The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-09-13
MULEY DRiDDLE.
CHAPTER I.

ChAkTkk !.
 Muley Driddle was such a peculiar girl that her faiher often wished that she had never been born. Peculiarities in boys instead of being lamensed, are thought to be evidences of genius and are conse- quently commended, but eccenfricity in girl, brings the red siage of embarrass- ment to the cheeks of her friends. Muley is rs.her a strange name for girl. It was not bestowed upon her because she had a muley disposition, for she was named before she exhibited any disposition at all The girl did not remember her mother She remembered her father, though, and the old man remembered her, for his course of lectures began when she was very young, bidding fair to continue until she was very old.
 "What have you got there?" asked old Driddle, one evening upon coming home and finding his daughter in the yard playing with something.
 Ratilesnake, i" she replied
 Whatw exclaimed the old man ap- preaching.
 "Yes, l caught him down by the spring"
 "Let me kill the thing. do think you've got less sense than any girl ever saw. Look out, don't throw the thing at me. Confound your picture. Why, it's made of cloth. have the first time to see you engaged in anything useful. Here you are, about grown, spending your time in making snakes. What do you mean, hah ?'
 She took up the rag reptile which she had thrown at her father, and, twisting it around her, giggled and began to jump as though she were unable to control her physical liveliness.
 "Come on in the house, said the old man, leading the way. Light the lamp. Hang it, must you be told every little thing? There now, that'l do. What in thunder are you doing with that cat 2?
 "He scratched at me and put my foot on the end of his tail"
 :" If you'd let him alone he wouldn't scratch you"
 "Yes he would, too. He's all the time capering round me. Wonders Mir Bly,"
 Mir. Ely was a circuit rider. He was :" a severe and pious preacher"
 "Why, my dear sir" said old Driddle, meeting the preacher at the door and shaking his hand with the true vigor of a warm welcome. "Walk right in. Muley, hand a chair. 1 thought it was about time you were getting around again"
 The expression of the young mans face showed that he appreciated the well come extended him, but his manner was not demonstrative. He was man whom you would recognize as having been a meiancholy boy. He had struggled to nay his way through college, and, after graduating, instead of beginning the study of law, an aim which he had long cherished, he took up the humble saddle bags of great faith and became circuit rider.
 The girl went into the dining-ro to spread the evening cloth. The old man, after talking of current events and church members who were behind iu their ac- counts, assumed serious tone of voice and said:
 Brother By, l wish you would talk to Muley. have said everything can and yet see DO improvement in her."
 "She needs talking to-" the minister replied, never saw such . girl. lfyou were a mean man, it would seem that she was imposed on you as reuibution as it is, don't know what to think. Don't you suppose that you neglected to punish her sufficiently when she was child9n
 No, for l have punished her, some times severely, but it did no good. Ihad hoped to see her develop into digni6ed, religious woman, but such hopes were long ago crushed. She cares nothing for books, except nsvels, and she has no rev. erence for sacred matters. Well, I'll 20 on out and feed the cattle. When she comes in wish you would talk to her, though l don't suppose it will do any good"
 When the girl entered the room, Mir. By said: Muley, come sit down here"
 "What for?"
 "Never mind what fos."
 She sat on the edge of chair, and amused herself by tilting it backward and forward.
 "How old are you, Muley9"
 3H How cid are you p
 @Never mind how old l am, girl"
 Never mind how old am, man,
 sIeii me your agef''