The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-01-18
4 WINTER VACATION.
AND WHAT CAME OF 1T.

AND WHAT CAME OF 1T.
1t was not at all creditable to him, but
It was nevertheless Tact that Tom Bron
son went down to East Wheclerville on a
two weeks mid-winter vacation in q
secklessly fippant mood, and deliber-
stely intending to have a good time,
whether or no.
"They're an awful 'backwoodsy set,
you know" he had said to his friend,
Ernest Wilson, digniied young doctor,
whom he took with him. "Oh, I don't
laying it-Aunt Sally's only step great
aunt, anyhow. Oh, yes, they're the real
article, she and Uncle 'Rastus -cowhide
boots and calico dresses, and rag carpets
and pumpkin PIE, and all that sort of
thing Well have lots of fun!'
II don't propose to have fun at the ex.
pense of your relatives, Bronson, and
trust you don't, "the doctor had rejoined,
reproSingly; at which Tom had merely
laughed.
The doctor need not have concerned
himself. Toms ironical mood lasted
about half an hour after their arrival in
East Wheelerville, and vanished for
good.
Uncle 'Rastus met them at the station
with lumber wagon and q cordial "How
be you" and twenty minutes later they
were sitting. washed and brushed and
hungry, at Aunt Sally's supper-table,
with Uncle 'Rastus dishing ham and
eggs, and Aunt Sally, stout and bene-
violently beaming, turning tin of
biscuits in the oven.
Tom called the attention of his friend,
In subdued tones, to the picture of
George Washington on the wall, and the
yellow almanac under it, and to the tin
teapot and the mug of teaspoons, and
fhe absence of butter-plates.
'They don't have dining-rooms in
East Wheelerville, you know" he MUIR
INJURED, with chuckle. "They eat in
the kitchen year in aud year"
"Susy," called Aunt Sally, as she put
she hot, brown biscuits on the table,
''you can bring the strained honey, too /;
mebbe they'll like some o. that"
There was rustic in the pantry, its
half-shut door swung back, and through
1t, bearing in one hand an amber-hued
bottle, and in the other blue plate and
trickling slice of honeycomb, came a
girl in a long gingham apron-a dark
syed, yellow haired, fair-fsced, start
lngly pretty girl.
Tom dropped his fork, and stared with
open eyes and mouth. Wilson, with
greater presence of mind, only looked
admiringly over the milk pitcher.
'This is Susy Harkness," said Aunt
Sally. with brisk cordiality and straight
forward phrasing. "Susy. this is my
nephew, Tom Bronson; and this is
Doctor Wilson, a friend O. his he's
brought"
The young men rose and bowed; and
Susy sat down, and deftly and grace
fully dished the honey, and smilingly
passed it.
Tom sat staring, with dazzled eyes
and continued to stare during the three
quarters of an hour OF supper-time.
He was distinctly aware of nothing
save the astonishingy pretty face oppo-
ate.
He could not have been more dazed
aud confused had a heavenly being
dropped through the ceiling.
A stunning girl in East Nhcelerville,
and at Aunt Sally's. Who was she9
Tom looked at the gingham apron. 1t
was hard to believe that she was merely
Hhelp;" but the fact seemed indisputable.
He knew that servants always ate with
the family in the country. But he re-
membered Aunt Sally's last "help"-a
sleepy, dough-faccd girl, with shoes
down at the heel.
Whore had this this angel como from
Whcw but how pretty she was!
Tom did not know whether he was
eating or not; but he thought he was
probably making a passable pretcnse,
since nobody was observing him psrticu.
larly.
They were talkiug--Cncle 'Ra~tus,
Aunt Sa ly, Wilson and she. How sweet
she looked when she talked! And the
doctor was conversing with her quite
calmly and nationally.
Tom was dimly amazed at his cold,
bloodcdness. He rose from the table
slowly, since the rest were do ng so, and
submitted to being led into the sitting
room, with his head screwed backward
to get last glimpse of Aunt Sally's
charming hired-girl, who was swiftly
clearing the table.
"Weil." he burst forth, sinking into d
chair hy the glowing stove, and gaping
1T his friend.
His tlippancy was gone; his iocost
sarcasm wa' II thing of the past. II,
was deeply serious.
"Wclis@ said the doctor. collectively
"Good grucious!' sad Tom, e>plo
sively; ''did you ever see such a dar
ling"
SOh, the cook" said Wilson. shuttin:
she stove damper. "Ycs, she's pretty
BIT don't lose your head over pre,t
ri. Bronson; the woods are full o
tIelnw
ilson picked up Life OF Wash
iugi IN" from the table and began to rca'
it; and Tom, after a drcarily wistfu
pause, stole into the kitchen.
susy stood at the sink with her sleeve
relied to her plump elbows, washing
~ g Aunt S,ii N.as stirring yeas