The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-11

"It was Geronimo, then!
"Wrong again" corrected lothian.
"But perhaps your Major realizes that 1t
isn't very necessary to be accurate in his
"reminiscences, when women are con-
cerncd."
"Jotham, how can you be so unjust9"
flashed up Eloise. "My Major, indeed!
I've great mind never tc speak to you
again"
And it ended in lothian Merrywise's
inviting Theodosia Miner to go with
him upon the famous picnic party, whose
ostensiblc purpose was to search for
chcstnuts on the rocky slopes of Rattle
snake Hill, the spur of mountain some
few miles to the eastward of the village
Thco was not so radiantly pretty as
Eloise, neither had she so much to say
for herself, but she had winsome.
shrinking-violet sort of way with her,
and in her quiet manner there was some
thing infinitely restful to lothian Merry
wise's perturbed spirit.
And Theo sat up nearly all night to
"do up" her one white piquc gown, with
its lace frills, and retrim the Gainsboro'
straw hat, whose roses had been drenched
by last Sundays unexpected shower.
The day, take it all in all, could hardly
be reckoned as success. 1t did not alb
solutely rain, but the sun hid his face and
sulked behind the clouds, and q dreary
wind blew down drifts of damp, yellow
leaves, instead of the uch-coveted chest
nuts.
And somehow the assemblage, seemed
incongruous, and did not assimilate. The
village beaux were undeniably wet
blanketed by the loquacity of the Major;
their Sunday suits were outshone by the
blue and gold that he persisted in wear,
inc in-season and out of season.
"Whatever we say" sighed Hiram
Penefether, dejectedly, "he's ready to 60
us one better"
"Nice place this mountain" said the
Major, "but it isn't to be compared with
the Sierras. And as for evergreen forests
Il Just wish you had seen the woods at
Lake NIistassini, where camped last
summer. As for rattlesnakes-"
At that moment piercing scream rent
the air. The Major jumped up from the
tree stump where he was sitting, a sar'
dine sandwich in one hand a wedge Of
marble-cake in the other. Two meddle.
some little lads had pried amoss-enameleo
rock from its resting place. 1t fell with
aresounding crash down the steep mount
ain side, revealing most startling sight.
"By George, a nest of rattlers!
shouted George Ducey.
The little group scattered in all direc
tions. One or two girls tainted, the
children ran away; an ominous sound o1
Kissing filled the air. lothian Merry,
wise sprang from his seat at Theodosia
Miners side.
"Hello, Major!" said he, "here's an
opportunity to try the back-of-the-neck
knack. Or you might do little snake
charming-eh3"
But Major Bathurst had turned very
pale. He droppa This sardine sandwich
and took promptly to his heels, speeding
down the mountain like practiced
runner trying for the stakes.
Elcise had sprang up, too, but on the
default of her cavalier, stood there with
dilated eyes and crimsoned cheeks, over
come half with indignant modification,
half with terror.
eft would almost appear" said Mer.
rywise, picking up a convenient jagged
stone, s'as if the valiant cavalry officer
was afraid"
"Kill 'em, somebody" bawled Major
Bathurst, from the bottom of the hill.
'I've constitutional horror of snakes.
My mother was just so, and my grand
father on the Bathurst side. If you'll
just step down this way, Miss Eloise"-
with tardy sense of his social response
bilities-"I'lls see that you are protected y
81 need not go so far as that to be
protected, said Eloise, haughtily. "You
can come back, Major; Mr.. Merrywise
has killed the rattlesnake."
"Got b,tten9 Whisky's good fol
that-or 4 red-hot iron to cauterize the
wound" shouted back the Major. 81
guess I'd better go for the doctor.
There amt a second of time to be lost!'
And he vanished, leaving Miss Elton
to return from the picnic ground as best
she might.
can old rattler and two young ones
eh9" said Squire Elton, when he came
home the next evening. .'And Joe Mer'
rywise killed 'em all, did he9 Well
sooner he than me. 1t takes good dea
of straight out pluck to tackle a good
old fashioned rattler, such as used tc
grow on Rattlcsnake Hill, though I did
suppose they were all hunted out long
ago. But Jotham's one of the kind that
isnt't easily scared. So the Major showed
'em clean pair of heels, did he9 Well
I've sort of mistrusted that fellow all
along. His big stories were somehow
too big to be true"
"The cowardI" cried Eloise-'tc
leave us all to perish! He need never
come here again!"
"Well, don't think he will" chuckled
the squire. ~ saw 'em pilin' big trunk
up on the stage as I passed the hotel, and
the initials on the end were 'B. B.,
which I take to be Basil Bathurst, with
". S. A. in extra big letters, painted
underneath. By-the-way, Theo MilneI
is going to have that snake skin cured
and mounted for her parlor cabinet ot
curiosities.
"Theo Milncr!" repeated Eloise, red
dening the roots of her bright auburn
hair. "What business has she with it,