The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-06
SIGNORA BELL0NI.

"Soho, old Spottie! Gently, Clover
gently, until I let the bars down."
The purple autumn sunset WAS glowing
in the west; the noise OF the little brook
sounded through woods which were fast
losing their last leaves, and the little
procession of COWS came mcditativcly
down the rocky pasture sloI Ies, stopping
here and there to decap.tate an especially
toothsome wild flower, or to MUNICH a
moathful of grass that was frcsher than
the ordinary. Aud behind them walked
tall, slender girl, wearing d.lrk-stuff
dress and sunbonnet of brown calico.
GIVE brought home the COWS, Mrs.
Oodd," said she, mcrrily, rs a wriuklcd
face peercd out Of the win low s.Shall
I milk now2 Just hand me the pals,
plea e. I know where to find the three
legged STOOL"
"Eut, child" said the pe-plcxcd Mrs.
Dodd, you can't milk"
care you sure of that" said the tall
girl, whose face, now that the sunbonnet
had fallen off, revealed rich olive COM
plexion, large, laughing eyes, and hair
blacker than the proverbial "raveu's
wing" "But, you see, never told you
how I used to milk my little lunch pail
full oct in the pastures when I went nut
ting, in Oc:oblr."
dap sad Mrs. Dodd.
"I have more accomplishments than
you are aware Of" added the girl.
"Well, any way, Pm glad you're safe
home, Miss Mary" sa d Mrs. Dodd.
''It's a sort of a wild place up on the hill
pasture, and Spottie is ugly with her
horns sometimes
"Spottie and 1 are the best friends in
the world" said Mary Bell, lightly
stroking the smooth sides of the horned
animal in question, as she walked along
toward the barnyard, with the mix
pals in her hand. "Make yourself
easy, Mrs. Codd. I will fodder the
cattle aad see that the barn is safely
isckcd up for the night"
Sim dreadful obleeged t. We, Miss
Mary" said Mrs. Dodd. 81 dunno what
I'd ha' done eff 'twasn't for you, in this
ere tight spot"
$50 that's your boarder, is it?" said
Mrs. Mattison, who had dropped in to
borrow a yeast-cake for the morrow's
baking. "i3oin' to stay long?'
'About month";" said Mrs. Dodd.
"She's powerful fond of the country.
You'd ought to see her Tide old Dobbin
to water! And she lives outdoors, like
gypsy, from mornin' till night"
"Nice-lookin enough" said Mrs. Mat.
tison.
$685." said the widow-tfor them
as likes dark-complected TO k. My
Phpbe was as fair as lily, with blue
eyes and skin that frecklcd if she sc
much as put her nose out in the SUM-
shine. But Miss Bell has been very good
tome since Moses run off after the trav-
elm circus AMI my knee got bad with
the rheumatic. She takes hold as handy
As possible about the h;use. l offered
to pay her wages, but sh, laughed right
out at the idee." 'ill take your six
dollars month, Miss Dodd, says she,
when Pm able to pay you for all the
kind care you've took of me since came
to Scramble Farm. Not but what she's
paid her board as punctual as clock,
added Mrs. Dodd. bat there was Q
spell along when she was rather droopin
and hadn't mu h appetite and I billed
up some herb tea, and s)rt Of cossetted
Ler with nice little homemade messes,
until she chirked up; AID she amt
forgot, it, you sce."
''Shop-ga', I s'posc?" said Mr.. Matti
SOD. These ere city folks gets sort
of a stylish way with 'em. She walk;
like a queen, though she hasn't got
nothin' but shilling dclaine and a cali
ker sunbonnet."
''No, she amt saleslady," said Mrs
Dodd, whose "PhUbe' was in that bust
ness, and who never allowed thc term
''shop girl" to pass uncorrec;ed in hel
presence. "She is singist."
"NIusical, ch3" said Mrs. Mattison,
pricklng up her ears. ''Iu church
choir2"
II guess likely said Mrs. Dodd. lift
ing the lid off the stew-pan to see if the
dried peaches were in proper stage fol
dishing up. "But dunno, Mary Bel
amt one that talks much. I sort o
reckon, though, that she sings at con,
eerts and plays the pianny at parties fol-
so much night. My Ph rbe says there's
folks as makes it reg lar business in
the city"
"You don't say!' cried Mrs. Mattison.
"Ycs, a rcg'lar business. Ny Ph rbe,
she used to be a great hand on the &c.
eordcon, but"
"Yes, I know" sad Mrs. Mattison,
who had many time listened to the re-
eital of "N1y Phobe's" varied accom-.
plishments and knew them all by heart.
''But if she sings, Mrs. Dodd, I guess the
church folks would be glad to get her to
sing at our concert on Monday week."
''Is it fur the new meetin''us' carpet3'
asked Mrs. Dodd, adding little more
sugar to the dried peaches.
'Not ezackly," said Mrs. Mattisou.
'Tt's our Ho tio as has got it up. It's
to raise money fur the choir to so to
New York in December aud hear the
Signora Bclloni sing in opera. Horatic