The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-01-01
tance to our children. ~


to come until June.
Judge Wimbledon wuzn't particu-
larly soft man, but somethin> warmed
the cookies of his heart, an he got up
an took Leila by the hand.
"Leila," sez he, "old $3.50 Bobberts IS
a beast. Now that's my candid opin-
ion. But my opinion amt wuth o row
Of pins when it comes to the law. All
I can do is to make the fine as small
as may be. But if old Bobberts could
be induced to Withdraw his charge,
the whole thing would fall to the
ground"
She threw up her head. "Tll try to
make him withdraw it," sez she.
"He,s a hard man to deal WITH
sez Judge Wimbledon.
perhaps he won't be match fur
Leila Raney;;~ an she laughed out
like bird. "Fair means an, foul
Judge-I'll try both
Calls fair in war;" sez the Judge,
with soothin> smile.
From that time Leila Raney wuz
simply possessed with the desire, some
way, somehow, to get the.better of Bob
berts. All her seekin's an questionin's
wuz long in vain, until one day chance
or Providence mebbe-set her on
the right track.
Leila had been persuaded:to attend
rag-tackin' at Sister Weeden,s, out
on the perarer; an when she got
thar the women>s tongues were a-clat-
term equal to a hotel dish-washin>.
eve wuz just a-talkin' of you,
Leila,0 said Mis- Amos Burridge, who
was very outspoken, "an> a-sympathiz-
in with you an John"
"Well,~ says Leila, forcin' smile,
"the axe amt fallen yet, an mebbe
never will"
"Get the Lord on your side,v says
Sister Charity Hackleton, "an> you
need not fear the power of man."
I'm sure lie ought to be on our
side," cried Leila, "for it's wicked
piece of work to take the bread out Of
our mouths
"Its a pity that your husband should
sell liquor said Martha Hatfield, a
little black-eyed spitfre of a woman.
"Well, he don't drink it," answered
Leila, very dry.
"Neither would my husband drink
it" cries Martha, eff it wuznt for GER
tain folks I could name a-temptin' him
an treatin, him an a-sellin' him liquor
on credit"
eff it's my husband you're slappin'
at" says Leila, 81 can tell you he has
sold no liquor on creditto Jim Hatfield,
fur 1 know his books as well as he
knows them himself, an your hus-
bands name is not on them. Besides,
John knows that Jim has joined the
Sons O. Temperance, an he is too good
to tempt any man..tosdrink who is try
ing to git shet of the habit"
"Too good" shifts the other; "that's
all you know about him. I've got
proof of what I say: jugs an bottles
that come from John Raney's usually
have his name pasted on the Sides"
"What do you mean?" an up jump
ed Leila, quick as mad cat.
But Marthy shet her lips very reso-
lutte. II amt no more ter say she
cried; "I've said too much already.
If you're satisfied with your husband,
I am with mine.N An with that she
fell to tearin' rags so vigorous that the
dust flew out an set us all ter coughin'
Sister Weeden, who wuz ever fur
pourin' oil on troubled waters, proposed
that we should sing hymn as soon as
we had calmed the tulnult in our
throats, an soon the ratters wuz a.
ringin' to the tune of
"With cherubim and seraphim,
Full royalty He rode,
And on the wings Of mighty winds
Went fyin' all abroad"
Well, we'll, them two women watched
each other out of the corners of their
eyes all the rest O the day, but there
wuz no more disputin'.
When Leils got home, 6rst thing
she did wuz ter ask her husband if he
had been scllin' Jim Hatfield any
whiskey lately.
"Not pint" says John--'tnot sence
I heard he jined the Sons O. Temper
ance."
"You are positive 2"
"Just as positive as that I've got the
prettiest wife in the State," said John,
kissin' her; for he had determined to
chirk up before Leila, SEEM as how his
depression weighed on her. Leila, on
her side, wouldn't dampen Johns spirits
by tellin' of the false charge against him;
but she made up her mind to get to the
bottom of the matter.
The next day she started Of on Sec
ond tramp to the Nine.mile, this time
bound for the Hatfield house. When
she got inside the gate her foot struck
somethin' that gave her start. 1t wuz
bit of broken jug, with John Raney's
name printed very distinct on the label.
$50 Marthy told the truthr' she NUT
tered, an her feelin's softened considera-
Bile, while at the same time she WIZ
plunged inter deeper perpIexity.
Mis- Hatfield had jest got through her
mornin's work, an wuz sitting down
rockin' her baby, when she saw Leila
standin' in the doorway. Surprised
enough she wuz; but havin' to be perlite
in her own house, she asked her in, an
handed her q cheer.
II want ter say in the beginnin', Mar.
thy" says Leila, "that I done you an in.
justice yesterday, an ask your pardon" :"
Marthy looked all taken aback hearin'
Leila speak so gentle, but she couldn't
help feelin' Modified.
'I'm glad to hear such words" says
she, very hearty. "Our Father in heaven
knows wouldn't speak untrue on such a
subject. It's too painful"