The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-28

Twilight was merging into deeper dusk, but
the old man could see the troubled expression
which the girls face had assumed.
ANSWER me.1
Pap, how could keep him from comin'T
Nov here, Sis, don't talk ter yer ole father
like he didn't have good sense"
Pap, let me tell yer. When we wuz al
meetin' Nick he come up ter me an says. says
he. Sis, I'm comm ovur ter yer house ter
night I knowd yer didn't want him ter come,
but / couldn't tell him when thar wuz so
many folks er standn er round er gain an or
gapin,."
Gould er done it eff yerd been er mind ter, "
said the old man. II know in reason"
Pap exclaimed the girl, springing to her
feet. II hear Nick er comm down Their lane er
singin' Yer say that yer'n frail him if he comes
in the yard, SO please, sir, let me 60 an tell him
not to come in"
Let her go, Tobe," said Mrs. Crabtree.
sod zounds!" exclaimed the old man, turning
sharply upon his wife II do berlieve that yer
air encouragin' Nv Their trifin' rascal. Let John
60 an tell him"
II amt got no truck with him, John replied.
the old man would have seen the grateful look
which the girl cast upon her brother.
''Wall, then" said old lobe, "go on an tell
him, but come right on back. Eff yer stay over
time I'll come an larrup the whelp anyhow"
Sis hurried down the lane
IVY of here amt Their little oman come ter
meet me-" said Nick as he discerned, through
the gloom, the graceful figure Of the girl
"Hello, little
"Hush. Nick. Stop right whar yer air. an
don't say er word tell l git through. Pap is
come in the yard ag'in he will take er pole an
frail yer"
''Whut's he mad at me er boutr
II don't know"
''Yis yer do" said Nick as he placed one hand
on the railfence.
swell, he says yer Amt no count"
Got er right to say it, reckon. Lets go an
argy the question with him."
Sur pity sake. Nick, yer don't know whut
yerre talkin er bout. He'll frail yer jes ez soon
ez yer put yer foot in the yard"
wall, ken stan outside an argy cross the
fence"
"Oh, Nick, please 60 back. Eff yer love me,
don't come here no mo-"
"Ef love yer how ken hep coming"
"Please don't talk thater way but 60 back an
60 away, Nick" she implored, advancing and
placing her hands on his shoulders. eyer know
] love-thar, pap's calm me. Goodbye
Nick. No, don't foller me. Ef yer do, Ill never
speak ter yer agin as long as live"
"Ho, Ss!" called the old man.
I'm er comin'p she. shouted; then selling
Nick, she kissed him, and whispered: II know.
yer air n no count Nick, but Idsint hep lovn
..Johnl' said old lobe, few days later. "ez
fhcr 90 ,,l0
spell peers ter be comm on, hits or good time ter
raise Their barn. Yer'd better git on yer boss an
tell the neighbo's that we'll want their hep
brightn'arly ter NOR mawnin,."
All right, sir"
''An' say, John, be sho' an tell Moss Sanders
an Tai Smith that they mus come whether ur
no. fur want EN- ter take up Their corners"
The Crabtrees were astir at an early hour the
next morning. II don't see whut anyb body wants
ter live this way fur" Sis remarked to her moth
s err 'Thars alus samethin' on hans ter drag er
"Hush, Sis; hush Yer pap's mad already.
Their hougs got in Their fer las night an have
rooted up mighty nigh all NV whut little dab Nv
wheat we had"
wall, muir, KANT help that Must be
isis, Oh, Sis" called Old lobe.
Vas, sir, I'm er comm Of yer .jis' give me
timen
torted. Come on now an stir yer stumps.
You an yer mother'll have er putty tight pull
ter-day. Hurry up, fur some nv ther men air
already in sight, an it 'ud be or eyerlastin
shame fur 'em ter find any Nv Us in bed"
Nose Sanders and Tai Smith entered the yard
and were warmly welcomed Sanders was
short man, with red neck. and hair which
looked like the dead silk on an ear of corn. He
had never been esteemed on account of intel
lectual activity, bnt was noted for the dexterity
-. - - - MI
as his acquaintance said, struck pretty fair
average in every way, without being remarkable
in anything excepting, however, an appetite
which defed competition, and which fingered
long at table before acknowledging satisfaction.
Mighty glad ter see yer, boys" said old lobe.
"Come in. He won't bite Yer. Git out" he ex
claimed, storming at dog walk right in"
The men sat down. Sis entered the room.
The two men nodded their heads at her.
..She looks ez putty ez er pink this mawnin',"
said Smith.
''Musr be er thinkin' nv her sweethot, Sanders
suggested.
II havea't been dom 20 SIGH nv or thing Sis
sharply retorted. Il Amt got none"
..Uh huh! yer kain't tell me that way" said
Sanders. Nearly ever young Teller in ther
neighborhood is er cuttin' ther eyes at yer"
wall, they nee'n ter"
Gentlemen said Old lobe, s'ef yer've had
breakfus yerd better come on, fur her ther
other folks comm. did wanter git all Their logs
put up ter-day SOS ken kiver Their ruff at my
lezhur."
Hearty collaboration makes hard work easy,
otherwise the building of an old-fashioned barn
would be tedious achievement The men went
70 work with rough but good-humored badnage.
Every man who had joke on any one else who
was present told it. Chips few from the cor
ners where skilful axmen made the logs join,
and stout arms, with handspikes and ''skids,"
showed enormous timbers into position
wall, dog my cats!' exclaimed Sanders,
standing erect on his corner and shading his
eyes with his hand; ''yander comes Wuthess
Nick. Whut bizness has he got here. yer
reckonl Didn't think he wanted ter hang round
any place whar work wuz goin' on"
"He amt got no bizness here, let me tell
YER" said old lobe. Elmer greet mine ter take
a saplin' an larrup him often ther place"
Don't tech him." some one rejoiued, 'fur we
don't want no howlin' round here"
Nick came up and lazily seated himself on
stump. pressed his lips with divided fingers and
spat through his teeth.
"Whar've yer been, Nickr Sanders asked, as