The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-05-08

"Yes'm, thanks. Twill, this time"
"Then, child, if you are bent on you
own silly way, at least wait until to
morrow evening. want to go to thu
city tomorrow to do some shopping
you know"
"That's true; / forgot, auntie. Well
I can go tomorrow as well as to-day
1t will give me time to drop Cousin
Rachel card, and Mr.. Goosie-Gawky
won't be here until Saturday, anyway
I wonder if can get the card to the posi-
office in time for the mail?''
| "Yes," said Aunt Jim, I've got to &c
over to the village for a few minutes
You make the dumplings, and I'll be
back in time dinner is ready"
"All right, auntie; I'll make 'em, or
do anything else to please you, except
to stay here and be viewed, ON approx
al by that young popinjay of fellow.
I'll write my card quickly, so as not to
keep you waiting"
Jessie picked up her apples, put them
in the shiny pan and flew upstairs to
scribble a card to Cousin Rachel; and
had it down, all ready, by the time Miss
Jemima had her bonnet on.
IF anybody comes, tell 'em I'll be
back in jiffy," called Miss Jim, as she
took up the lines and gave her steady
old pony the word to go.
"All right, 1 WILL" answered Jessie.
"But don't hurry, auntie; it's too hot"
Then she went in to her dunplings.
and was soon up to her plump elbows
in -four.
Miss Jemima did not hurry the gray
pony too much, but it did not take her
long to drive straight to the telegraph
office when she reached the village, Il
mile away; and she sent two messages.
which cost her the better part of five
dollar bill, and made the telegraph boy
behind the desk stare at her.
Miss Jim saw his look, and said.
sharply:
young man, it's none of your bust
ness what send. If you gable about
my messages, II. see that you lose your
situation; in hurry, too!'
"Oh, yes, ma'sm! No, ma'am! To
be sure, ma ami" replied the youth,
somewhat incoherently. And Miss Jim
marched out of the Office and straight
home. If she had any other c1rands,
she must have forgotten all about them.
But Jessie didn': know it, you see.
The next day Jessie kept house, anil
Miss Jim took the early train for the
city. She did have some business to
transact up in town, but she also met
two people, and had a consultation with
them, which would have set Jessie furi-
GUS if she had known it. But Miss Jim
did not mention the circumstance when
she got home, and Jessie was not whit
the wiser.
Aunt Jim was a wise woman, though.
and kept her own counsel; albeit, she
had not in the least given up her plans
for the future of her obstinate little
niece. Not the least objection did she
make when Jessie came down all
dressed for her short journey, and
asked if she could have Old Gray to
drive to the station.
"I'll drive you over myself" said Aunt
Jim. Bring down your telescope while
l hitch up the pony"
And so, little later, Aunt Jim saw
Jessie's sweet face and roguish eyes
peeping out of the car window, while
she stood on the platform to see the
train start. But Jessie did not hear the
good lady, when she got into the buggy
to drive home, remark to herself:
THE silly girl! Did she think she
could catch her old auntie mapping like
that? Not much, my dear. Not
And she gave Old Gray's ears
q light flick with her whip. and laughed
softly, as she turned. into the yellow
road.
When the train stopped at Mortified
Jessie stepped out on the platform and
looked around for Mrs. Sanders.
No one was in sight. The platform
was empty, save for a yellow dog, and
a yellow-haired rustic who stared at
jess until her fingers tingled to box his
ears.
well, this is provoking!" she said.
II wonder if Cousin Rachel missed my
carl, and does not know am coming?
Not much of joke to walk mile and
a half out TO her house on this hot after
noon. 1 shall have to speak to that
gawky fellow, after all, and ask him
what to do"
Sne turned to the lank youth and
said, sweetly:
please can you tell me whether 1 can
hire carriage here to take me little
wey into the country?"
"No'm, don't reckon you kim" was
the bashful answer.
"Is there a carriage in town."
Nom, there hain't any, as knows
on"
"But what Oh. that is Cousin