The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-01-26

gent fire; all along the western sky
| the evergreens tossed to and fro
| against an orange background, and
the air was full of the faint, sweet
perfume of dead leaves. And Clara,
| nesting close to her fathers side. re-
| membered the days of her childhood
| when she went nutting on Barracl<
| Mountain amid Just such sweet scents
| rs this.
SIT is cold, asscntcd Clara, her
blue eyes intcrtly fixed on the evening
| star.
The deacon was grim and hard
| featured, with nose that reminded
| one of Cape Cod c:: t!.c m";, ana a
complexion like badly-tanned piece
of leather.
Clara was plump and pretty. with
skin like rose-leaf, long -lashed eyes,
and dimple which no one had ever
been able exactly to locate.
Clara might grow old one of these
days, but she never would grow into
the pattern of the deacon's old age.
'Hey!" said the deacon whats
that air in your lap, Clara? A band
box? [ didn't buy nothin' that
would likely be packed i'll bandbox. "
'No, l know you didn't" said Clara,
a blue CLEAN oi mischief coming into
her eyes. '1t's bonnet for mother.
There's the surprise party, you know,
at the parsonage tonight, aud I'm
going to trim up something decent
for her to wear"
GA bonnet! The deacon jerked
the reins in way that had nearly
collided Old Dick with the churchvard
wall. "Ain't your mother got bon
net? 1t does seem, Clara, as if money
burned hole in you young folkses
| pocket. y
The soft pink on Clara's check had
changed into deep rose by this time.
| scot bonnet? OF course she's
! got bonnet" retorted she. "The
same she's had for five years, until
I'm sick of the brown satin bows and
the black poppies on it. Mothers
real pretty old lady, father, or she
would be, if you'd give her chance"
| "And who's to pay for all this
tinery" demanded the deacon, after
! an ominous silence.
'It isn't fincry, father, its only bare
dcccncy. And I'm going to pay for
it, sad Clara.
':iiumph?" grunted the deacon.
'I'm glad yuu feel so rich. | don't
Get mp. Dick, or I'll let yru know I'm
here We lazy, idle crectur'."
"rh" bonnet was nmly iiity cents
n real good straw pleaded Clara.
"And tn" ribbon was n quarter, and
I'm going t" trim It myself with some
purrl" astrrS oil my last springs hat
J couldn't let mother go to the sur.
prise party with that horrid old brown
thing,'
"Hnmph "ngain uttered the deacon,
who had by this time urged Dick into
| srnSmodIc cantcr. II don't myself
see no occasion for goin' gallivantin'
around to surprise parties the hull
kit an Doodle of us, ] meant OF
course folks expect to see me there,
beln's I'm n deacon"
And everything else will be there"
quickly rctortcd Clara, "nnd | don't
mean mother shall stay ut home. She
gets x" few chances to zee anything or
anybody! There! you tipped over
the vinegar jug, father, with Dick can
tcring in that absurd fashion. Iknew
something would happen! :"
'Whoa, Dick whoa - bawlcd the
old man. ''Th"r' amt nothin' broke,
luckily. ] didn't realize we was goin
SO fast, an the roads is frozc pretty
stiff. iou sCr I'd calkilatcd to carry
nice bag o dried apples for my
share. an If your mother goes -"
Clara shrugged her shoulders.
81 dare say we can find something
for mother to carry, said She "evcn
il it's no more than one of her deli
cious pumpkin pies or loaf of gin
! ccrbrcad. | shall take ten dollar
gold piece. My salary was paid last
week, and ! shall never forget how
good Pnrson Potter used to be when /
was q child"
Ten dollars echoed the deacon.
'in money Bc my ears n-dcceivin'
of mc?'
eyes, ten dollars and in money.
It's my own, isn't it, to spend or keep,
US please
'Its a downright hingin' away of
money gHspcd the deacon. Ten
dollars Is the g"l crazy! Why, !
declare to goodness, it's enough To
MAX" II mans hair stand on end,
"ijcrc "" arei' cried Clara. Joy
ousIv apringing over the wheel. "And
the freight shining out into the road,