Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-29

to suspect one another, so It would be
quite impossible for me to make an ex-
PLANTATION that would be satisfactory to
them"
But my dear Polly. you can make an
explanation that will be satisfactory to
me-"
mot now. my dear. but after awhile
will Your father is calling you"
The old man stood at the garden gate,
whooping the name Of his daughter, and
when she had come to him, having left
house. the old fellow said: Nell, go
into the house and stay there till l come,
and when l do come I may have some
mighty interestin' news for you"
the old man Joined Polly in the summer
house. He sat down on the bench near
her. tanning himself with his straw hat,
and 1t was some time before he spoke.
"Hotter'n it was last night" he said.
Hotter than it was night before last, I
think" the woman replied.
II gad 1 guess you're right. You always
raise me one; must have played poker in
your time"
"But if I were to play poker might not
always raise: I might sometimes simply
call"
Cad. I believe you have played, but
that amt what l want to talk about. See
this?" He touched his shirt collar and it
was fastened with a horseshoe nail Been
threatenin to git it for long time and
got 1t jest now in honor of you, don't you
see? But it amt notbin to laugh at. VIII
you let me tell you somethin'?'
yes. 1 am going to sit here few mo-
ments longer"
Don't exactly like the way you put it,
but l reckon it's all right" He was silent,
fumbling with the nail at his collar; he
sighed deeply, threw his hat on the ground
thrust his hands into his pockets and lean
ed back against the vine-woven lattice
work. And in the twilight she could see
that his face was hard set and his coun-
teraEce eager"
What were you going to tell me?" she
asked.
'Somethin' powerful important to both
of us, hut you'll have to let me git at it in
my own roundabout way. By this time
the whole town is discussin the fact that
three men, strange men at that, come here
and called you Polly. And mebbe in the
mornin' they will tell you that you better
git out. Then what?'
'pll tell them to go to place not on
the school maps but well located in spir-
itual geography" H-,y..
II CAD, that's the way to talk to avoid
strength. but it won't do to tell 'em no
such thing. ThereI isfa way by which
the whole affair may be made smooth"
ut is smooth enough; now," she re-
piled. BIZ ~ -. .,.
'Tll be dinged If dt is;, it's as rough as
a toad's back but we can smooth it. Now
here" he leaned toward her. Il say now
here, you marry mep aud the whole affair
will be settled, for theys won't dare to talk
about the wife of the mayor of this town.
Han, what DO you say! fSlI GU see that I've
got about the best plaza around here, and
1 was down the cEeekIl yesterday evenin'
and that corn is gsin' ito turn out mon
strous, hah? You can go. right down to
the store and trade put fen dollars worth
at snort, hah? Then Nell can help you
right along in the printing office and it
shan't cost you cent. AS told you once
before, you amt so, powerful good lookin'.
Your face amt goti that saft look that
it ought to have, but we can't expect every
thing of woman from the city, you know.
Oh, l know I'm gittin old but bet a dol
lar that can jump over that bean pole
right yander."
TN take the bet" she replied.
"Hah, what's that? You don't want to
me jumpin' round in the garden path al
night like toad. do you? Wouldn't like
to have 1T said that you married a man
simply because he could jump over a pole
would you? Look, don't you see have got
this here horseshoe nail jest to please you?
Look how / am putting myself out"
But you haven't told me that you love
me-" she said, and in the gathering dark
ness he could see her looking down.
Haven't 1? Well, l do. Love you we'll
enough to let you go to the store and trade
out ten dollars worth at snort, AMI if
that amt love- hanged If 1 know what is.
Yes. l even love you more than that-Tn