Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-12-03


ING eyes. Tall and slender she was.
and fair to look upon-so fair that
Jacks frank face showed plainly his
instant admiration as she gracefully
acknowledged his deep bow. Addie
saw the look in his eyes, and her wom-
anly intuition told her that 10 Morton
had excited in him feeling that the
sight of his ailianced bride had not
aroused. Had she truly loved him.
jealousy would have led her to hate in
noccnt 10. but her feeling was rather
one OF hatred toward Jack; but her
simple nature had never been trained
by perusing analytic novels and list
oning TO the conversation of city salons,
and so she did not disscct her emotions,
but satisfied her impulses by saying to
herself tina, Jacks mustache was fright
fully homely. and that his hands
weren't nearly rs large and brown and
strong as Harry Turner'S.
The morning passed quickly with
Jacks telling all about what he saw in
Europe Very kind he was TO Addic,
but she didn't seem to appreciate his
learned comments on European art
and Italian architecture, while in 10 he
found ready listener. though. TO be
sure. inclined to be impertinent, and to
snub him somewhat when he got too
grandloqnent And then Adde'S ques.
tons annoyed him when she asked him
IL tho prayer meetings in St Peters
were interesting. and il he went to the
Latin quarter in Paris to study Latin.
With noon came the unclcs and aunts
aud cousins from all around. for Squire
Houghton always had the whole family
come to his house Thanksgiving Day.
Then they all sat down to the rousing
Thanksgiving dinner whore there was
enough for three times u many. and
then ;herc would have been plenty left
over for cold meals for week. Uncle
Seth, Jolly, portly, blutr, grutI old bach
elor that he was. declared he never a.e
such good dinner in his life, Just as
he had declared for thirty successive
Thanksgiyings, and IL the amount he
dcvoured was any sign. he told the
truth. Jack. too. did his share in lay
ing waste the neighborhood of his plate.
and when he rose from the table he felt
something must be done to aid his iii.
gcstiou. or he would die of dyspepsia
in two hours. Being good doctor
Jack never practiced the hygienlc prin'
ciples he eNpounded. always ate more
than he ought,an always prescribed for
thercsults at least one strong cigar. Now
smoking was u terrible habit in the eyes
of all respectable people in the good
country town where the Squire's lines
were east, and Jack. respecting preju'
dices, slid out unobscrved aud hied him.
self to the barn Ia enjoy his weed
unmolcsted and alone. There he
caught Uncle Seth Just filling his
old black L. d., aud. after mutual
confession. they settled themselves for
a good smoke and talk. The girls mean
while noticed they were left without u
cavalier, anu. like all true girl, the trio
appointed themselves n committee Of
three to satisfy their curiosity as to
Jacks mysterious disappearance. just
as Jack was telling Uncle Seth abou, his
adventures in Paris. the barn door flew
open and in came the investigating
committee. Just in time To run into u
veri,ablc cloud of tobacco smoke. The
look of horror that oversprcad Adde'S
face would defy an artist to depict. aud
she darted look of scorn ut Jack
enough to exterminatc him, but he was
too intent on JOS merry chatting TO
heed or even notice il. 10 liked tobac-
CO. as she showed by ensconcing her
self on the grain-boN and rcprimanding
Mr.. Houghton for his deserton. Annie
was little doubtful at first, but 10 was
her leader and she finally overcamc her
conscience enough to join in the war of
words, while Addic beat hasty re.
treat uunOticcd to the house. There
she sat down and wrote n note TO Har-
~. telling him TO come with the sleigh
at seven o'clock. Then she put her en-
gagement ring in an envelope, together
with tract ON smoking. which began:
Women can end the terrible vice Of
smoking by refusing to marry any man
who dcgrades himself so rs to use the
vile weed" and she left il on the table
in Jacks room.
An hour later Jack peruscd the tract
with great emotion. and then the hard
ened sinner used it rs lighter for an.
other cigar.
That night the house was full-so full
of company. in fact. that Uncle Seth
had to be stored away in q room I'M
used. where Jacks great-grandmother
had died. and where. as he jestingly
told the girls that evening, her ghost
was wont to walk occasionally. 1t SO
happened that jos room was right un-
der this, but she didn't know il was
g be occupied that night, and so
when she heard noise as II OF footsteps
pattering over her head while she was
undressing, she was considerably fright
ened.
Its rats" she said to herself to
brace up her courage, but still she was
so scared that she concluded to lie
down on the bed in wrapper. and IL
the ghost got noisy she would run into
where Annie and Adde were sleeping,
and get in with them. For while all
was quiet. and the house was perfectly
still. Then she seemed to hear hoarse
and regular rumble as II somebody was
scraping stick over the head.board OF
a. L. IA