The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-11
necktis. and his pockets filled with pea
nuts and stick candy

brings no sad memories 10 her. but calls
up sweet dreams OF future happiness
Supper comes at sundown-a feast OF
crisp fried meat. hard biscuits and bitter
black coffee Even these were palatable.
however. after long days ride through
those desolate pine wilds. and MIR Stubs
invitation to set up and eat hearty" was
cheerfully accepted by the traveller
Soone's beau camo in during supper
fuzzy faced. silly looking young fellow.
who went quite of his head at the sight
Of the stranger and could only giggle and
look more foolish than ever
In Soonie's eyes. however. lie was evi-
IDENTIFY very precious piece of humanity.
though she cast many pleasant looks to-
ward the guest
AS soon "a the supper things were
cleared away Mrs Stubs fixed the
beds. " and instructing the traveller to lie
"along with the old man. she and Soonle
left the room.
You kin sleep In here with me, said
the old man. rubbing his bare feet Oh the
floor and tumbling into bed with only so
much preparation as hog might take
and was soon snoring frightfully, this
efIectually banished sleep so far as our
traveller was concerned In a few mo
ments the ladies' came back into the room
and Mrs Stubbs turned in.
Soone and John Henry were now left
alone before the great fireplace. she stand
ing on one side Of the hearth nervously
towing with china cup and saucer OF
gaudy pattern. her only treasure except
Caring chrome of Joseph and His Breth
rem" which hung on the wall. while he
chewed vigorously and cxpectorated freely
to the imminent risk of injuring her sun
day dress How silly and frightened he
looked as Soonie, seating herself. began
idly picking at her frock. blushing Wv
idly. and left the opening Of the even
ing's exercises entirely with him.
Saw mighty big chicken fight up ter
the store this evenn. huh. huh, said he
did you. he he; which whuppedY said
she.
The ice was broken. and when the trav
eler again looked toward them their chairs
we're hopeessly jammed, and all outlines
were confused.
1t may have been that the presence OF
the handsome and well dressed stranger
prompted John Henry to unusual boldness
to-night; at any rate he was soon telling
his love In true backwoods Eeroics II he
was bashfu aIrd awkward. she was coy
and shy Perhaps she, too was thinking
of the traveller and comparing his easy
unstudied grace with John Henry heavy
numbering manner She held back and
besitated long before putting her promise
into words
"Oh, Soonic, he finally blurted out, "ii
you likes me. and don't likes to say so.
just squoze my hand"
This appeal was probably irresistible
for the next moment there was quite
reciprocity in the hugging line between
them-quite unanimous. in fact. Her
heavy masses of auburn hair hung over
his shoulders. and her bangs were ali
mussed up with his carroty forelocks
while tho red ribbon at her throat and his
flaming necktie were indistlnguishably
| mingled.
The fire burned slowly out and was not
repenished. but Henry staid until the
traveller, with many sad memories tug
ging at his own heart. drew the cover
over his head and slept. despite the snor
ing of his strange old bed fellow
When he awoke the next morning the
entire family had been long up The old
man was out feeding the stock. Mrs
Stubs sat In the doorway smoking and
looking down the lonely road thinking
perhaps. of that fair, brave hearted boy
who so long ago went out that way to
| Zine Guv'ner Brown. as tho smoke
curled blue and lazily from her pipe,
Soonie was making bread at a table few
| feet from the bedside
Good mawnin'. she said, with smile
on her ripe red lips. which looked sweet
and tempting until he thought of John
Henrys tobacco stained mouth and shud
dered
You'd better be gittin' up" she said
break fas' Is most ready
| yet up III Certainly WIS ilIIe 10 get
up, but how was that to be done with a
blooming and bright eyed young lady.
looking calmly on at distance of six feet
How he suffered as the time few onward
and she loitered about the table, and
would not go away nor turn her back upon
him. The biscuits were all made and she
began to set the table, calling him lazy
boy" and again telling him it was time
ito git up an wash.
year later the traveller returned that
way
half mile up the road he stopped at a
new one roomed cabin and in the doorway
sat Soonie with cob pipe in her mouth.
and she was alternately knitting and rock
ing white haired baby In the piny
woods oil the children have white hair A
dog inside the house growled heavily. but
was quickly silenced Soonie recognized
the traveller and called her husband
John Henry came slowly into view from
behind the house. elected a shower of to
bacco juice upon a flower bed. threw a
well worn "chaw" among the struggling