The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-28

hang the entire wardrobes of all the family. Two tall beds fill the rear oi the cabin, and under one of these "Watch" is growing at the strangers voice and sleepily scratching feas.
 Soonie is preparing supper, ire quently casting expectant glances up the sandy road.
 It is Saturday afternoon, and her sweetheart will soon come whistling merrily from among the pines, arrayed in suit of new clothes, with white shirt and red necktie, and his pockets filled with peanuts and stick candy.
 She is radiant in a new speckled calico dress, with flowers in her hair, and knot of red ribbon at her throat that beautifully 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 MT. Stubbs' invitation to "set up and eat hearty" was cheerfully accepted by the traveller.
 Soonie's beau came in during sup per, a 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 evidently very precious piece of hu- manity, though she cast many pleas ant looks toward the guest. AS soon as the supper things were cleared away Mrs. Stubbs "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 a hog might take, and was soon snoring frightfully; this etfectually banished sleep so far as our traveller was con- cerned. In few moments the ladies came back into the room and Mrs. Stubbs turned in.
 Soonie and John Henry were now left alone before the great fire- place, she standing on one side of the hearth nervously toying with china cup and saucer of gaudy pattern, her only treasure except flaring chromo of "Joseph and His Brethren" which hung on the wall, while he chewed vigorously and expectorated freely to the imminent risk of injuring her Sunday dress. How silly and fright ened he looked as Soonie, seating her. self, began idly picking at her frock, blushing vividly, and left the opening of the evenings 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 traveller again looked toward them their chairs were hopelessly jammed, and all outlines were confused.
 It may have been that the presence of the handsome and well-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 think ing of the traveller and comparing his easy, unstudied grace with John Henry's heavy, numbering manner. She held back and hesitated long be- fore putting her promise into words.
 "Oh, Soonie," he finally blurted out, Eff you likes me, and don't like to say so, just squoze my hand"
 This appeal was probably irresisti- ble, 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 all mussed up with his carrotty forelocks, while the red rib bon at her throat and his flaming necktie were indistinguishably min- gled.
 The fire burned slowly out and was not replenished, but Henry staid until the traveller, with many sad memories tugging at his own heart, drew the cover over his head and slept, despite the snoring of his strange old bed fellow.
 When he awoke the next morning the entire family had long been up The old man was out feeding the stock Mrs. Stubbs sat in the doorway smok- ing and looking down the lonely road thinking, perhaps, of that fair, brave hearted boy who so long ago went out that way to 'jine Guv'ner Brown" as the smoke curled blue and lazily from her pipe Soonie was making bread al a table few feet from the bedside. l (kGooI oLS Ill ---.AA =