The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-24
A LINE FENCE.

eff there amt them hens again" said
Elias Long, setting down the milk-p
on the kitchen porch with jerk. The
stout, pleasant faced woman to whom he
spoke paused in the doorway with her
bare arms twisted into her calico apron,
and regarded the offenders mildly.
They were struggling through one of
the numerous gaps in the broken-d down
fence which separated Mr.. Longs garden
from that of his neighbor. Alvin Talcott
"a procession of nine, clucking in a
grooming way and stepping high. They
came on with composed delibcration,
pausing among the cucumbcrs with a
contemplative air. skirting the radishes
after a dissatisfied survey, and settling
down at last among the tomatoes with a
chorus of victorious clucks.
1T amt going to do said Mr.. Long,
wiping disturbed face with his old red
silk handkerchief. 81 amt going to
stand it."
1T amt likely he's thought of it, said
his wife, TRANQUILITY.
''He can't think of nothing but that
pCSNS CiOiuet uuSlHCSS, lCJoluCt Wi.
Long, jerking his head toward his neigh
bor's yard, from which the sound of
voices and the click of mallets proceeded
81 amt going to stand still and get ate
out of house and home by nobody's hens,
if you be-"
'Oh, laws, Elias" Mrs Long began,
in easy remonstrance; but her husband
had seized an old tin dipper from the
porch-shelf, and was making for the to-
mato-patch as fast as his sixty years would
permit. There was wild cackling and
scattering as he threw his dipper into the
midst of the scratching flock, pursued
them nnrelcntingly to the furthest possible
point, and leaned exhaustedly against
the Sunkcn gate of the dilapidatcd fence.
It Was sunken with the weight of the
many friendly chats held across it since
the long-ago period of its erection; chats
held at all times of day and upon all sub
jects-politics, moving machines, fer
tilizers, sewing societies, crochet patterns,
raised cake recipes, etc.
Mr.. Talcott's croquet-ground was be-
fore him. Mr.. Talcott himself stood near,
leaning the weight of his small and wiry
person on his mallet; his hat over one ear,
his cheerful, round face shining with
eagerness, his whole attitude expressive
of watchful and profound absorption.
His eyes were fixed upon the long fig
ure of Bart Collicut, the champion
croquet- player of the town.
who stood at the other end of
the ground in the act of striking.
Old DR.. Blair, upon whose ball he was
preparing to operate, regarded him Sc
riously from his retirement on the we'll
stone; little MIR. McQuirk, who had step
ped across from his grocery to take
fourth hand, and who was keeping an
eye on that edifice, fidgeted about in ner-
vous apprehension and dangerous prox-
unity to the appraised mallet.
MIR. Long surveyed the scene with dis
pleasure. He had, originally, strongly
disapproved of Mr. Talcott's croquet-
ground. He had not been sure that cro-
quet was not on level with ''keerds"
and gambling; and that deacon of the
church and member of the town coun-
cilshould dcountenance and encourage such
iniquity was subject for grave rehec-
ton.
From this-after frequent glimpses and
occasional considerations of the game,
over the fence-he had softened to the
opinion that it was waste of time and a
pack Of foolishness; falling gradually
into the habit, despite his convictions, of
observing it regularly graduating from
the fence to Mr.. Talcott's doorstep, and
thus acquiring tolerable knowledge of
its baleful methods. He had even been
known to manifest an interest in the
aa1lR to tender advice in a crisis, to give
inion upon disputed point, to
in applause of good stroke.
lie had always considered that his
Zee was something OF reproof and
nt. Just now, as he stood frown-
|wn the long bewicketed ground,
g could have convinced him that
ever retreated in the least from
imal attitude of rigorous disap-
declare for it.'' said Mr.. Talcott,
kgly. as the doctors ball came
into the corner; "we're getting
|ong! Come in, he went on affably,
T. to Mr. Long. 'It looks as though
&c. 'em this time, eh?'
long shifted his position.
bull have to keep them hens of
IN to home," said. "They're spelling
~ garden jest about as fast as they can
manage it."
Mr.. Talcott's smiling face hardened. 1t
was not the first time his neighbor had
mentioned the hens; though never hither-
to with so much decision.
II don't really know as it's any of my
concern" he said; you can't jest ex-
pect for me to be chasing hens everlast-
inglv."
Il don't know but what you better be
chasing hens than wasting time over
this here" responded his neighbor, sur
veying the croquet ground with sternness
in his long-featured face.
Mr.. Talcott' ssmall, bright eyes snapped
''You h'ain't no call, as l know of, to
give no opinion whatsoever" he etorted
Mr.. Long turned his eyes upon his
irate countenancc. He was slower to
anger than his neiehbor. 'About them
hens" he said; II rutler guess this line
fence better be fixed up; needs it. They
couldn't get in then unless they should
60 round by the orchard, and that amt
likely"
Il h'aint been calculating to lay out
anything on fences jest at present." said
Mr.. Talcott, bracing himself on his
short legs de6antly
"The laws allows" reioined his
neighbor "that mans obliged TO pay