The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-07
A MISS rs AS
GOOD AS A MILE.
written for THE MORNING CALL

CONTINUED
AS the singing ceased Roy walked around
to where the singer was mendlng a piece OF
harness.
''Why, Dick, you surely are not tired of
working for your Mas Ben, are your he
asked.
The big, brawny negro looked around
quickly, rolling his eyes in glee., "Lordy,
Mas Roy, how yer done Skeered me!' he
exclaimed. How yer cum dar? On dat
little whirligig of a mar'P Hyah. hyahl
Jist look at dem fou' white feet an her
white nose. Pull off her hide and fro her
to de crows!'
Look here Dick, if you make fun of
Patsy like that you'll have me in your
wool" said Roy, laughing in spite OF him.
self.
mo, Stree, Mas Roy; yer dom ketch
dis niggah lettin' yer git yer hans in his
wool" and Dick clapped both hands over
his round. bullet head.
"Well, where's your Mas Ben, DickP /
have come over to tell him our plans Tor
to-m0rrow's trip to the peach orchard"
HE jst went to de house to git piece 90
ledder TO mend dis harness wild. De colt
ives a-breaking poorly near kicked it to
pieces dis AFTERNOON. OATS dc reason ne
neber cum'd ober you way dis ebenln'
How y'all spect to git dem juicy peaches
ober sich a road as dat, Mas Roy?" asked
Dick.
That's just what has bothered us. The
road is so badly washed out in places that
no vehicle can go over il, SO we thought we
would try it on horseback. and bring some
home in the haYersacks the soldiers left at
our house two or three years ago. We will
take the short cut by the old race-track,
which, you know, is about seven miles, and
by riding home slowly we will try and get
the peaches home as sound as possible"
"Sho, Mas Roy, how y'all cher goin' to
ride slow eff yer cum back by de ole race
track? Why, dom yer know dere ain
boss in dis kentry dat kin git Widin Qua'te
mile OBJ de atmiSfeer oh de ole race-track
widOut a waikiki on his hin legs, PAWN
de ar an a breaking way from yer an run
min wild all de speed DAYS in i'm clean to de
eend oh de course? Eff yer gifts dem peaches
home wdout bein' all juices an stones,
Mas R0y, yer kin git yer hans in my wool
all yer want. Hyah, hyahl"
Roy joined iD Dick S hilarity, and just then
Ben appeared on the scene smiling, having
overheard the latter part Of Dicks speech.
GOOD evening, Roy" he said. "SU you,
Nero and Patsy scampered over. eh?"
:" Yes, here we are, and | must hurry
back, as promised mother to be on hand
by half-past s. She likes me to have plenty
of beauty Sleep you know. We expect to
start at o'clock sharp. l saw John Hilton
prancing up by the other road on Bayridge
Just as | left" Ben flushed little, but said
nothing.
MANS latest is to ride behind Uncle Bob
on Cream Pet, so we are all cut out" added
Roy, as he jumped on Patsy. and then said,
Good night, Ben; take heart, old fellow.
Remember There's q good time coming;
tits almost here"
Goodnight Roy; thank you"
Don't mention it, my dear sir" returned
Roy, airily. - Now. Dick, don't forget your
WOODS in DANGER"
"Hyah, hyah, Mas Roy" laughed Dick,
''dis niggah ain gwine git skeered Til he
done feel yer fingers dar. But don y'all
forgit ter keep cPar OBJ de atmisfeer OBJ de
race-track."
After quick run home Roy walked up to
the porch, where the different members Of
the family were sitting, enjoying the lovely
moonlight. Fannie had brought out her
guitar and was playing an accompaniment
to a song that Mr.. Hilton was singing, "Roll
On, Silver Moon" Mr.. Martin was lying
back in a huge hickory chair enjoying his
pipe. Nan, sitting on the top step, leaned
her head against her mothers knee; the
others, placed around in different attitudes
of ease and comfort were enjoying the
evening and music thoroughly. With one
exception, however. Mans thoughts were
not upon the singer nor his song. but mile
away with Ben, whose sad brown eyes she
remembered with some qualmS OF con-
science. She thought of his devotion to his
widowed mother: his UnselGshness IN leav-
ing college just the year before he should
graduate with honorS, to use the money that
Should have been spent in finishing his law
course for paving off the debt his father left
after a sudden death. Without a murmur
of complaint he went to work with Will to
put the old farm on a paying basis. working
in the field when necessary alongside his
man-of-al-wGrk, Dick. His progress was
slow but sure, and his prospects were inn
proving so much lately that they had almost
decided to be married in October-this was
the latter part of August-and now they
had quarTeled at least she had been some
what willful. and he aDsurdly jealous, as she
tried to persuade herself. But then, why
did he not come back this evening, she
thought, and patch up their differences AS
this idea came into Der mind Nan hardened
her heart toward Ben, and rose with the
others to bid John Hilton goodnight. Then
they all retired. leaving the moon to gaze
down upon as fair and peaceful scene as
was ever looked upon on this beautiful
earth