Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-06-05
TOMS STRATEGY.
by Harry stInweII Edwards.
copyright, 1892, by The Century Company
All righta reserYel

that question, and she did it i'll "a tone
of voice that would have attracted any
body's attention. She was q tall
heavy, masculine woman of some two
hundred odd pounds, and as she straight
ened up over the washtub under the
chinaberry tree at the end of her cabin
she was indeed a formidable looking
figure. Her great black, muscular arms
dropped toward the scrubbing board that
reclined in the tub, and her hands
grasped wet garment upon which she
had been expanding some of her prodi-
gious strength. The person addressed
was small old man whose face was
pretty well covered with a gray, kinky
beard He nervously shifted the weapon
he bore-an ancient mu7sle loading
fowling piece, with a wire wrapped
stock and reed ramrod-and affected an
easy, conciliatory manner
'Des' gwine down yander ON de
Crick. Ole buck rabbit down dere ev'y
day bout dis time Spec he oughter be
en- de pan time Nanny 10 git heah en-
de morndin. " The voice was drawing
and childlike in its modulations. He
struck the right chord, and very skill
fully. Nanny Jo was the mother of
the amazon at the tub, and had sent
word of her intended visit. The little
old man moved off slowly, with pc
culiar shuffling motion. "Dat possum
mighty fine back yander, he ventured,
with a motion of his head toward the
cabin, "but faint gwine ter las all
day"
| AS he passed on, his ear waited for a
harsh summons, but heard only the
mutterings of his spouse when she
plunged a little more vigorously into
her work. The little strip of pine woods
toward which his face was turned seem
ed to approach at a snaiPs pace only,
but he was afraid to change the gait he
had chosen. AS he stepped at last into
the friendly cover of the trees he stole
backward glance over his shoulder, and
then abruptly quickened his motions.
At the same instant his whole manner
changed, and when presently he heard
his name echo through the wood borne
upon the imperative tones of pair of
prodigious female lungs, he laughed
aloud and held on his way. The woman
at, int trb talked to herself
mighty takin on bout Nanny Jo'
all er sudd'n. Nanny Jo'l Nanny
Jo'! Heap he kyre bout Nanny Jo, "
she laughed scornfully. Better be out
en- dat patch pick'n colt II or en- dem
peas. Eff hit wuz lef' ter him dat steer
go long ter town ter be sold 'stidder de
coffin bag know him; he can't fool
me. Gil i'm time an he go skipp'n bout
over yonner at de Stillson place, de lyin
little debbiL" She gave the shirt of her
absent lord vicious wiring, as if she
felt him in it, and lifted up her voice,
obeying a sudden impulse:
"You Tormp' There was no reply ex-
cept a few echoes that Knocked her He
heah me" she continued resuming her
labors, and then she resumed, too, the
thread of her reverie. 'Morndin, Sis
Lizer; how yo' beth terday, ma am?
Morndin, Sis Chloey; hope yer feelin
berry we'll, ma am" She initiated the
insinuating, childlike tones of her absent
spouse and repeated her scornful laugh.
Mex time heah bout i'm gwine over
der I'll bre'k ev'y bone en- is trifiin
hide"
But Tom was thinking no longer Of
his industrious and indignant spouse.
He was rapidly moving along the new
line of departure from home and the
haunts Of the buck rabbit in the creek
bottom. He had slight limp, caused
by bale of cotton rolling against his
leg when he was young, and as he trot
ted along his funny little figure bobbing
up and down caused the powder horn
under his arm and the shot gourd to
swing out and collide fiercely.
A couple of miles glided away thus,
when suddenly out from under his feet
a rabbit scuIried few yards away, and
prit King up his ears looked back at the
rude disturber of his afternoon ramble
Tom brought the gun down across his
knee, cooked it successfully, the hammer
going back half circle with three dis
tinct clicks, rested it for a moment
against tree, aimed long and carefully
p and pulled the trigger. There was a
deafening explosion; the little old man
staggered back six feet, the muzzle of
his gun dropped to the ground, and the
rabbit sprung high in the air, turned a
somersault and fell dead. Had there
been a witness present he would have
observed that the ground about the I'M
fortunate animal was more or less torn
up for space Of twenty feet square
Tom rushed in and secured his prize,
then carefully reloaded his weapon and
eesumed his journey.
He had not gone far before a rooster,
leading his family among the dead
leaves Of some scrub oaks, Strengthened
up and uttered an inquiring cackle. Al
the same instant a hound near at hand
gave vent to a prolonged howl, and
barking fiercely gAloped out toward the
newcomer. Tom entered small clear
ing where stood log cabin with gar
den at the rear, guarded from couple
of cadaverous looking pigs and the
chickens by split picket fence re-en-
forced with brush. In the doorway sat
young woman twisting her hair into
the tight little rolls which all of the
kinky headed race affect under the idea
that straight hair will finally result
therefrom.
"How yer do, Sis Chanyey? How yo'
beth terday, ma'am?" Tom had reduc-
ed his gait, and his voice rose and fell
melodiously. The woman laughed,
showing mouthful Of dazzling teeth
"I'm toler'ble. Set down How yer