The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-02-12

& u ~ G oOser7atlons re-
g -. ~ specting the
&weather and kind
red topics, ssbut t'won't pay ter wait
eny longer; it can't allus be jest ter
suit Us and one had better not be too
psrtic lar; besides, I've seen the best
moon Imaginable turn out taters all
soggy, and, visy versy, I've knowed
We wust one fetch good crop"
'.It's jest bout the same as 'tis with
,eople," he went on, after moment s
sause. "Them folks that prance
round in fine clothes may be- all holler
at the core, while an old pair Of over
ais kin cover the legs O. the best man
;het walks"
''What do yeou think bout thet,
jane?" said he, turning so as to ad-
dress comely young girl who sat in
the doorway, cutting potatoes for the
next days planting.
'tYou are always right, Uncle
Jabez," answered the girl. tossing her
head pleasantly.
'''rwant very 'stonishin' thing ter
Say, I'll low," continued the old man,
"out tits one people sometimes fergit.
I'd some Intention of spplyin' thet re-
mark ter yeou, Sis, but it don't seem
Jest right when see how purity yeou
be-
Jane laughed merrily, and going to
che old man put her arms around his
neck and kissed him. Chow would
you apply it to me, Uncle Jabez?"
said she softly.
"Wal, now," said Uncle Jabez,
eyeou'Ye tux me so sudden like thet !
hardly know what ter say, but what I
mean is thet yeou shouldn't git high
notions. I'll low yeou're purity level
on most things, but same phys ter
oourtin' and fellers and poetry and sech
like. Seems ter me, yeou don't care
80 much fer young Hobbies over there
as you used ter afore thet city chap
come over ter the Rutledges ter waste
the summer. fBetter not Judge too
much by the outside shell.
'sHobbes amt so smooth lookin',
craps, but he's got common edication
and sense. Tnet young Rutledge may
know how ter say cutter things cause
he's from the city, where peoples
heads is allus full O. trash, and he may
hev lots O money, but fer jest them
reasons he amt goin' ter marry any
girl from the country; besides, them
Gne birds thet roos5 so high and are
so 'f-aid o their feathers ein't worth
pickin' when they're caught"
Jeannette Clifford loosened her hold
en Uncle Jabez's neck, and the red
mounted to her brow ss she resumed
her seat in the doorway.
Uncle Jabez Whslens was priyi-
eyed character in that section of the
county, passing as a sort of encyclo-
p@dis OF Information and always ready
with good-natured advice. He was
uncle to everybody and generally
loved and respected. His home for
many years past had been with the
Clifords, and the family regarded him
with even more reverence than if be
had bsen ono of the family.
Jearnette worked in silence for some
minutes while Uncle Jabez smoked
vigorously at his pipe. "Well," said
she, finally, drawing long bxeath OF
determination, ".Mr. Rutledge seems
like gentleman and is very much
more easy hammered than Oscar
Hobbies, and if he wants to show me
attentions I shall not object until see
something really bad in him. If Oscar
doesn't Like it he can lump it..
"Jane," said Uncle Jabez, while the
expression on his good-natured face
softened into a sudden seriousness.
II may. be trife fcr'ord, but there's
some things ] don't like bout thet
feller thet yeou mayn't hcv noticed
an it makes me b'iieve him shaller.
The sight O. him O. set me thinking o
something thet happened long time
ago, afore 7 knew yeou Or your dad OF
eay O. the folks round here; when I
lived back East and had little girl O.
~ own bout your age.
sI never said much bout Sal, but If
yeou'll come snd sit on this bench I'll
sell yeou something I've never told
afore."
y. The old mans voice had grown
husky, his face twitched and he eseemed
to be struggling to keep back the tears
from his eyes.
Jeannette forgot her momentary re-
eminent and carried her basket to
the little seat close to him.
"Iwiu listen," said she.
-ISe old man sat IN silence for some
moments, looking of into the dis
tance.
'Yeou look good deal like SCI.
aid he, finally, laying dowa his pipf
and looking into her face.
ssSeems ter me I never noticed tht
resemblance so much afore. She hao
Jest sech eyes and hair and vas like.
wise purity, but she died afore she was
quite as old as yeou. We use ter live
in the country and had a place some
thing like your dads, with q great big
house and barn and o brook runnin'
thru the meadder, and two big oak
trees back O. the house thet seemed ter
spread their great branches over the
ROOF protectin' like, only they some
times was bit bothersome, film the
caves troughs full O leaves and ncorns
md rottin' the shingles cause the
shadder kept off the sun.
IN front O. the house was flowers
md lilac bushes and row O. maple
trees and gravel psth leadin' from
the stone at the bottom O. the door
step to the yard gate. sal TUX care OF
the flowers and kept the grass moved,
and everything looked as slick and
clean as eny O the fms places in the
city. and she was o powerful help tc