The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-11-27
jim.

kitchen, but Deborah's quick ears caught
little chuckle as he went out the door.
"Ill give it to you some day, you
young rascal, IL you carry away my
thingsw went on Deborah, shaking her
fist at the little fellow.
What's the matter, Deborah asked
her mistress, coming into the kitchen.
"Oh, it's that Jiml He's always up to
mischief 1t comes material to that
gypsyish sort to be tricky and sneaky,
and there's no such thing as gettin' EN-
out of it."
.'If it's natural to them we ought to
make some allowance for it," said Mrs.
Graham, with q smile, as she helped
Deborah to hunt for the missing pepper
pot.
"No use a-harborin' such, seems to
me-" said Deborah.
May be So" said Mrs. Graham, "but
none of us somehow seems to have the
heart to drive him away"
II have" said Deborah very decid-
eddy. "Look-a-there nova everlastin'
tease"
The two watched Jim as with a
roguish twinkle in his small black eyes
he made his way to where old Carlo
was taking his morning nap under the
lilac bush and gave him sudden poke.
The dog raised his head with a growl,
but Jim stood at little distance, with
grave and innocent look at something
on the ground.
Carlo settled down again, and quick
as lightning Jim gave him another
poke. Up jumped Carlo, with a savage
look at his tormentor, but Jim stood in
the same place, half asleep, and Carlo
| lay down with long drawn sigh. Jim
kept it up until the poor dog went to
find quieter place.
"rve seen him do that dozen times"
said Deborah laughing, land I know he's
hidden my pepper pot. Why, it amt so
long since / read a story about one O
that set-must "a been first cousin to
Jim l reckon - that stole elegant
breastpin. and it was laid to poor
young girl that worked in the family.
She was disgraced and turned off, and
ever so long after it was found out that
that creetur'd been the thief I've no
use for such!'
And so every member of the family
could have declared, but no one would
be the one to say that Jim must go. In
the course of long drive over country
roads through heavy storm the farmer
had found Jim drenched and half
starved. Of course he brought him
home, and after being warmed, fed and
made comfortable the wild eyed, dark
looking little vagabond had wisely set
tied himself in such good quarters, and
had since showed no desire to leave them.
u
"You can come and help me peel the
peaches now, Marian" called Mrs. Gra.
ham to her daughter.
Marian came, looking admiringly al
the baskets of rosy checked, downy fruit
ON the great table, all of which was wait
J ing to be made into peach butter.
SIS that your pearl 11ng?" asked hel
mother.
"Oh-yes. I was clearing my drawe,
and put it on to see how pretty it look
and forgot it. I'll take it Off"
The pretty lassie worked for hour
! over the peaches. pairing, stoning, meas
! uring out sugar, stirring and tasting. A
length she skipped up to her room t.
y dress, but soon came running back wit
an anxious face.
U my ring, Deborah. l left it on tn
3 corner of the table-tack here. Hav
you seen it?"
1.-THE land. Miss Marian! No, I amt
:. And I've just this blessed minute scrape
up all the peelin's and flung 'em out
the pigs"
With tears in her eyes Marian IA
out to the lot in which the pigs wer
kept, and searched eagerly. But til
grunters had made quick work of thei
luscious meal, and no ring was to b
e found. More slowly she went buck, an
is looked about the kitchen with u forlor
hope that the ring might have escaped
But Deborah's scraping had been vigol
GUS, and she went up stairs again with
| woebegone look.
"She's dreadful careless little piece
said Deborah, looking after her, Galway
a-leavin' her things round. But ain
=! a-goin' to say it to her now she's a-feelil
SO bad"
to 'Ha, ha-you thievin' rascal! "
I'd caught you at last, amt II"
e. Mrs. Graham and Marian hurried O,
at sound of Deborah's excited voice
s, see Jim struggling in her grasp. F
il was uttel.ing short, angry cries and d.
ing his best to free himself.
81 was just a-washin' my dishes" erie
Deborah, when this limb comes a-pee
=, in and a-pryin' round. i m-strusted
was up to somethin', an keep my e,
. on him and seen him pick Up one o I,
teaspoons and sneak off with it. to,
after him, and just got hold O him rig
,rs here--see! he was just a-shppin' tb
no. spoon into that hole for to hide itle
- Mrs. Graham looked curiously at Ct
nf hole, q small one near the ground in Il
- Bring an ax and knock that off, De
;ns orah," she said.
- Deborah did so, and The three be
-, % ovtr what they cav.
~ I'm blessed if there amt my pepp
,n poti' exclaimed Deborah.
w. More than the pepper pot was the
~, Keys, nails, screws, button hook,
iiu giInlet, and as they turned them o,
oo | Marian gave a scream of delight a
snatched up her pearl ring.
W Then she made quick rush for il
es- and Rugged and fondled him until
ose bit her to make her let him go, when
IN flew to the top of the spring house, g
on stood there chattering his discomfort
'ou such rough handling.
es- "You dear old crown exclain
!. Marian. "If you hadn't stolen my r
off the table that day I never sho
have seen it again. Oh, Deborah,
have pulled out half his tail feathersl
'.Never mind" said Deborah; 1.-THE
grow again. Sydney Dayre in You
:. Companion.
the one ,In1nking or ante-matrimo,
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