Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-02-07


from the shelf outside the door, and
started for the spring, TopkRot, a.
usual, following ner
The fowl, when mere "sprino
chicken, had either escaped or been
lost from some market cart on the road.
where Buck Tascott had found
her at daybreak half-frozen, and
in passing the Sandridges had given her
to Selma.
Topknot had since rewarded her
young mistress's pettine with many eggs,
which went duly to market with the
Sandridges' scanty garden stuff f''-for.
though she would have preferred to have
Tophnot hatch her own eggs, Sally
claimed that chicken raising was her
privilege, and her mother objected to
having too many fowls on her place.
The little footpath which Selma fol,
lowed led across a cornteld in the direc-
ton of the ten acres Of sandy and gravel
ly land which had been allotted rs her
share of Uncle Ben's legacy. and enter
ing wild plum thicket, wound down
ward to shallow creek or ''run, close
to which issued spriug oil clear ana
sparkling water.
Both the spring ana the creek were
low now, after the lone drought, and
Selma, placing her pail where the tiny
stream drlbhled from the rocks stood
leaning against i gum tree, while tears
rose slowly to her eyes.
Topknot busted herself with foraeiug
among the rocks and weeds on the edge
Of the run
Presently there was a rustic III the
plum thicket above the spring, and Sc
lima, looking up, saw Il young man max
ing his way down the bank-a tall
maniy Young fellow, with honest-look-
ing brown eyes and sunburnt tace.
He wore rough homespuu suit, an'
carried a gun on his shoulder
81 counted on finding you here abou
| this time, he said, as he stood befor
her and held out his hand, while tl,
brown eyes looked straight into hers
"But what's the matter. Iinyi 70,
look s If you d been clying.
At the look and tone, the tears whicl
had stood in her eyes overtlowei. bu
she wiped them away quickly with be-
apron and looked up with a smile
ats only the same old trouble
Buck" X
"Mother and Sally" A Zhalf-aner
flush deepened the healthy color in hi
cheek, and his face assumed an eSpre>
sion of firmness. 'Sit down here" h
said; 81 want to say something to yor
We've had enough Of this tronble.7 an
it's time it should be put stop to. Nv
can't do it but in one way
She looked at him inquiringly.
There's only one way he repeated
"and that is to take things in our ow
hands and get married right along. Will
out asking anybodys consent on eth,
side"
''Oh, Buck, they'll all be mad
mother and your father and all-and tt
folks will blame us, and Parson Title
will be sure to say something in h
next preaching about disobedience
parents.
Let him I don't care button fc
what folks will say am twenty -thre
and you are seventeen-both of lis ol
enough to think and act for ourselve>
OF course ] know that we are poor, bl
l can work, thank the Lord, and | will
, Say, Liny''-he drew her toward hin
and, holding both her hands, locke
. | pl0aNLuSlS iutO Lei cSS--d YOU
. promise to marry me next week, III St
to work Tomorrow raising our cabin ove
there. The Lathem boys II help, AT
Dick Joyneg and his uncle, and We
have it ready in weeks time, with ful
niture enough to answer at first.
''But We shall want SO many th5ns
that woman Knows more about than
man she said, shaking her head
am afraid it won't do, Rnck =
Aud then, while the pail al the sprir
overf1owed, they sat aud discussed Il
r possibilities and impossibilities of Il
:. whole matter, until even the impatie
i lover was complied to admit tha, til,
; prospects were not promising.
I'VE must wait until We are a liz,
.e richer, Stella said, affecting, for Buci
/. sake, cheerfulness sne did not fe.