The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-16
Prsssed BY Special Arrangement ssth the Author.
fHE TOHNSES AND THEIR COUSINS.
A Tale of Middle Georgia.
By RICHARD MALCOLM JOHNSTON,
AMhor Of 1.-THE Dukesberoagh Tales ia Harpers and
Century.
Copyrighted 1855, by the Author-Au Rights
Reserved
PART u-CHApTER Y.

had in the neighborhood. Joe Willis had re-
turned from his field, eaten his supper silently,
ard he and his wife sat before the fire. She
had been waiting to see him settled and still;
for he was naturally restless little man, and, /
suppose / ought to add remarkably handsome,
as this was the main reason why he had sue
ceeded in getting such wife.
'Joe, Nancy Towns says she isn't going to
move over to your Aunt Sally's, and she says
that if she was in your place she wouldn't go to
fencing in that heater, at least yet awhile" She
had other things to say to her husband, but she
determined to withhold them for the present.
Ryal had been over there that morning and said
that he might move his fence at once and pay
his own price, and at his own time and Joe was
Eliminating
Nancy" he answered, with his usual cour-
ageous start in discussing with his wife ques
tons on which they were not in entire accord;
Nancy may tend to her own business, Mandy,
and I'll try to tend to NINE
'The reason she gives, Joe, is that she thinks
the property belongs or ought to belong, and if
justice is done, will belong as much to your Aunt
Sally and Wiley as to Ryal"
Nancy don't know anything about it. Mandy
said he petulantly. Women don't understand
about land, nor the titles to land. Now, Mandy,
the titles to all the land up to last Wednesday
evenin, them titles lay in Uncle Tom, the heater
and all, and which, as to that, he'd never took
me outen it where he flung me. But you see
now Mandy, Uncle Tom. he's dead and the titles
outen him. and settled in Ryal accordin to the
will he left And therefore Mandy, them. titles
look at me, Joe. Turn around and look at
me" for Joe sat with his back not exactly OPP
posed TO but quartering to her, and looked up at
the ceiling wisely and intently as he delivered
himself of these legal dicta. "Turn right
round and look at me- There. Nancy says that
your Uncle Tom. from what Ryal tells her, did
not give to Wiley the property that he said he
was going to give him the very night before he
made his will"
'Lor me, Mandy, can't a man change his
mind and especially about the maxim Of wills
and passin the titles to landed property2 A
man may talk, and talk, and talk, both before
and after, as to that matter, he'd sign the papers,
but it's not his talk. neither before nor after.
that passes the titles, but it's the papers, and
which Nancy and in fact WINNING in general
-"
"As for changing of mans mind, Joe, of
course he can do that I've known you even 70
DO that when you found you was wrong"
''Oh, thunder!" and Joe resumed his former
position.
"As you're certain to do now"
He turned square around again.
What about that heater that's made me
keep up two strings O. fence for the last ten
years when 1 oughten't to've KEEP up but one and
hit short one2 I tell you, Mandy
She rose, lifted her chair and set it down close
by her husband.
'Joe. there's something mighty bad about all
this business"
Good gracious me alive, Mandy! It is a bad
piece o. business; but is it any o. mine2 Did
have anything to do with the maxim O. Uncle
Toms will, or the-or the--shootin' of him9"
''You ought to be ashamed of yourself for ask
ing me any such question
''Wel you look like-ah, You look hke-you
spicioned."
swell. Joe, if I look that way deceive my
looks, as the saying is OF course, we all know
how your Uncle Tom was killed; but everybody
believes it was an accident; but that's got moth
ing to do with the other business"
"Of cose it amt If it had" Joe got up
and walked the floor
"You see, Mandy said he, returning to calm
discussion of legal principles, when once gifts
the heater into my possession, my peaceable
possession, you mind. Mandy, far as Ryals
concerned, the titles to the property and landed
property, Mandy, s a thing that women, as
mt OF T bir1 HAY oe
Nancy, and suppose you know, leastways you
ought to know, my opinion of you"
Joe Rubbed his curly head passionatey as he
walked up and down.
"Joe," said his wife. turning and following
him with her eyes as he walked, you've never
taken my advice and been sorry for it."
Mandy" said Joe. pausing looking at his
wife and speaking almost in whisper:
''Tm afraid not to go to fencing that heater
arfter Ryal told me to- Ryal Towns is my cous
in; but hes-Ryals curious fellow.
She rose up instantly.
"Joe, let me ask you question. Aren't you
a mani"
''I1l try to speak distinct so that there mayn't
be mistake ] asked Mr.. Josiah Willis if he
wasn't man."
''If ain't--if amt mistaken bout my own
sect, II am Leastways, I'll go far as to
give it as my opinion that, think, am. But
in such a cussed piece o. business as this fell
low mout not know what sect he belonged to-"
"Well, then I'd be man, and I'd keep on be-
ing man. You are one man and Ryal Towns
another, and can't see how one man, if he is
man, can be afraid of another man who is moth
ing more than man. And yet there stands my
husband who love better than my own life,
who acknowledges"
She put her hand to her eyes, turned from
him, and sobbed.
oh Joe joe" she proceeded, yet weeping;
you are as honest hearted man as ever lived,
In spite of the wretched examples you've had
In your Uncle Tom and Ryal Thank God,