The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-02
CHAPTER II.

The house on the old Rice farm was
| part frame and part log. The front, or
what was called the new house, was
frame, while the old was built of logs.
The new house had four rooms in it;
three bedrooms and one room that
seemed to be in general use, for in fact
the library, reception and sitting-room,
saloon, drawing-room and parlor was
this one cozy little four-cornered cham
ber.
It was comfortably but cheaply fur
nished, while on chilly days and even
ings bright fire was always burning
in the little old-fashioned fireplace.
On the west side of this wonderful
room were two bed-rooms-the spare
room and Lina's; while on the east side
was Uncle Cristo's and Aunt June's.
Passing from the north side of this
wonderful room. through heavy door.
you entered q short hallway, where
they kept the molasses, vinegar, ETC.;
then comes the old log kitchen, which
was also used as dining-room, and often
Auntie June would convert it into a
sewing-roonl, as she had done on this
day.
There she sat, in the middle of the
floor, with her sewing strewn over the
room, one piece on the table, one on
the floor, while another was lying on
the cold, polished stove. The larger
part of little Lina's new dress was
pinned to her aunt's knee, while she was
bending over it. slowly yet steadily
drawing the needle in and out. She sat
there, busy with hand and head, when
suddenly She sprang to her feet and
went to the west door, putting her
rough, brown hand up to her dark,
wrinkled forehead.
For some time she stood there, peer
ing in the distance, in the hopes of see
ing the tall, slender form of her hus-
band coming down the lane.
"Hum! 1 jist wonder what's keep
in that Cristo man of mine. reckon
he means to be as good rs his word and
STAY until he gets ready to come home;
lie should be home long afore this!
"Fiddlesticks I'll bet another turkey
that he's q stayin' for dinner at the old
tavern; we'll, let him stay. for all O
me, for can get along without him.
| Sure as the worlds round, l will have
| dinner all by myself that will be.tit for
king and hundred times better than
he can get up at that old tavern"
The irritated, uneasy woman stood
: for some time in the doorway, and
then, with nervous jerk, turned and
went to her sewing again; hut in few
minutes she was up once more and at
the door looking for her tardy husband.
[To BE CONTINUED
l.. L. BARNUM relates than when
Mr.. Gladstone visited his circus he
said to him: Mr.. Gladstone, there is
one thing we Americans would all wish
you to do, and there is no reason why
you should not. I have done it al
eighty years of age; why cannot you {
Make the trip across the Atlantic. Il
you did so you would set the whole Of
the United States ablaze with enthu
siasm; there is nothing the Americans
would not do to show their appreci
alton He just turned and looked al
the stage. What is that Roman do
ing?' he asked, and l saw at once il
was no use fattering that mamie
could not take any fattery. Oh, he is
truly great old man"
A PARIS paper offered an eminent
Frenchman one thousand dollars for
his autobiography. He accepted this
offer, and after getting check for the
amount, sent on his autobiography,
which was as follows: Il was born at
Lyons in 1889, and since that time I
can racall nothing of any account, ex'
cept that have not been killed in any
Of the uprisings."
AMIsH weddings, to certain extent,
rival Polish christening parties. Among
the pranks at ono of them few days
ago, in upper Berks County, Pennsyl-
vania, was the throwing of the groom
over the fence, the placing of the best
man in O bakeoven, and some like
familiarities with the bride.
THERE is an admirable arrangement
for quickly and safely emptying the
aouse in use in the fremont Thester,
Boston. By simply touching button
in any one of the eight handy places in
the theater seventeen exits open, act