Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-19
CHAPTER Y.

How was it with Ezekiel? The clouds
still hung low. The intuition Of the
young woman had placed her III Posses
sion Of his secret before he knew that
he had one. and with the perversity Of
her sex she turned the tables upon him.
Her smiles were distributed among the
tourists, and she learned 70 give keen
answers 10 their good humored banter
ings. Often he had tried % tell her of
his misery, but with the training she
had been receiving from the beans and
coquettes he was no match for her.
One day she went TO him with great
secret
"Oh, Zeker she said II ar er-goin
ter tell yuh suthin. Tn parson war er'
long terday an tickled nigh unter death.
He do say hits all or joke erbout Sal
Boilers gittin 'ined % thet ar city fell
Ter. which war er drummer an erfoolin
yuh. TIL parson say es how hits all
over Calling, an folks es er-torking er-
bout 'Zeke Sykes los widder. " She
held her sides and followed up the in
formation with most provoking spasm
Of mirth. Ezekiel gasped for breath.
His voice was hoarse when he spoke at
last.
"Th' parSon tole yuh?''
"Of course He come straight from
SAILS. an she tole i'm 18th her own
mouth. Now yuh kin go back, M sal
kin be- 'Mistis Ezekiel Sykes down cen
Raccoon Holler " There was just the
faintest tremor i'll her voice, but Ezekiel
was beyond the comprehension Of fine
shadings then. She had expected an
outburst; there was none. The young
man walked off, and the signs were un-
mist;,kable; he was crushed.
"Zeke, are yah hurted bad sure
'nough?" she called after him repent
antly. He made no reply. When ne
came back later, She was sitting on the
steps.
MA" he said, I'm er-goin ter TIL
Falls, an maybe | won't come back n
or week, an maybe hit'll be two. They
do say es how thar ar more chance fur
mount in men in Alabam', an I'm or
gittin sorter worrit down here. I'll tork
ter yuh when I'm done torkih ter them
thet knows Thar be some erbout Tn
Falls now thet knows He kissed her
check. an odd carcss for Ezekiel, and
affected not to see her anxious look.
"GoOdby, D'rindy," ne said a. he
passed her on the steps. New frien's
es better'n ole fricn's." \ great lump
rose in the girls throat; she could not
speak. He passed through the gateway
and took the road that led 10 The Falls,
walking listlessly. She watched him for
a moment. then rose and darted after
him, her light step giving out scarcely
a sound. II he heard, he made no sign.
Presently she laid hand upon his
shoulder, and then he turned and looked
down into the violet eyes, while II treU
bling seized him.
"Zeke." she said, little smile quiv-
ering upon her lips, when yuh git ter
Alabam', won't yuh write er letter."
lone writes ter yuh now, an one Is
Iit Ntal Ahtf nbiNA' pGA
and drew from under her touch.
"Oh, Zeke" She looked at him with
such reproach that he was half ashamed.
Then she laughed, pointing her finger
at him "Zeke, I do berlieve yuh ar
er-slippin off ter court Sal Boiler ergin. "
She bent almost double with the idea
"No, ben't," he said hoarsely.
"Yuh ar, Zekel Yuh ar! An, oh,
Eeke, IF yuh be, look out for drummers
OH tn roadP'
He turned and strobe off without a
word more. She leaned her back against
tree weak with laughing, her feet
thrust out in front Presently she called
him.
"Zekev' He turned and glared back
at her in silence. 'Zeke Sykes, she
continued "yuh ar er bigger fool N |
seen this year, an thar's ben some big
ones round hyar, tn Lord knows. Her
face was flushed, and she held out her
arms. "Zoke, take me erlong ter Ala
bam', won't yuh:" He came back doubt
ing, but the arms were not lowered, and
into them. he walked, speechless with
the change from despair TO happiness.
BE held her for a long time.
"D'rindy," he said, IAN yuh love me
arter all:"
Eyes, an afo' all, from tn fust time
when yuh used ter tote me on yer back
over tn rocks Oh, Zeke, l hahn
never loved nobody else in tn whole
worl but yuhr' Tears crept from under
the half closed eyelids, and then there
was silence as he pressed her close to
him.
well" said Ezekiel finally, 81 war
er fool, mos trooly."
Two more incidents close the idyl OF
"Sinkin Mountin. as Zeke's signboard
Mt the fork of the roads has il. The cap
tain's letters, spelled out with much
labor, gave assurance Of a sale of the
mica deposit at good price. This is
one. The other is: In the closing hours
of the season Ezekiel, wandering about
the hotels, met face to face the drum
mer who had made him jest through
ont one corner Of Carolina. He spoke
u:cL.-x oc al q, ~av~rsny D