasped his hand eagerly,
eXclaiming, with tremor in his voice /:
"Mr. Coulac, for his sake you are well
come. There is no human being that
was near to him but what has claim
on John McEachin."
: Then in briSkeT tone than usual. as
! If ashamed of the emotion into which
he had been betrayed, he resumed the
conversation on business topics vet
his gaze fingered almost fondly upon
the bright face turned to him. and as
Nining rose to go he said: "Mr. COulac.
tomorrow is an anniversary with me.
| and if you will dine with my family
and few guests l will explain to you
why the sound of your grandfathers
name after a lapse Of forty years sets
my heart beating like a schoolboy's at
the mention Of his first sweetheart"
The invitation was courteously ac-
cepted and the morrow saw Vininp in
the bankers parlors. Mr.. McEachin
received him cordially, and presenting
him to his daughter Flora, said: "Mr.
Coulac has special claims on our hospi-
tality which you will gladly acknowl-
edge after the story tell you to-day"
y soft hand was extended in friendly
greeting. and a pair of merry blue eyes
shot coquettish glances of welcome
from under brown fringed lids. He
was bcguiled into such forgetfulness of
time and place that when, at the close
OF dinner he was reused by Mr.. Nc
Eachin's voice, he felt like one walked
from dream.
Mr.. Coulac, / have long promised
my family a story Of your land forty
years ago, and il you will not think me
rude | will tell it in your presence
" on can say nothing, sir, to make
me love my country less, as l believe
You would say nothing to wound the
feelings Of your guest"
The banker nodded with an amused
mile as if to say, "We'n see about
that" and proceeded:
"It is now some forty odd years
since peddler could be seen plodding
his way through one of those prairies
whose rich land has given the name of
tle black belt to many counties in the
southern part Of Alabama. Not that
The appearance Of these travellers was
N unusual occurrence, for it was in
the good old days when the planter
ruled his domains like a feudal lord.
and extended the hospitality of his
home to the passing stranger, and the
p"ddler with his pack served to while
away the leisure hours of the ladies of
the mansion, and to vary the monOtOny
OF the plantation life for the duskv F!
D!nahs Of the quarter. This particu-
lar tourist carried all his worldly gear
IN ms pack, but he was rich in youth, |
in health and in Yankee pluck. Ashe
trudged along under the October sun
he Whistled as joyously as the mocking |
birds in the magnolia groves near the
great house he was approaching. 1t
was near the hour of noon. and as he .
was near the quarter he thought he
would rest there, and perhaps secure
some savOry additions to his scantv
lunch. AS he opened the gate tow
headed urchin called out If you uns
comes in hyar I'll sic my
WALLER purp on YOU Just
then Il woman, whose shining black
face and portly figure could belong to
none other than the cook, sailed round
the house carrying a rough, unpublished
horn. Upon this she blew blast SO
loud and long that the traveller fancied
the walls Of another Jericho were to
tumble at its hoarse summons. Seeing
-he stranger at the gate, her native
hospitality prompted her to accost him.
the boy again called out:
You ole Chloe, if you don't make that
ar beggar go away from thar I'll tell
ny par Now the recollection of sun
Try dimes, tied up in an old stocking
eg in her 'chist, made her very SEN
ible Of the duties the community
WED to this class of pilgrims, so set
ing her arms akimbo and muttering.
You shut up your CAB, you poor sand
llgger,' she proceeded to arrange with
he peddler for his MONDAY repast.
The overseer rode by and regarded
hem with a scOwl, which in no wise
nterfered with Chloe's good humor, for
he repaid him with supreme con-
empt. With keen eye to her own
interest she had not failed to con-
ider the good of her fellows.
nd had arranged for an ex-
libition of the peddler's wares
While the overseer enjoyed his
vening siesta. So a merry group
gathered in front of Aunt Chloe's cabin
It the appointed hour, and a brisk
'arter was being carried on with much
lively chatter when they were inter
upted by the gruff voice of the over
eer: Git out of here, you rascally
'eddler, with your worthless traps.
these chaps heads are so full of your
that they are no manner of