The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-03-19
A LION AT LARGE.
BIZ S. A. WEISS.


passed through Five-Forks was later than
usual this morning. The few people of
both sexes who had come in from the
surrounding farms for letters and parcels
were gathered about the postofice and
blacksmith's SHOP discussing somewhat
excitededly the latest local topic of in
terest.
~ know it for a fact" said q burly
farmer in mud-bespattercd leggings,
ssseeing was over at Beaver Junction
when it happened. Two of the freight
cars jumped the track and smashed a
couple O. circus cages. There warn't
much trouble with the bar and hayena,
butthe lion tuck to the woods, and the
last heern O. him he was maxim tracks
down this way"
"Then you amt heerd that he was
caught last nighte" said another. 81
know it for sartin. for lot O. the circus
folks passed by my brother Sans farm
with the critter in wagon just ez the
moon riz."
GARTER he'd killed Widdcr Giles's cow
and lot O. hogs in the scrub" added a
third. "Likely as not he's got loose ag'in,
for old Mrs. Carper heerd a terrublc
roarin' in the woods jest before daylight
this mornin'.'
stMaybe she never heerd Jones's black
bull before, bellcring down in the med
DER" remarked some one, drily."
':But Jones found couple O. his sheep
killed last night. It thought a been dorgs !;
but Jones says it looks mighty like lions
work"
s'Shucksl What does he know about
lions work? Couldn't tell lion from a
sea serpent If he was to see 'em."
Just here the stage-coach appeared in
sight, and presently deposited solitary
passenger in front of the postoftice.
He was tall, slim and rather super
ciliouslooking young man, alfred in gar
ments of the latest cut and wearing a
gorgeous necktie, on which was conspicu-
ously perched an opal spider with golden
legs and diamond eyes.
Gancing haughtily around, he inquired
of the postmaster whether Doctor Dodd
was there to meet him, and appeared
much annoyed when answered in the
negative, and further informed that no
conveyance could be had to the doctor 5
some six miles distant.
"Will!" whispered rosy checked girl,
bending from the tall sorrel on which
she was mounted, ''that's Mr.. Perkins
ffu - ho',
to be married. 1know he was expected
at the Dodds's to-day. Sally Dodd told
Nelly so for secret at meetin' last Sun
day. You know sally's his cousin, anu
twas there he first met Kitty"
''He looks like q stuck-up prig," said
Will, surveying Mr. Perkins contempt
uously. "Anybody can see that the
hardest work he's ever done was measur-
in ribbons aud calikcr. Aud the idea
OF Kitty Parsons throwing over Dave
Cooper for fellcr like that"
bat it wasn't her fault, you know" y"
said the girl, deprecatingly. "Her
father would have it so on account of his
money. When the old man told Dave
that fwasn't any use for him to come any
more a-courtin' Kitty, Dave just answered
hat he never meant to give her up. And
row they're havin' the marriage in this
mean, sneakin' fashion, for fear that
)ave III hear of it and interfere somehow.
'.ittys Aunt Sabina says Dave hasn't
Trit to Kitty since he went away in the
,pring, and Kitty thinks he's forgotten
;sr, and says she don't care what becomes
u her now"
THAT'S some of old Squire Parsons S
'r"rk, I'll bet," said a young man, who
IL standing close to Matte, ':foc Dave
IA me that he never got an answer to
letters. No doubt her father and aunt
.pt 'cm back from her. But never
nd, guess he'll have something to do
IN this weddin' before if cones Off
Bat that'l be tonight" suid the
girl
Tonight! You don't mean it, Mat
tief Why, thought twas fixed for to-
morrow"
$50 twas; but for some reason they've
changed it for to-day. Sally says So"
''Je.ru .sa .lem And I wrote Dave that
twas fixed for Thursday night, and he
won't be on hand till tomorrow morn
ing, when it'll be too late. By lingo!
I'd give a hundred dollars down to pre-
vent this marriage till Dave comes!"
The three looked at each other ia SYM