The San Francisco call., 1896-02-09

Dely faced quickly around.
THAT you, Bud Harris? What yer
want? Don't holler thetawayW with
furtive glance at the house.
She looked at the boy as calmly as If he
had been post. Ard yet he was q pic
ture. He set all hygienic theories at def
ance. Corn bread and bacon, sodden bis
cult and buttermilk, stewed beans plenti-
fully seasoned" with bacon, made tie
menu by which Bud had come to such a
glory of satiny, olive skin, clear eyes and
sturdy growth.
"What yer want?" repeated Miss Dely,
imperturbably.
Bud was only 8 and Dely was 90.
'He's over yon-back O. the spring
house-waitin' ter see yer," said Bud,
breathlessly.
Looks of pleasure and fright chased each
other over Miss Dely's face.
You go along, Bud, an don't tell no.
bodyl" she said.
Bud giggled, caught his breath and then
gazed soberIy after Miss Dely, who started
at once for the springhouse
"Them two folks is in love" thought
Bud, reasoning correctly, as even eight
years old can reason on this question.
"Bnt eff she's in love WI Alec, what for
air she a-goin' TO marry Bob Wilson?' pur-
sued Bud.
This puzzled him and Mrs. Townshend,s
<
gray wave up the hollow and invited
fusillade of pebbles.
Miss Dely opered the door of the spring
house and went in.
1t was clean and sweet and cool. and
pervaded by soft gloom, only broken bv
the streaks OF light that marked where the
chinking had fallen from between the logs.
The stone floor was damp and mossy.
Jars of milk and butter stood in deem
trough along one side, and the water went
purling between them, dripped from the
trough into channel and went gurgling
off into the branch.
Miss Dely bent her face to the widest
crevice between the logs.
What you want, Alec?" 1t was
shaggy head that approached hers and
pair of keen blue eyes, trimmed by blonde
brows, already trife frosted, that were
framed in by the edges of the logs.
"Jest ter see yer, Del y, J" was the reply,
more. cayn't come ter the weddin'-yer
couldn't expect that"
"Why not?' interrupted Dely.
"She axes me whyp' groaned Alec
"Come out hyar, Dely. 1t amt comfabIe
to talk VII them logs atween u.s.
"I cayn't," answered Dely. "Ma'll see
me. And I don't reckon hits any use
talKin'"
when give yer up ter Bob wilson,
Eyer didn't give me up" interrupted
Dely, almost angrily. Yer couldn't, cause
yer never he'd me-"
''An' why didn't hev yer?" demanded
Alec, piteously. II lowed 'twere all set
tied, only we he'd ter brek it ter yer ma
eradooaI-Miss Townshend's so sensitive.
Oh, Dely, come out hyar."
al amt er-goin' ter. You war eleven
wear breakin' it an Bob Wilson only tux
two months" said Miss DEFY, the wild
apple tint in her cheeks growing roster.
"An' it never war all settled nohow. Ye
he'd yer chance an ye didn't tex it. |
dunno why. Eff you RELY he'd cared for
"Ef 1 he'd cared fer vel" said Alec.
"Don't yer know | cared fer YEP"
He gave her a look of such intense af-
lection that she grew pale and felt like
Iainting. Then, like the man he was, he
lost his advantage by beginning to tramp
up and down the narrow space in the rear
OF the springhouse- groaning and gesticu-
lating
II wish I'd fit him. VOW wish I'd
q fit himp'
Dely watched him, at first curiously and,
no doubt, with certain pleasure. He had
bad his chance and had not improved it,
ard now he was being punished for 1t,
kine OF poetic justice which appeals to
souJ' of all grades.
bt as the scene went on it became
amusing. Miss Dely began to giggle; then
as the hysterical impulse grew stronger
she laughed with all ner might.
"Dely, Dely!" cried Alec, Mortified. care