, 1896-03-07
A WEDDING PARTY.

49, f'eN'ho shN - a'F'
bach hogs.
The peach crop and its shipment cause
. stir in early summer The pigeons have
nested and brooded there from The time
OF the falling of the stars, SO the old women
Of the place declare, and they have well
established their right of priority by occu.
plying the caves of the dilapiduted stores
and dwelling houses, on the roofs Of which
they parade in pomp for the benefit of the
passengers whenever "a train appears.
The bearded and b%egriined engineer who
puffs through the town twice u day is au-
thority for the statement that the razor
back hogs are so trained that they spend
the morning about the schoolbousc. u mile
distant from the station, where they de-
YOUR the residue of numerous lunch baS-
kets, n at the blowing of his whistle
dash through the woods to meet the train
n consume the peach pcclings thrown
from the car windows.
But there are other productions in Cor.
don more notable than pigs, peaches and
pigeons.
Some days ago the old engineer came to
a stand at this station. A silrijl voiced
conductor squalled, "All aboard" Tho
car door opened slowly, and u woman,
holding an infant in tight grasp, entered,
followed by n middle aged maj and u
young fellow of the country swain variety.
The woman had on a dress of checked
homespun, buttoncd to a painful degree
about her obese body, M u nondescript
hat, covered over with the crimson tipped
wings of blackbirds. She was putting
from the excitement of the occasion and
the exercise of a long walk, while tho baby
bawled and made furious efforts to pull
handouts of hair from its mothers head.
Tho mar RaZed ~vacantly about him and
threw himself, with n jerk, beside the
woman, which, for an instant, stopped the
believing of the babe.
The young fellow had amblcd up and
stood in the aisle with an air of uncertain
elaboration. He decided suddenly to seat
himself, moved my valise testingly, looked
up timidly and fell into the seat. l had
IN opportunity of noticing him closely.
He wore u new pair of blue jeans trousers
that were scarcely long enough to hide his
flaming red socks, blazing out in bold re-
lief above his %creaking brogans, likewise
new. His Ill fitting coat was in color n
dingy brown. This was unbuttoncd and
disclosed an unbleached, unstarched shirt.
His long hair was saturated with water
and seemed to sparkle with frequent ap-
plications Of pomade. His physiognomy
was rather extcnuated. Tho chin shot out ut
an abrupt angle and tapered off to n point,
bcdecked with Il scanty ridge of down that
had never known the invasion of steel.
His nose was almost parallel to the chin.
1t had been the shining mark for the mid.
summer sun and had suffered surface
abrasion that morning when he scrubbed
his countenarcc. But, more conspicuous
than all, was the peculiar dilation of bis
check that I'D of tho wad of tobacco upon
.V.tt,l, L., -, ALL a -.
stained, and the wrinkles about the corner
Of his mouth formed miniature aqueducts
for conducting the juice to his shirt collar.
When the train was good under way,
the old mar turned:
Better come up this way, Bud, an set
down by yor ma an me-"
"Ruther sit back hero, whar l kin spit, "
responded tho young fellow, firing the
liquid contents of his mouth into the GUS
pidor.
"Waal, l lac ter know Of yer can't spit
outen this here window. Amt no law
'ginst 1t, is thar An bcin as you're goU
tor marry, yer ma an med lac ter see
sumpen of yer TO- you an Nancy gifts tied
together, cause we amt or countin much
ON seein yer whin yer gifts ter Twin over
thar ut ole man Scroggins'."
This argument was effective, and the
fellow moved up several seats. 1t was
evident from the snatches Of conversation
caught amid the rumbling of tho cars that
tho young man was destined to DO married
that day, II that he expected to MAKE
his home with his BRIDES parents:
"Pa, l wants yer to send ole SUE over
termorrow. That's this hes plowin critter
! ever drew the line over, an Of mo an
Nancy's got to make n Twin. ole Suo'll
have to BIO thar to help us OUT
A laconic grunt was this reply.
IAN don't fcrgit tor send over that thar
shotgun of mine. l seed n whole passle or
squirrils over thar in S%croggins' wood las
week, an they're jist natcherly ichin fer
shot. Thct's what! spec l kin git u
dog over thar at Nancy's, an yer needn't
bother yerself bout sendin my olo hound
dog long. She amt fttin fer nuthin but
ter scratch flcas an eat grub. That's
whatV'
Fol some miles there was dreary silence.
The old woman relapsed into u state Of
somnolent satisfaction and punctuated her
dreaming with sudden mods and resultant
shorts, while tho baby still tugged with
her hair. Tho old man gazed out at tho
soudding cotton crops, n tho prospective
groom munched his tobacco and Illuminated
upon marital responsibilities.
Ne ~ 'SAh iAhS"S VI h"o
next stop. Tho effect was instantaneous.
Tho young man ceased to chew and pushed
his head from tho car window. The wom-
an woke up with u start, gave the baby II
savage slap, which brought all its lung
power into action, while tho old maj
started toward the door in II run.
THAR she Is! Thar's Nancy an her
ma an ole nan Scrogginsl" ho yelled back.
"Hello folks! How'dy, how'dy! Here's
Bud in hero cooked an primcd fer marry
IMP
The train had come to q stop ut hat
appeared to DO q crossroads station. Sow
eral wagon teams We're standing undo the
live oaks hard by. In one of these wagons,
all alone, was seated u girl of 10, arrayed
in u neat rod calico dress and u green
checked %sunbonnet, beneath which was u
comedy countenance, radiant with smiles.
These smiles expanded MS she saw the
young man jump from tho TAR and rush
toward her. His only snlutation was u
series Of violent kisses, which she pretend
cd to resent.
He reached out for the reins and wished
to drive. She refused.
BETTER lot me handle these lines. till
We git to the church, Bud. You amt use
to these mules"
Tho train wns speeding away again. and
the wedding procession was left winding
it, way to church.
"That's what l calls bullet proof and
happiness, and lots OF it, said the con-
duct0e, waving his well wishes from the
rear platform.
6grved with him.-A. c. Newell in
Atlanta Constitution.
N - =