The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-01
CAUGHT IN A MAN-TRAP.
MOSS SETTLE MAKES 4 REPUTA-
TON BUT LOSES HIS GIRL

the Rind of a Baked Shote-rhey All
Go 20 the Circus and Andy Gets the
Critic the Anger of Rivals-Caught
in Bear Trap.
From the NeD York World.
It was Sunday morning in a wildly
beautiful neighborhood Great trees MUIR
INJURED above the country road, and the
velvety leaves on the hazel underbrus b
whispered silken sentences. Not far away
the hoofs Of horses clattered over a flinty
point of land where the dying saw-grass
stood as if begging for sustenance. There
was merry laughter in the woods, and
hard by, at an old log house on the hill,
gaudy ribbons blazed under the sun
beams. What was it all aboutG Old
Hig Dalch's daughter Lib was going
to be married. All what belle
she was, with her great black eyes and
whirlwind Of brown hair; and ahl during
the busy season, when every nerve was
strained in the pitching of tue corn crop,
how she could with graceful sweep follow
bull-tongue plough up the loamy slope OF
the hillsidel Moss Settle, the bridegroom
elect had been a sutton for a number of
years, but, on account of the obscure posi-
constant repulses, but sudden and fortu-
nate turn of affairs lifted him into promi-
hence and success.
He had been detected and knew not that
| the hour of his victory was at hand. 1t
came about in this way: Moss was sitting
on a rail fence, musing over the darkness OF
his future, when old Hamp Bly, came aloug.
Hamp had been known to grab steer and
make him bawl for mercy, and then, with
out show of pride, or indeed without
taking any refreshments, had smashed
ballot-box with his fist he
was not only elected constable, but be-
came the leader Of society, superseding Al
Beers, whose only recommendation was the
fact that he bad once started a balky horse
Well while Moss was sitting on the fence,
| lamp came along and asked him II the sun
hadn't warped his corn rows, they were so
crooked. This is the greatest insult that
| can be offered in backwoods community
| of the south, and Moss, without considering
| the social standing of old Hamp, sprang
upon him and checked him until his tongue
lolled out. When old Hig Dalch heard Of
this he sent for Moss and in a tremulous
voice, but strong breath, said, lib is
yourn."
Andy Moore, who for a long time had
sought the girls hand, approached old Hig
| who sat in the doorway, crunchlng the rInd
of a baked shote, and said:
Moss is goin' to git powerful tne lady,
Mr.. Dalch."
'He is, an nothIn' shorter" the old man
81 wanted her myself mighty, but sich
ar fate"
'Yas, Jest about SIGH"
81 b'leve | would make her a better hus-
band"
THAT mout be, but whar is yo' creden-
tialsl You amt done nothin' to win the
never dyin' love of a gal that kin skin a
squirrel like liftin' a sock often clothes
| line"
"It's becaze / never had a chance. Mr..
Dalch."
"Oh, you have just had as much chance
as anybody Chances don't come TO mans
house and boiler hello at the fence; they lie
hid, an eff you want em you got to skeer
'em up. Wonder why Moss don't come
| onP
"Mebby he's in the other room with the
gals"
Just then Lib came out and asked dad,
| have you seed Moss7n
| mo; lowed he war with you"
~ amt seed him, an it is dun past time.
| Wonder eff he thinks a woman kin wait all
day to be marrieda Somebody go out thar
an blow the hon, an if he hears 1t he will
think it's dinner time an come up, sho."
| They blew the horn, but Moss did not
old man. HE never failed to be on time
befo'"
"Oh, reckon he's dun forgot it," Andy
| Moore rejoined
"Wall, l must say that weddins Is
putty thing to furgit." the girl replied.
"You air too putty a thing fur me ever to
furgit," said Andy. bestowing upon her
look Of melting tenderness. Now look here,
Lib he don't kesr enough for you to come,
so you marry me- Thar is jestice of the
peace, and he can make out the papers"
80, no; KANT do that. He's we'll fixed
an you amt got nothin' much"
i've got COW that he KANT tech"
Eyes, but he's got SIX feather beds that
his mother gave him."
"Wall, but I've got shuck mattress that
amt to be sneezed at unless you've got a
powerful bad cold"
"Whut's the use of tslkin' nonsenseF'
said old Dalch. ''You amt good enough
fur her an that settles it."
| "Say," Andy remarked, after a short
| silence, thar is goin' to be a circus over at
Shady Grove to-morrer. War a-talkin' to
Moss about goin' thar, but he lowed that
he wouldn't be kotch in SIGH place"
The girls eyes sparkled What ~ she
exclaimed, "a sho' huff circus, with bosses
in it?o
"Yas, an with carry-all load of mon
keys"
"An have they got woulf an barp
"Yas, an a elephant"
"But have they got tiger an a beautiful
lady that rides hossF
''Yas, got all that an mo- too"
20, | wish Icould gow
EFF you'll marry me to-day I'll take you
there tomorrow.
"Will you take me, uoop exclaimed old
Dalch. springing to his feet.
"Yas, I'll take you. too"
The gals yourn, Andy. Git that Teller
to fix up the papers"
Late that evening while old Dalch was
wandering about in the creek bottoms,
looking for his COW, he thought he heard
some one calling, and, turning aside, he dis
covered low hut built of enormous logs.
The old fellow was puzzled, for he had
never seen the hut before, nor could be tell
why it should have been built, as it was toe
small for a human habitation, and had nc
roof except a number of heavy logs on top.
As he neared the hut he saw that 1t was as
strong as a fortress, and, looking still
closer, he saw a face pressed close against a
small opening. The old man took fright
and was about to run away when plead
ing voice babe him stay.
Its me Dalch Don't you know me-
I'm Moss Settle"
My Moss, what on the top Of the yeth
air you dom In tharT the old fellow ex-
claimed, approaching the pile of logs.
"Oh, the scoundrela But never mind, LET
me out"
at don't knoxv how. don,f kpoU how r.