San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-06-19

toons from the rafterS overhead. along
with home raised hams, ears Of popcorn
and bags of unknown contents; on pegs
about the walls hang the entire ward
robes of all the family. Two tall beds gil
the rear Of the cabin. and under one Of
these Watch is growing at the strangers
voice and sleepily scratching heas.
Soonie is preparing supper. frequently
casting expectant glances up the sandy
road.
1t Is Saturday afternoon, and her sweet
heart will soon come whistling merrily
from among the pines, arrayed IN a suit
of new clothes. with white shirt and red
necktie, and his pockets filed with pea
nuts and stick candy.
She Is radiant in q new speckled calico
dress. with flowers in her hair. and knot
of red ribbon at her throat that beauti-
fully matches her cheeks The old road
brings no sad memories to 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 Mr.. Stubs
invitation to set up and eat hearty" was
cheerfully accepted by the traveller.
Soonie's beau came in during supper.
fuzzy faced. silly looking young fellow,
who went quite off his head at the sight
Of the stranger and could only giggle and
look more foolish than ever.
In Soonie's eyes, however. he was EVIL
IDENTIFY a very precious piece of humanity,
though she cast many pleasant looks to-
ward the guest.
As soon as the supper things were
cleared away Mrs. Stubs fixed the
beds" and instructing the traveller to lie
along with the old man, she and Soonie
left the room
You kin sleep in here with me-, said
the old man, rubbing his bare feet on the
floor and tumbling into bed with only so
much preparation as hog might take,
and was soon snoring frightfully; this
effectually banished sleep so far as our
traveller was concerned In few mo-
ments the ladies came back into the room
and Mrs Stubs turned in
Soonie and John Henry were now left
alone before the great fireplace, she stand
ing on one side of the hearth nervously
toying with a china cup and saucer of
gaudy pattern. her only treasure except
aarlng chrome of Joseph and His Breth-
rem" which hung on the wall. while he
chewed vigorously and expectorated 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 tho even
ing's exercises entirely with him.
Saw mighty big chicken fight up ter
the store this even'n', huh. huh" said he.
did you. he-he; which whupped?" said
She
The ice was broken. and when the trav-
eler again looked toward them their chairs
were hopelessly jammed, and all outlines
were confused.
1t may have.been that the presence of
the handsome and we'll dressed stranger
prompted John Henry to unusual boldness
tonight; at any rate he was soon telling
his love in true backwoods heroics. If he
was bashful and awkward. she was coy
and shy. Perhaps she. too. was thinking
of the traveller and comparing his easy,
unstudied grace with John Henry's heavy,
numbering manner. She held back and
hesitated long before putting her promise
into words.
"Oh, Soonie, he finally blurted out. eff
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 a
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 the red ribbon at her throat and his
flaming necktie were indistinguishably
mingled.
The fire burned slowly out and was not
replenished. 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
lime Guv'ner Brown" as the smoke
curled blue and lazily from her pipe;
Soonie was making bread at table few
feet from the bedside.
l.