The Press., 1896-01-23

and certain numD0r GO D0 AOBCs W6AAp let us say that certain number are to be lost and that the certain number are the ones that refuse to believe,
 "Pap, l reckon you are right, but still I feel mighty bad"
 'Of course you do, and it is mainly because yo' time for feelin that way has come and you don't want to disapp'int yoself by feelin any other way"
 "Now, pap," she whined, lyon jest know that a body wants to feel as we'll as they can. But do know that people have cause to think hard of me. and that makes me feel bad, for one thing. I try my best, though, and still can't get lem nothin ftten to eat when they come here"
 Madam, said Andrews, Git is now time for me to speak. "So long as your fears are confined to your soul I am compelled to remain silent. but when you include your cookery l must lift my voice in its defense, for, so far as am concerned, there is not hotel in the country that can prepare a meal as appetizingly as you do."
 "But I jest know this chicken ain t fried right" she persisted, still feeling about for basis of despondency.
 "A saint that had served half his life in a kitchen couldn't fry it better, " Andrews declared.
 "That eased her nightly" the old man whispered, "but it won't be long till she fumbles around and finds some thin else to feel bad about"
 During the forenoon Miss Madam and Andrews fished in a small stream not far away, but they were housed during the afternoon by furious dOwnpour of rain. Evening came and still Little Dave had not returned. The old man would step to the door occasionally and gaze anxously down the darkening road. "I am afraid,'' said he, "that Caney fork has rig so that he can't git back. I hope he won't try, for if he does the horses will be drounded shure ; They sat up until late and then, convinced that the boy had put up somewhere for the night, went to bed. It seemed to Andrews that he had just fallen asleep when he was awakened by voices down stairs.
 You don't mean to say that you tried to git across the creek" the old man exclaimed.
 ''I did git across the creek.
 "But whar are them hosses?"
 "I didn't try to drive 'em through. The creek was so high that left them at Perdue's.
 "How did you git across?'
 ''I swum.
 "Is that how you bruised yO' face?"
 "Yes, agin. the driftwood and bresh.
 Ut is thousand wonders you hadn [ ] dreunded. Why the deuce didn't you stay at Perdue's ruther than swim that creek and trpdee alltheaway back here afoot?'' -,.,,..,~.,,if., z -.
 "'Cause I wantGd1 to come home" :"
 YLittle Dave, it do look to fneS1ike You 'Ye lost about all the sense you eyer had: Waal, as soon Y3 as you git breakfast IlN N in the mnorninMt thoiugh I reckon you I better wait a3 hour Or So till the scfeek runs down-you git. on old Joe aud gc right back after that wagon and teamy ;,
 "Will Miss Madam go too?" "Look here, boy:f; what the devil K I the matter with yopi" ri 4r r'4t~~as~
 "'Pap, oh, pap," the old womanreall. 4L:a"Waal, what is it. 'Lf2abhtif?'' ~'r .'
 .f.tYeu. nnnst n3t 3tita4ke etlnR enway!8 v That's all righgtTSa yop .ef .go t9 sleep I You odghtef staid with the hosses, Lit tie Dave, and you must 50 Tight back &as FsaQq ,ss- -eveE, the creek FaasdoHnih4 { -,o1 VIII VIII, Andrews 4 9, ,Fgi}, FiH} # AaH Madam zs+'What in tksgnad1e of s6 Atsl. ! don't want to heal. anothsrword euba0l I you. ," .o..... +.
 L1ttl61Dsvee; ;didnott siitr rd6wa t65 5fb break: fast+1Eith the family the :next 1Aornihgi and AndEeWs. did mot; see, him until the forenoon was well spent, when the boy, silenntc ana Rithp sdddeh pa1lor of counte! nance, mounted an old honse and started off down the road. Fhe old manr hum, ming tune Improvised by the bubbling kindness of his heart, went t0 his 7worh of chopping sassafras sprouts from the corners of the fence, but his wife. still troubled over the possible condemnation of her soul, and fearful that Der guest had not spoken from-the heart.Mhep h. complimented her ability to fry chick, en, sighed distressingly as she worked in the kitchen. 't> -2'
 Mother, said Miss Madam, ':I ds hope you ain't goin, to have .anethel spell Here of late you don t mo- thar git out of one till yon are'ihto another '
 Don talk to paabout spells, child. You don't know what a spell, is. It dc seem to me like I git less and less hap pihess out of this life as the years 'rol' on, and what will become of me aftel awhile the Lord only knows. F. < .~>,
 "I think we've all got something tc be happy for, mother never was al happy in my life as I am now; and il seems that l get happier and 5happtel every day."
 Supper was over long before Little Dave returned, and when he did como he walked through the house without