The Van Buren press., 1893-07-01


Mariar give 'em royal spread, can
tell yer! An | never see pulitzer
sight. Twas June, We know, with
big yaller moon jest film the airth
with light, an as l druv lIuldy home,
the cool, sweet smell of the woods, an
the grass, an the flowers, keep floatin'
by us. My, how my heart warmed up
to hear the gal singin' soft to herself as
we went along! thought ont good
deal, sittin' there beside her. hadn't
allus been married myself. an I'd he'd
some hard spells ter git Mariar Then
did some tall reasonin' on the Bible
lines. Yc know they air putty strong,
sir-putty strong on that pint. Evi-
IDENTIFY JEFF was a-goin' ter 'clcvc unto
Huldy, an she ter jeff. An straight
up an down that night l made my
mind up!
Huldy, my DEAR says /, as let
her down by the front gate, 'Huldy,
my dear, says I, we may tell jeff from
me that he is welcome to the seat under
my apple trees when the weather's
good, and our settin' room when it
amt An then I druv off fast with
out stoppin'.
"Wal, Mnriar bein' one with me, since
Dominic Waddums married us, (three
and thirty years ago come next Sep
tember), allus upholds me, consequent
ly two old folks by the name OF Stun
got used to seein' two young folks
maxim pretty good use of their big
orchards. For Tod still holdin' out
gainst jeff, Huldy he'd made up her
mind to marry him outright the next
month. Wal, twas areal brave, quiet
lookin gal an tall, han'some, smilin'
Young man thet told us pood-by the
first day of july. No weddin' tinerv on
them. Ter strange minister in the
next town was to marry en-. An Ma
riar cried an laughed ter onct as she
held Iiuldy close. We watched em
drive off, an long the road till they
crossed the bridge to Bornton. Gee
whitaker! but l was glad when Tod
Cross knowcd it. Yc see, he'd prom
ised 'em ter do the tellin' that night.
An ! did. Wal, it's fair an square now
between us, o. course, but l never see
man in such Il tcarin' rage fore nor
sencc. lie took to his bed. an Mis-
Gloss, who was allus a good deal on
lIuldy's side, Jest he'd time, an no mis-.
taken, for the next three days.
Wal, VIC Pinevillc folks hev allus
thought good deal on the Fourth, be-
in very patriotic, an fined with the
Mendham folks in hevin' exercises in
their Methodist church. Equal num-
Der of speakers from each place holdin'
forth. Wal, Tod, he were 'p'intcd on
the list thet year. an bein little mite
sot up over it, decided ter keep on with
the prcrgram, Huldy or no Huldy.
Wal. the Fourth come an everybody
also; lcastwisc all thet could come. An
we he'd he'd three speakers, an the
'Star-Spangled Banner when Tod's
turn came. I'll show We the place ter
morrer where he stood.
'Feller-citizens' was got through
with, an 4 stand before ye,' an we
was sittin' there waitin' for the rest,
when suddenly there come regler up
roar, shoutin, stampin', tossin' up hats,
an cheers. An there, sweet as the
roses in her white gown, with cheeks to
match 'em underneath her white bun.
net, holdin' tight to her husbands arm.
little smiles cuttin' capers round her
mouth, stood Mis- Jefferson Cones!
when he see 'em Tod Cross Jest sot
right down on the fust cheer handy. an
mopped his forehead. nm turned whittier
an the dress Hubby he'd on.
when she see him lookin' like tllet,
Hubby give one cry an runs right up TO
him.
"'Oh, father she says, throwin' both
arms round his neck and kissin' him.
oh, father, amt you and mother goin'
to forgive meT and then she bust out
cryin' an SO did most Of the wimen
folks. t
"An' twas jest Mt this point thet old
Dominic Mickens got up an said ss how
ter his mind Huldy's gittin' married In
this style was reglcr good old-fash-
ioned Declaration of Independence. an
all on us bein' American citizens, we
he'd right ter bide it. Specially on
the Fourth Of July.
"Wal, that sot 'em all ter laughin,
count O. ther dominie's funny way OF
talkin'. An when we saw Tod Cross
an jeff Cones shalsin hands, an then
Ike Cones an everybody crowdin' roun'
an laughin', an talkin, an' kissin'
Hubby, an shakin' Jcfts hands, an
everything peaceful nm happy-we
knowed the quarrel was ended for
ever" said Dca Stone, cheerfully,
"owin' to Huldy's independcnccl''-
Grace Virginia Halsey, In Springfield
Republican.