Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-07-06
SHE CALLED EN- EATERS"
And the Word Cut Deep Into Carlyle STAN
homes Heart.


And the Word Cut Deep Into Carlyle STAN
hopes Heart.
Night had come again-gentle, peace,
full night. The hooking bird hid his
head beneath his wing and slept, while
the FREELY got out and began 10 hustle
to make up for lost time, and bugs
as big as huniss of mud went booming
around in search of prey. Under the
apple trees in full blossom was stretch.
ed a two-dollar hammock bought on the
installment plan, and in this hammock
reclined the aristocratic Evylyn
Throckmmton. She vas not alone.
Beside her stood the proud Car.
lyle Stanhope. 1t made his tired knees
wabble to be standing around there,
but he gave no sign. He came of a race
which would perish on the spot, but
never crawfish. Besides he was
there that evening to ask and
receive the answer to a question
which had tremendous bearing
on his future. 1t was not to
ask her hand in marriage; that he had
already done weeks before, and after
ascertaining that he never descended
to attend such vulgar events as spell
ing schools, husking bees and 'lasses
candy pulls, she had placed her happi'
ness in his keeping On the wings OF
rumor, flying through the air unseen
had come to him a statement that
stabbed him like carving knife just
sharpened up by a grinder. He would
not believe it. 1t was too improbable
too monstrous-to fiendish for ere
dence. And yet he could not throw il
into the waste basket and go on living
as an editor does forty-rod poem. He
could not rest content until her own
ruby lips had affirmed or denied the
rumor. And so. as he stood beside her
in the softness of the summer evening
his knees wabbling to the regular
swing of the hammock, he gently'mur
INJURED:
Eva, we love each other, don't we?'
'Cert!' was her curt but tender re
ply.
Il want to ask you question. Il
is not about your age. You won't ge'
mad, will you?"
"Of course not. What is it?'
Eva, darling, suppose you were a
the dinner table? Suppose you were
very, very hungry? Suppose you
wanted some more mashed tubers
What would be your form of asking fol
theme"
Carlyle Stanhope, are you toying
with a young girls heart?" she tiercel!
demanded as she glared at him through
the darkness.
'Oh! no! no! no! Heaven forbidr' h,
feelingly exclaimed.
'Mebbe you think would commit
fox pass"
'Never Such base thought neve
entered my mind. 1t is simply to de
eide a wager, you know. Forgive me
darling, and we will let the subjec
drop"
"No we wont!' she resolutely re pliet
MS she sat up in the hammock ant
looked at him in dangerous way. 81
| were eating at the table where the,
had 'taters, mashed or whole, baked o
fried, and [ wanted s'morc, / think
have sense enough to ask. Explain
your conduct, sir!'
"'Taters!' he faltered, as his fac
turned as white as snow.
eyes, 'taters You don't suppose L,
ask for Goldfish, do you?"
A wild, weird shrek leaped out OF
the balmy night. 1t was Carlyle Stan
hope who uttered it. The rumor tina
had reached his ears had been con
firmed. Aye! more than confirmed
With his own ears he had heard tn
naughty Evylyn Throckmorton call 'er
''taters" and repeat. For lnomen
after uttering that shrek, which toll
of soul wrecked and lost, be stoo
and looked at her with horn or POI
trayed on every line of his aristocrati
face. Then he turned and staggere
away staggered - wabbled -. lurche
and stumbled, and the darkness swal
lowed him up for ever and forever!-
Detroit Free Press.