The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-30

WIS too much accustomed 20 this kind Of
thing rs be would have said. 20 be much at
n loss lie dia not attempt the sentimental
lie talked a good deal abous what an
advantage 10 would be for them two
women 70 have jest the kind Of a man
he was come there and set the oil farm Ter
roin' aein. lie said he should bring bis co"
over. mi his pigs. and Mmtabe could take
care Of EN- while be was pckln' up hens
lis children were all shirliu' Tor themselves
no.y. though his Youngest was only ~.
As She listened % him Meliitable was con.
scious ~ tao most curious mixture OF disap'
pointmoni and exultaiion She oxulted over
the mere fact that she now had gentleman
friend 81 her own. aud there be was yisibiy
before her. Still there was an underlying
sense that this mere fact was not SO very
interesting after ALL Was 10 SD lacking 10
interest % every w0maui She couldn't
understand 10 in the least. She tried % listen
whcu be related how much meal he gave ms
COW. and when be expressed "a firm convic-
ton that "sh0rts did a critter more harm
than good"
Ills upper Dip was certainly very dreadful
and 10 yves particularly dreadful when he
.msed She supposed she should marry him-
Of course. II was almost as good as an en-
pacoment that She had allowed him TO come
on Sunday night and she knew be thought
eo. Her mind went forward 20 the time when
she should have TO ask the librarian % change
the name on her membership card from lls-
Nebitable Green TO Mr., Alpaonso Smith
What would bcher sensations at a moment
like that'
Would her mother rule Parrot as She hal
ruled every one with whom She bed ever
livcdl Why did parrot-loosing al bis
mouth She found herself obliged, mentally
% call him thus-propoeo 20 come 20 Dis
brides home instead Of taking his bride 10
his hone sho could not know that @ fore
closure of "a mortgage was about to take
place az the Smith estate.
After her guest bad conyorsed an hour
about "criiters and hens. and cotton seed
meal. aud cracked corn. and kindred sub
iccts. and She had done Der best to iisien all
roplv occasionally. o. became evident Chat
the visitor wa. getting very sleepy. lfis sen-
fences grew more isolated. SD 90 speak, and
he would close his eyes for some minutes
then open them with snap. end bold hs
head up straight After what seemed nn Do.
terminable time, ihe clock struck riue Mf
s,,itb tried 90 sit while longer then hc de-
ciled mentally that DO 1sns "a pesAJ foolish
thing % spend much time loo counting Militia
lie Green Ile rose from hia chair. saying
.omothing a. the effect that hs "noss wa,
mighty uneasy if % was out much, 'n Dee
posed he'd better be coln'; m Ae sposal D.
was an settled between cni, and hel come
over next Sunday might asin, IA She might
layo q talk with Der mother, % be sure
,ell the old lady o be meant the fair thing
bv 'em both. o. they needed man. Wien
he come ag'm they'd $50 the days as t"a nt
'no use putin things on when they tne"
their own minds, d. he'd like 20 git settled
all comfortable fore New Years.
lie stood looking at Meaitahle. whore She
still sat in her chair. with her work worn
hands folded tightly on her Tap.
II guess it's an settled, nin'tit" hc said
She looked up 90 BIN, her honest patient
eyes having aga unusual appearance under hcr
huifed hair
~ guess It's. She said. feebly
"Ai right, then" hercsponded. with brisk
ness, IN be a-goin' and he walked out of
the room.
She did not follow him. Size remained
quiet. She heard him busting ON with BIS
o,at and talking Co her mother; then the out
Side kitchen door shut. and soon after came
the sound Of a horse and wagon leaving the
yard
She was engaged She kept telling herself
that She was engaged. while She was doing
the little things She did every night before
going 10 bed.
In half am hour she was upstairs Her
mother had continued amiabo She would
try % inform her boz the morning 10 would
be time enough in the morning.
II was between ~ and ! O'Clock in The
night that Mrs. Green became aware that
her daughter was standing beside bier couch,
with bed comforter wrapped about her,
and holding tho lighted lamp in her hand.
Mother" exclaimed Mehitab'e with ox.
plosive force, ''you tell him ! can't do it, j
can't do %, m won't, 1 wont'
Mrs Green smiled as soon as She could re-
cover herself sufficiently To- do so.
80 you've ben ana insaged yourself, have
yer
"Yes, but ] amt goin' % stay engaged. J
can't bear him. I-oh-mother, you tell
himm
Mehitahe showed symptoms Of hysterical
s0bDlng
tier mosher reached ont and paitel her
daughters arm.
Don't yu wouy,n She said, "the fans
worths amt afraid OF nothin', 'n' amt lived
90 this day 10 Doe alrail Of that larrot Smith
guess. Ill tel bin / wan, goin' TO let him
eit Sc, anyway Hes arter this farm. IT'D
fcll him 10 was left 20 me, ~ en- will it
where please, nj sha'n't will 10 20 Parrot
Smiths wife Sako. did yc think ] DIDN'T
know what was up tor Go 90 bed. child
Wen go long here hy ourselves % spell
longer, reckon
Must II boz confessed that. os Miss Green
again climbed the narrow yellow stair, in the
'aidst OF ier sensations Of relief, there was "a
tnll rar~ that hcr mother should have
bought, .ad have said, that this gentleman
fisl ns carter The farm Vow NorA
r.Nuue.