Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-03-03

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voice: Eyes, the ole bad man will git
Luley sure. Aunt Sarah says so, an she
says she hopes he'll get Miss Rob Nc
Gregor too"
"Hol Did she say thatr cain't be.
lieve it But, George, come ter think
Of it now, I reckon she did," Mr. Top.
mark said, rising and shaking himself.
"Come on ter the house, children" be
went on. can, Luley, here's the store
key. Eff anybody hollers, you open the
door an ask 'em ter wait till Teddy
comes. He CANT be long now. I've got
ter write or letter. Then-well, think
I'll ride up an see your Aunt Sarah.
The letter writing ought not to have
taken long-it was a mighty brief epis.
tle-but Mr.. Topmark sat good hour,
weighing each word and phrase Of 1t.
"It's er ticklish thing ter MANAGE" be
muttered. "Igot ter cover up my tracks.
She mus think I'm a-doin my level best
ter save the ole man from worry, an I
reckon she won't need ter be told that
none er them jacksnipe lawyers thar In
town won't take no case fer nobody
much ef they know me an my money Is
on the other side er it. mus think
luck is with me. 1t come over me this
mornin as we druv erlong, 'S'pose the
other gal an Sister Annis was at meet
in terday an had ohoosed ter say things
erbout how I come thar an who ]
fetched?' I got roun the ole woman easy
when she attacted me- That's one good
or Teddy bein sech er lier. That Mag
nolyer is er pictyer. I'd marry her in er
mint eff want fer-well, havin gal
children like I've got-that is, Of oo'se,
ef I hadn't never seen that devilish little
'ristocrat that has clear bewitched me.
I'd take her with jest the clothes she
stands in quicker'n would any other
woman no matter what she brought me-
But the Roscoe placel I've wanted that
fer 30 years. I ought rally ter have it,
seein how I jind it on my upper side.
Still it don't make up fer the differunce
in them two, though be hanged eff I
don't sorter believe I'd have as hard er
row ter hoe courtin Magnolyer-pretty
nigh, that is-as the little one."
When the letter was duly Aligned and
sealed, Mr.. Topmark got upon his late
wife's ambling saddle horse and went
pacing off to see his sister and his niece.
He found the Winfold family, molted
Of fine plumage and comfortably slip
pered, upon their back piazza "Why,
where's Jackp" he demanded before he
even sat down. "Alice, you mustn't
quarrel with that boy. I'd ruther know
you was goin ter marry him than that
the sto'd make er couple er thousan's
clear between this an Chris mus.
"You are the best thing" Mrs. Win
fold repeated effusively, wiping her eyes
as she spoke 81 see you've found out
how the pore child feels towards Jack.
Yon wanter encourage her not ter be
too bashful an frighten him off. I was
real provoked myself that be didn'tstay
ter supper. I hurried home an made ice
cream. He's 30 fond Of our ice cream,
you know. Ninesy, run git some fer
Uno' Ben. Yes, you must have it It's
real good an heap more'n jest us three
women can eat.
"I'm glad he went, particularly now
that Uncle Ben has come" Miss Win
fold said, stretching her feet as far in
front of her as was possible. "I'd have
on my tight new shoes if he had staid.
Besides, it amt good policy to let your
sweetheart get tired Of you, is it, Uncle
Benz"
CANT prove it by me-" Mr.. Top
mark returned, grinning and rubbing
his hands ''It don't pear ter me right
now that I ever could git tired er my
sweetheart. "
"Ef you amt droll! You always was, "
Mrs. Winfold said, giggling as though
she oozed amusement. "The idear OF
you a-talkin that way, like er boy on his
first legs! It made me laugh terday seein
how folks stared at you, as ef you had mt
as much right as they had ter carry on
any way you choosep'
"I don't need none er them fer gyuar-
jian, that's certain" MIR. Topmark re-
turned. "But, say, Alice, don't you by
no means let Jack Talbot slip. He's bet
ter wuth ketchin than anybody else ever
you'll have the chance Of. Besides-but
never mind. The day you marry him
you git the finest COW in my parster an
the hsndsomsst silk dress money will
buy"
"It's Jack you oughter hire. He's the
one hangs back" Nina said spitefully.
Her uncle laughed loudly as he an
swered:
"Ninesy, you may be sassy as you
please here at homo, but don t you never
let on ter nobody outside that Al wants
Jack worse'n he wants her. We know
he couldn't do better, not nowhere IN
the county"
"He don't think so. He can please
himself heap better an not 60 nowhere
but to Roscoe" Nina said stubborply.
At once Mr.. Topmark sat bolt upright,
saying between gulps of ice cream:
II kin tell him it's a mighty waste
of eyesight fer him ter look that way. u
"Why, brother, what can you mean?''
Mrs. Winfold asked, her face apprehen'
sive, but avidly curious With half shut
e. os he replied:
"Nothin, only he CANT have Rob Nc.
Gregor, an she shan't have him"
"You mean not if we can help it, y
Alice said coolly. II agree to that,
Uncle Ben; but are we certain they viii!
marry us?'' .
"You must tend ter Jack. She'll
have the chance of me-yes, hundred
times over," Mr.. Topmark said dogged,
". "That reminds me, Sis Sarah, e1
you cain It find nothin better ter do than
tryin ter set my children ag'inst her
! uish uon,d leave 'em alone / WON'T