The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-04-17
SUzE ANN.
By Julie K. Wetherill.


 "The houn' k q mighty funny bcas' :, !" remarked I4isher WhctStonc, in slow, deliberate tone as if reading aloud from primer. Elf yer kick at him he'l set right down an yowl fer an hour.
 This clay-colored philosopher was seated on the front steps, his elbows on his knees and his head between his hands, staring tiXcdly at the dog before him.
 Why don't you give him sumpin to growl fer, then?" remarked Spanish Jack, who was swaggering restlessly up and down in front of his friend and host, 'Lisher Whctstone
 It was just before sunset on chilly autumn day, and the locality was Sink emsank, a settlement i'll the heart of the piny woods. There was not much to be seen except brown pine ridges and in- fertile fields full of stumps and broken by red washes
 The house in question was a ricllety frame building. standing on long legs which gave it the air of having come merely topay the surrounding landscape morning call A great blaze of smoky freight iareti through the windows.
 A reply was prevented by the voice of Mir Whetstones mother from within You, Lishcrl hain't y had 'nough O settin on them air strps2 Git up, n come in to supper" adding with start ling suddenn"ss, Plague take th' fryn'- panl
 As the two men entered the illumin- ated cavern, q tall girl rose out of the darkness like a revelation In the un- certain light, her Counteuanco wavercd between beautiful and horrible; until d clearcr-lcapnig flame disclosed q wild soft mass of dusk hair, and features somewhat Egyptian in cast but accord ing we'll with the warm brown of her cheeks and the warm rcd of her lips.
 The gentlemen of Sinkcmsank did not find Suze Ann Whctstono handsome. They lowed she had mighty fine tggcr; but added that she was too dark-com- plectcd.
 Ilullo, Suzc Annl" said Spanish Jack. jocosely, "when'd you comb your hair las time? It looks like the devil fore day
 A remark that SuAe Ann could not al- together grasp, always turned her sullen. She was not tnimble-witted, so sho merely lNiiittl Nt't d7 SIlt SttltNl HtINtII ab llit table, "I dunno what you're talking bout"
 She raised to his face pair of eyes so dark that it seemed as if they must al most cast a shadow on anything they regarded. They had the look like the eyes of person slightly under the in huence of an opate giving the impress sion that the next stage of the trance might prove startling
 She did not seem as if she belonged to the Whetstonc family, Lishor him self was tall but of weedy growth. with an aquiline nose, and general sal lowness of coloring--a frequently re curing type Ill the piny woods He " favored his mother, except that her eyes had an evil expression, while his were merely tishy; and she had long, fangllke yellow teeth that reminded one of q row of forgotten tombstones.
 Ole Lissy Whetstone" was much feared by her neighbors. "I met up with Cory-don Oolam, yes day" re marked Lshcr, presently m he axed me to give him that air old bridle hang in in the shed, I hain't no use fer t."
 You're gittin mighty givey in yer ole age, Lisher, was Lissy's comment That Cory-don Oolam ain't never gone to do you no good turn He's small DC taters, n not many O them But you always was fool, Lisher"
 Well-hem! said Lisher, waiving a dlscussion-" he tole me there's camp meetin gone to be hilt nex' week"
 Where 'bouts2 asked Spanish Jack.
 Same ole place. That's whar Bob Ransom fit with Simon Blacksmith, n got his jaw broke, but he went on fight in, n never knowed his jaw was broke till twas all over. Y can't beat the rozzum-heels of ole Mississp' fer spunk"
 "Spunkl' echoed Spanish Jack, laughing contemptuously You folks don't know the meanin' O spunk. The's fellah up our way used to be always talkin' n braggin' he could whip his weight in wildcats. Him n me got into a sorter fuss swappin' hosses m he sneaked up behin' me, in Fighters sa- loon, n stabbed me in the side with his knife Then we clnched, n if they hadn't pl led II of'n him I'd tore him to pieces, though didn't have no weapon. l wish they'd a let us be. I'd a liked to killed him dry sol Reckon weighed him out one too many pounds O wildcats that time," he concluded,