The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-03-28
a WISE WOMAN.
Che Knew Jim and Had known Jim''
Daddy Before Him.

had been living in the neighoor
hood of the mountains one summer,
until had become Sc well acquainted
with the people Of that immediate Sec
ton as to be taken into their councils
and looked to for advice on all sorts
of questions, even In domestic matters.
The one most important involved the
Fate Of two lovers. Jim Sallers was
courting SIarthy Little, and everybody
thought it was just the right thing ex-
cept Marthy's mother, and she had
opposed it from the beginning. The
girls father was perfectly SATISFIED
and did what he could to win his
wife over, but she was obdurate and
would listen to no persuasion. I had
talked to her once or twice, but 1t
did no good and gave 1t up. Jim ana
I had been on terms, all along, and l
advised him to run off with Marthy
and trust to luck for the balance. He
was thrifty young fellow, sober and
Industrious, and could get along very
well without the maternal blessing,
seeing that everybody else was pleased,
but he did not care to do so If there
was any chance Of winning the moth
er. At last, he agreed that If Mrs.
Little didn't come around within
week he would pick Marthy up and
run away with her, agreeing to lend
him what extra money he might need,
as he had a good creek farm and wouid
have plenty when his crops came in.
With this assurance from Jim, I went
back to Mrs. Little.
~ know what you've come fer, Col
onel, and it aint no use tall5in'," she
said as soon as I got into the house.
my dear madam" replied, II mus
talk to you. I've seen Jim, and as sure
as you are alive he will run OF with
Marthy and marry her, whether you
want him to or not, and it would be so
much better If you would give your
consent and have it all done regular
and as it should be-"
"Well, tell you won't give my con
sent, and that ends It," she said hoty.
II don't keer what anybody and every.
body says, I amt goin' to say he kin
marry her"
But that is childish" said I. "Yot
won't give your consent just because
YOU don't want to and for no other
reason"
"I've got my reasons" she answered
doggedly.
"Well, tell me what they are.7
She got up and went to the door ano
around the house and then back again.
81 wuz lookin' to see if ther wuz any
body aboa:," she said as she resumed
her place, "and ez they amt, III tell
you my reasons eff you'll promise yor
won't tell"
1 gave the promise readily, and she
went OH after bit:
"I've knowed jim sence he wuz s
baby and 1 knowed his daddy afore
him." she said, land they won't do to
fool with. Jim's all right and I'd like
to see Marthy married to him, but
Jim's that pesky, that eff he kuoWed me
and Marthy's pap and Marthy wanted
him to marry her, he'd be crawhshin
In no time and thar wouldn't be nc
weddin'. But ez long ez he thinks
somebody is ag'in him, he's Soin' to
take t'other track and pull his way
Now you know my reasons and l aint
a-soin' to move n peg outen the read
fer nobody till I've got Jim landed safe
with A1arthy down thar on that farm
Nv his'n. Let him run off with her ef
he wantster, and when they come back
hitched fer good, I'll have an infai1
right here in my house that will be the
biggest one you ever hearn tell Nv IN
these parts, Colonel. and ef you ever
tell on NE it won't be good fer you
Now mind"
I minded. and now jim and Marthy
have been married some time, and jim
IS so we'll satisfied that even If have
betrayed the confidence Of his respect
cd metller-in-law it won't make any
great Gifferences-Fzee Press.