The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-03-30
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
 We had made such progress with our work that the colonel suggested the advisability of casting about for publisher, and for this purpose, it decided that 1 should visit Louisville The house. hold was astir early one morning in November The servants went about carrying lamps into the store-ro and out into the smoke house. and the dogs, thrilled with the memory of many a raccoon fight at day break, trotted up and down the gall lery, whining and snifing the air. The colonel stirred his toddy standing at the old brass knobbed sideboard in the dining room, and Mrs. Osbury drawn hither and thither by suddenly arising demands, busted herself with preparations for my departure. She afraid that might forget to take comforter to wrap about my ears, for she knew that the weather was going to turn cold and, in a most delicate way-I hardly know how she asked if 1 were that my underclothing was thick enough. She knew that we were never SO likely to take cold as when were away from home, and she thought that, especially in the fall of the year, every one, just before leaving home should put on wOoen underwear. Old Buck came down, declaring that he hadn't slept wink, but he seemed to recognize the necessity of taking an "eye- opener" for he mixed long toddy and drank it with a noisy "swig." Luzelle came into the dining room just as we sat down to breakfast. She spoke to me, while on her face there shone the faintest light of smile; and standing the fire place. she held her hands out over the blaze. When she had sat down, old Buck looked straight at her with his bulging eyes (and indeed, he could have looked at her with other kind, for a buging pair all he had), shook his head slowly, and remarked:
 "Ah, Lord.'
 "What's the matter now, Uncle Buck?"
 "Oh, nothing, nothing"
 "Why did you look at me so hard and say, 'ah Lord?'"
 "Oh, was just thinking-just thinking what difference has come over girls since my day know when they used to be out of bed and at the hand-loom way before day"
 "Did they do it because they wanted to or be- cause they had to?"
 "Makes no difference, they did it."
 "Well, we'll" said the colonel "let it go. know all about those days. I know that l used to blow before breakfast when was boy, and I know that look back it now with a shudder Never plowed any, did you Buck?"
 The old fellow gave the colonel hard look, with his jaws half open, as though the motion of chewing might lessen the necessary intensity of gaze and, slowly shaking his head, muttered like negro who has been confronted with petty theft.
 "Remington," Mrs. Osbury whispered, "dont worry him."
 "I am sure that, even if ncle Buck never plowed any, he once spaded up flower bed for me-" said Luzelle, glancing mischievouslY at her father.
 "Who the deuce said never plowed any, missie?" Buck exclaimed. "I have plowed early at morning that had to hang lanterns on the names so could see the corn rows"
 "Pretty dark morning that, Buck" the colonel replied.
 Mrs. Osbury looked up with twinkling in her eyes "Mr. Burwood," said she, "when you are in Louisville you may some of the men who worked for George D. Prentice"
 The colonel winced at this reminder of his expe- rience with the former pen- servants of the great journalist, but, determined not to surrender with out an effort, spoke up as with the quickness of