The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-09-14
ABRVM'S MATCHMAKING

In the war, had sunk to the level o flhost
who had served her, and lived with hel
two daughters in painful poverty upon
the ruin Of her old splendor. Auulie
aud the young ladies picked berries
worked in the felds-did everything
possible TO feed her and themselves,
The girls did not appear at this time
to DO present, though the horsemen
strained their eyes looking for them.
1t was with Abrum that the surveyors
became first acquainted. Like the imp
Of darkness that he was, he smoked,
Chewed, sang, danced, swore, and was
happy, lie followed tho N%oEthernera
about like a pet dog, and was always
willing to do them a favor.
As he handed them the gourd offspring
water this morning he leered at them
and wickedly suggested:
"Dey amt uOWhars around"
"De gals, oh course, OATS who you
wants TO see."
Frank threw the water at him aud he
and Homer rode away,
The next morning when Frank en-.
tered the carpenter shop where the SUI.
veyors kept their Instruments no was
startled TO see Abrum's eyes glazing gu:
from a pile OF shavings.
"Get,up you little scampl"
"Kase what fer, Mas'r Yank2 2" replied
the youth.
YOU'RE too dirty 10 be here"
"Yeh amt goin' ter cat desc shavin's,
DO YEP and Abrum opened wide bis
eyes in assumed surprise.
mo, but | don't like such a dirty boy
"Huhl" exclaimed Abrum; "ef you
knowed what | knows you'd let ue sLay
here an gin me q chaw besides"
mo, | wouldn't. But what's the 10.
cret%
Gimme a q%ualterT"
"YGs."
"0ur young ladies is powerful han.
some, an dey's sweet, too, an you iellers
is sweet on 'em. OATS It,"
"But they always run when we are
around"
"Dat's cause OBJ old missus. She's
proud and cross rs lle evil one; but'de
gals don't care-dey'd Jest as soon have
Yanks as enybody. Missus hates
YNnEs.h
as that oil the secret for a quarter?"
us you 'ligious%
III hope So"
"So's dey. When dey can sneak of,
dey goCs up to dc Bend, and teaches Ia
de mig Sunday school. II you goes up
mex Sunday You'll see 'em an hear 'etn
sing. Dey's powerful sweet singers"
"But what's the seCret?"
"Dat's part OF 1t, dc res is dat deydone
tired out wild bein' iriz an starved an
not lowed to teach or sew ner nothin'
OATS nice-an' deyll marry You iellers
II you ask 'em."
"0h, you're lying"
II doesn't have ter lie," said Abrum,
drawing himself up proudly, ~ kin get
my llvin' widout, But don't you tell
on me 'er missus'll skin mealive. twas
skinned alive twice last week"
Frank did not tell on him, but the
next Sunday and for many Sundays
thereafter two bugRies instead OF one
were standing near the mig school
house" at the Bend during the session
OF Sunday school and one OF them be.
longed TO Frank and his associate,
Homer Wilson.
OF course they were not long In DO.
coming acquainted with the pretty,
modest, but poorly.Clad Dalgreen girls,
Kate and Fannie; and before many
weeks the return drive was made DO.
tween the school house and the old
mansion with Kate and Frank In one
buggy and Fanny aud Homer In the
other.
One hot July afternoon the quartette
took their usual drive through the woods
and, tying the horses, entered the school
house TO spend an hour with the Colored
truth seekers.
1t was one Of Abrum's mischievous
days. Without much difficulty he in.
duCed q Chum OF bis to drive one rig,
while he took the other, and In a short
time they were out Of sightdo%n the road
They went further than they intended,
and soon 1t was too late TO return to the
Bend. Besides. a storm was coming UP
and Abrum argued that the young folks
must be home by that time any way, so
he drove there and hltched the horses
in the stable.
When the Sunday school was over
the people coming from the school
house found their conYeyances gone
and a storm arising from the south,
With rapid pace they set out through
the forest'lined path homeward. Tie
wind bent the tall magnollas until they
seemed like stalks OF corn, 90 easily did
they sway. Dark clouds drifted across
tliOsky and the l%lghtning's flashes sent
terror TO tho hearts Of the young ladies'.
0vertaken by the fury OF the storm
when about half the journey was com:
pleted the party found refuge In d dill.
apldated hut, where for two hours they
stayed, until the rain ceaSing they were
able 10 resume their way.
Just why tho common danger brought
them closer together Is hard 10 explRIn
but u Is certain that as Kate and Fan.
ME chung To- their cavaliers the latter
were endowed with a tender holiness
that enabled them 10 whisper words
very sweet 10 tue Southern ear. And
when they came onco more into the
bright glory Of tho sunset the faces Of
the qnartette shonD with such a Ulster
that Il seemed aB though the Ilphtninr
bad left some Of iB Bplendor Ia lheit
features. "
But the hardest part was yet 10 come.
When the surveyors arrived al The home
Of their charges aud had had q settle.
tnent with Abrum and his duBky con.
iedOtate, they sought umIssuB," whom
they had only Been-neVer met
"My children have the blood Of the
Dalgrcens In their veins and shall moi
associate with low.hred Northern work,
men who make railroads aud such dlfty
thlngs," was her answer 10 their clam,
nef6d explanation Of their aCquAhlAnCg
with her daughters,
"pe blood OBJ do HddleltiCks," put Ii
aunlie, Indignantly. "You n0uRht bl
glad dat desc 'spgGAble Christian gentle
men would look al us, poor aud tagget
as xpiS.n
"Yo1 hain't any more spirit than {
nnoF Whilh. aualihM anhhad Aha tntaiEonl