The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-04-17
SHE'S ALL THIN
''' WORLD TO ME-.
By HALL GAME,
Author Of 1.-THE MdnrmGn," "The Deem
SteT," etc. r ~ j II
CHAPTER III

AOCiNNN 90 AAt5lAu tio ~ Ntto lbnolDlt lOI
to look. The smoke was only beginning
to coil upward from the chimney stacks
and the streets were yet quiet when the
silvery voice of a child was heard to cry;
"Sweet violets and primroses the sweetest"
1t was little auburn haired laSsie of 5,
with ruddy checks and laughing lips and
sparkling brown eyes. She wore a clean
white apron that covered her skirt, which
was tucked up and pinned in fshwife fash
ion in front. Her head was bare She
carried basket over one arm and q straw
hat that swung on the other hand. The
basket contained flowers, which the child
was selling: "a hapenny bunch,
ma'am, only a ha'pennyP' The little
thing was as bright as the sunlight that
glistcned over her head She had made
song of her sweet call and chanted the
simple words with II rhythmic swing:
"Sweet violets and primroses the sweetest"
Ruby" cried a gentleman at the door
of a house facing the sea. Here, little
one give me bunch of your falderolls.
What-no, not falderollsY Is that it, little
one CHI"
1t was Mr. Kerruish Kinvig.
The child pouted prettily and drew back
her basket.
"What-not sell to me this morning9
oh, Sec You choose your customers,
you do, my lady. But III have the law on
you, Twill"
Ruby looked up fearlessly into the face
of the dread iconoclast.
II don't love you," she said
"NO-ch? And why not, now?'
Because you call the flowers bad
names"
"Oh, do, do II Well, never mind, lit.
lie one Say we strike apeace ehY'
81 don't like people that strike, " said
Ruby, with aVerted eyes
''Wel, then, cry truce-anything you
like"
Ruby knew what crying flower or
fish meant
Here, now, little one, here's a penny.
That's double wages you know. Don't
you think the law would uphold me if
asked for a.
ga what?" asked the child with inno-
cent eyes.
''Well say kiss. d"
The bargain was concluded and the pur-
chase ratified. In another minute the lit
tie feet We're tripping away, and from a
side street came the silvery voice that sang
"Sweet violets and primroses the sweetest"
At the next corner the lassies childlike
tones were suddenly drowned by lustier
voice which cried: Mack rel! Macker-cl!
Fine, ladies-fresh, ladies-and bellies as
big as bishops. Mack-er-el"
1t was Danny Fayle with board on his
head containing his last installment of the
seasons mackerel When the two street
vendors came together, they stopped.
Jaw now, the fresh you're looking this
morning, Ruby vegas fresh as a dew
drop, my chreeN'
The little one lifted her eyes and laughed.
Then she plunged her hand into her basket
and brought out bunch of wild roses.
That's for you, Danny" she said
"Och, for me Is it nowp Aw, and is it
for me it is?" said Danny, with wondering
eyes. THE clean ruined it would DO in
half minute, though, at the likes of me,
Ruby veg. Keep it for yourself, woman. ~
Louder: "Mack Refine, ladies-fresh,
ladies-macker-elr Then lower cav
now, the sweet and tidy they'd be looking
in your own breast, my chree-the sweet
extraordinary
The child looked up and smiled, looked
down and pondercd, then half reluctant
ly, half coquettishly, fixed the flowers in
her bosom.
Danny love you" she said simply
The object of Ruby's affection blushed
violently and was silent
"And SO does Sissy" added the little
one
"Mona?" asked Danny, and his tongue
seemed to cleave to his mouth.
eyes and mamma too"
Danny's face, which had begun tC
brighten, suddenly lost its sunshine. Hi:
lower lip was tagging woefully,
eyes, Mona and mamma and-anC
everybody" said the child, with ungrudg
ing spontaneity.
"No Ruby ven"
Dannys voice was breaking. He trieC
to conquer this weakness by shouting
aloud, "Mack- er-mack''- Then in {
softer Tone "Not everybody, my chree."
well" said the child in earnest de
Tense, everybody except your uncle Kis
seek"
"BiuY BillY What about Bill2" saiC
Danny hoarsely.
why don't you fight into him, Danny
You're a big boy now, Danny. Why don
you fight into him?"
fanny Sllupl6 law grow 'OiJ Bi"'O
The soft blue eyes had an uncertain look
"Did Sissy say that Ruby vcgY"
"No, but she said Bill Kisseck was a.
was az
"a what, RueY'
"a brute-to you, Danny"
The lads face trembled. The hanging
lower lip quivercd, and the whole counte
nance became charged with sudden energy
Lifting his board from his head and tax
ing up the finest of fish, he said:
ruby take this home to Mona. Here
now it's at the bottom Of your basket IN
putting it,
my flowers, Danny" cried Ruby anx
iously
Jaw, what's the harm they'll take a
ALP There thcre''-fxing some seawee
over the mackerel-"nioe, extraordinary
nice, nicep'
"But what will your Uncle Bill say
Danny" asked the little one with tn
shadow of fear in her eyes.
"Bn? BilY Oh, Bill, " said Danny
turning away his eyes for moment
Then with an access Of strength as be lift
ed his board on to his head and turned {
ttTa n,1l cav, ,,,,,tbip,r I'll-T'l1N-