The morning call., 1893-07-06
IN LOUISIANA.


Farmer jenkins ignored the appeal and
leaned heavily against one of the peeled
logs supporting the shed roof that over
hung his doorway like an unsightly shade
above an empty socket.
He chewed his Quid of home-dried weed
and gazad medtalively at the fringe of
scarlet naples just below the sky line.
Suke resented his Indifference and pro-
longed her call 10 a dismal wall, which
brought out SaIlie Judkips with tin pail
and pot of boiled peas. She eyed her
father reproachfully on her way to the
milking but he gazed on at the horizon;
his philosophy of woman being. "helpin'
air spilin', and l amt no man fur ter fix
up no marlinspike as III crack my own
nuggiD!"
When the young girl had finished her
task and started toward the house, the
cow following close at her heels, the
farmer delivered himself Oracularly OF his
musings:
"Ef there air one thing tibet do dee
spise more'n ary 'tother thing, hit air a
man skeered of his fences! Dissent jump
lessen his horse mought booker and fling
him, or the ditch on the beyant side
mought brek his durn neck! / amt got no
sorter use for no man coffin. IN coffin.
and don't saySno work. jest TO- the world
like er spring shoto nOSin' fur er hole on
the yander side OF the garden palms. Ef
er man war :, to marry he ought to sesso,
en- eff he Int minded ter do so he ought to
quit .,eadin' off fellows as air minded!
Seems like some fellows thinks er gal
cs.ght to drap alongside their feets like er
psimmon arter KILN frost. En- man air
er durn fool eff he don't know tibet fruit
drappen onter the ground air fitten TO rot.
Hit takes pretty tough shakin to get off
good apples"
Salle did not pause to retort, but
marched into the cabin with high crest
and defiant STEP
The crafty old diplomat chuckled audi
bly,, though never once moving his penslVe
gaze from the landscape.
II reckn thet'Il fetch her," he murmured.
'SailS going to make jim Cullnm toe tier
mark. er clip his comb. She amt no gal
to stan foolln' when her dander's riled."
Poor Jim Cuilum was Sallie's eligible
but bashful lover, who haunted the place
like a banshee for the sole apparent pur-
pose Of frightening away other admirers.
Father Judkins had winked AT this for
three months, and was now determined
to force a climax or shut off the tImid
aspirants altogether Three months TO
court girl? Why. that was time enough
to love. woo: win. marry and set up
Pewee Valley folks. and Judkins was the
last man to depart from tradition, and
introduce strange gods among his Lares
and PenateS.
The Judkinses had scarcely finished sup
per W hen the bold galop of hOofs, clearly
heard in the crisp autumn night. suddenly
ceased at the gate. The old man leered
provokinelY at his daughter, who busted
herself obstrus lively over the two tin
plates and cups that constituted their
table furn ishing. The call of the whip
poor-will. which always brought her
promptly to the tryst was repeated again
and again, but in vain. Sallie remained
obdurately indoors.
"Sallie, Amt you heard Cullum whist
lin down to the gate?' asked her father
roughly. "How come you amt so quick
ON the trigger" Hit pear like hit amt
safe to keep him waiting, and him SO sklt-
tisb," with goading laugh.
Sallie tossed her head and pouted her
Il say, amt you goin'?" demanded he
angrly. eyeing her prOtracted dawdllng
over the supper things. Come now, git
er move on you. else III make your
you don't sesso" with exasperating
GOODNESS.
Her father picked up a billet from the
hearth. where fire famed cheerfully. and
pitched it at her. but, alert from long ex-
perience. she lodged skillfully.
Come, hit agen, paw! Come. hit agen J.,
she cried jeeringly. "Yo' hams out! Yo'
couldn't down er buck as you could tech
with yo' fingers, he was so close!'
He made lunge at her. but she passed
outside with fling of her skirts and
Joined the patient lover at the gate.
"Howdy, Sal?" the latter ventured
sheepishly. fastening his horse with os-
tentatious care.
"Im SEEK" she replied shortly, leaning
YEARLY against the gatepost FOR support.
seek, Sal! That cuts me to the heart !
Where's yo' msery?" Jim asked, forget
ting his beast and timidly approaching her
with rough sympathy.
THAT'S fer me to know en- you to find
out!" snappishly. AR you got er call to
cure me"
He looked like a cuffed dog. wounded
but unretaliating. A long pause followed.
Il think his mought rain," he suggested
feebly, beneath a clOudless sky.
you better hurry back home. lessen hit
mought melt you, bein' so sweetW she re-
torted sarcasticaiy.
"Now, Sal, 1 amt sugar. nor yet salt to
be shet in by er little shower er rain!" said
Jim with a deprecatory laugh that en-
couraged her.
Now, you air moughty nghtw savagely.
That's the Gawd's truth! You amt
nuthn' or neither. You amt sugar ner
yet salt, ner yet wine ner vinegar, ner yes
ner no, en- that's what's ailin' you. En-
/ visit you would git er move on you, and
keep er goin' stiddy to'ards the beyant er
whar lives att!
Yes, the sky was still overhead. and the
moon. and he was not riding nightmare.
jim Cullum closed his eyes a moment to
sec If 1t were not the earth instead of his
head spinning round like top. Sal must
be fooliDg! He questioned her lowering
Ilp
him. He pulled his ungainly figure to-
gether, and started toward his horse.
SAL" he jerked out, emboldened by
distance, Il loves you! When yon needs
me. gimme the word!'
He mounted and dashed off at a head
long gallop as if fearful that "the word"
was on the top of her tongue.
When sallie re-entered the cabin she
found her father unlocking the cowhide
from its nail behind the door. Without a
word, she snatched it from his hand, and
wrappi the thong about the handle she
threw the whip into the fire. where the
leather curled and writhed as if expiating
past infections.