The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-06-18

tracks; she would have done so from tha
impress of one toe, and perhaps viii
equal probability. She turned on the
still sobbing Tina like a witch of the Mid
die Ages. "And SO you've given Eddard
the mitten because he's richI"
"Aunt Nabbyl" exclaimed the poor
girl, "what makes you say that2 Oh
don't! / never said so. Oh, it's so dis
don'tl'
But Aunt Nabby was not to be STAYED
or gainsaid when she had " got her head
as they say about horses; she went right
on with emphasis and dispatch.
"Of al the ev~erlastin' fools I ever did
see, you do beat all. Here's every other
gal in Coventry a%-runnin' after him be-
cause ne has got money, and you're run
nun away for no better reason. Tiny
Kent, look me square in the face. Donf
you like Ned Wylde"
Tina struggled in vain in the grip OF
this incarnate destiny; the quick blood
crimsoned all her fair face before she
could bury it in the pillow. No further
answer was needfuL.
"O-hl you like him, and he likes you,
and wants to marry you, and there's
nothin' to hinder; but you can't have him
because he's rich. Well, 1 do say, fools
amt all dead yet. Now set right up In
the bed and bark to me. You pretend TO-
despise money and you let it come be-
twixt you and the teller you like, just as
if it was the Lord above. I call that
thinkin' a sight more of money than most
folks do. I don't hold to marryin' any
body unless you like EN- amazinIy-love
EN-, l suppose you call it; and I think q
girl who marries a man for money, when
she don't love him, had better be tied I'M
IN a halter and hanged to begin with; she
amt worth raisin' any way. But why
IN the created universe if you do like q
man well enough to marry him any way,
you should send him off because he's got
one leg, or red hair, or bank stock, or q
crooked nose beats me-"
Tina had to laugh, which was one point
gained, but Aunt Nabby hadn't done yet.
Moreover and mostover, you'd oughter
thank the Lord that he has got money If
you're going to marry him; for though
you're real pretty lookin' and good-natured
enough for week days, ~and some smart
about book learning, you amt no more
lit to be a poor mans wife than you be to
fly. Did you ever mend your stockings,
or make your clothes, or knead up q
batch of bread, or do anything under the
light of the moon to help you get your
own Twin? No more'n a posey in the
garden. And I tell you, Tiny Kent, poor
men can't have posies to live on; it takes
grit to be a poor mans wife, and you
haven't got enough to put in the core Of
a winter pear"
"1-I-perhaps / could learn" sobbed
poor Tiny.
"No, you couldn't; 'taln't in We. What
amt in a man never'll come out O. him.
Well, [ won't poster you no more to-day,
get up and come down to your breakfast;
there's fresh peaches and cream, and puff
cakes and Drilled chicken. Poor fools
don't get them for breakfast. I'd like to
see you eatin' pork and cabbagel'
Clementine shuddered.
CHOW get up, child; and the next
time Ned Wylde asks you to have him,
remember your old aunty's preachment
and don't be twice a fool"
ooh, aunty, he never, never willl'
and here another food of tears drowned
the dawning roses on Tina's countenance.
"Well, if you're cryin' for that it's a
hopeful sign, that's certain. Mebbe he
will and mebbe he won't; but that amt
to-day's business; the present distress 10
to have you eat your breakfast like O
rational human bein', and the chickens
gettin' cold"
Clementine obeyed like some chidden
child, and though rather paler and more
languid than ever, did full justice to her
breakfast; another hopeful sign, Aunt
Nabby thought.
Ned Wylde did not return, however,
that day, nor many days thereafter,
though he did not leave Coventry; and
Tina had time enough to find out how
dreary her life would be without him.
and to indorse fully Aunt Nabby's esti-
mate of her character and conduct.
And Mr.. Wylde found out too that it
was not easy to take emo" for an answer,
even when that no was as decided as
Tina's; but a certain amount of self-re-
spect forbade him to appear intrusive or
importunate, and at last it occurred to
him to take counsel with Aunt Nabby,
whom he had known as long as his smother,
and who would be better able to explain
the cause of Tinas behavior than anyone
else; for, after all, man-fashion, he
cherished a secret faith that the girl was
not quite Indifferent to him. I am sorry
to say that Aunt Nabby not only chuckled
herself, but really evoked a smile on the
g~entleman's rueful countenance during
that private interview; but, being a lover,
he probably viewed Clementine's motives
in a little different light from that Of
Aunt Nabby's frosty common sense. Yet
he left that energetic old lady with o
great amount of grateful acknowledge
ments, and finding Tina alone in the sum
mer parlor, put his fate to the touch
again, and was-not rejected at least,
though there was very little positive ac-
ceptance in what she made audible to
his ear. But a look, a blush, a smile, two
dropping tearsl-what will you have7
Because we are old, shall there be no
more lovers and kisses? Cupid forbidr
The sacred rage of all and sundry