The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-15

nowadays. But I s'pose it's the fash'n
to sing it in this way out among folks.
Even religi'n is gettin' to havin'
fashi'nable quirks to it. I'm sorry to
say. I go in fer good oldfashi'ned
singin' that hain't got none O. the
pomps an vanities O. the world mixed
up with it."
1.-THE deacon he's allus a-fnding'
fault with anything that don't jest
agree with what he was brought up
to-" said Samanthy, between whom
and the deacon long standing grudge
existed. "He'd find fault with the
Angel Gabriel ef he was to come an
blow his trump diff'runt from the way
OIL Mis- Snyder blows her dinner
horn"
After school was dismissed Dick
took up his station by the door to wait
for Mamie. The boys generally
ranged themselves in row, waiting
for the girls to straggle along, trying
to look unconscious Of the presence of
the gallants, who were always con-
scious of being the observed of all OBJ
servers. Pretty soon the girls began
to edge their way toward the door,
whispering to one another and gig
Cling in the way common to girls when
there is nothing to giggle about, and
pretending to look as if ''beaus" and
"comp'ny home" were the very last
things they were likely to think of.
Mamie, however, loitered behind
the other girls, apparently busy over
a proper arrangement Of some portion
of her apparel.
"Aren't you about ready?" asked
Dick.
"Almost," answered Mamie; "but
I've got to speak to the teacher first. I"
Then she walked over to the place
where Mr.. Wayne was standing, with
the information that Mrs. Porter
would take him to board while he re-
mained in Brownsville.
"Thank you very much for your
trouble in the matter" said MIR.
Wayne, with smile that set foolish
Nannie's heart to futtering. ''I think
I'll go there tonight, if you'll be kind
enough to take charge of me and show
me the way. It's on your road home,
I think?"
eyes, we go right by there" said
Mamie, with a sidelong glance at
Dick.
Then the singing-teacher said some
thing to Mamie which Dick could not
hear, because it was said in rather
low tone. But he saw the girls face
color up like a rose, in pleased sur
prise, saw her look toward him with
little air of hesitation, and then saw
Wayne take it upon himself to decide
the matter for her by drawing her hand
within his arm with an air of owner
ship and authority which stung him to
fierce anger. They stood thus for a
minute or two, while Wayne answered
some questions, then they made their
way to the door and went out, laugh
ing and chatting, and Mamie, as she
passed Dick, seemed perfectly uncon-
scious of his existence.
"There, you've got the slip this
time" laughed Lucindy Smith -
'Cindy, for short. ''I wouldn't let him
cut me out in that way 'thout shown
'em that could do jest as we'll sum-
mer's else. I'd be as Independent as
she is," with an insinuating smile,
which, however, made but little i'm
preston on Dick.
IT snum, but that was done purity
slick, OF I amt no iedge O. horned cat
tle," laughed Bill Green, close to
Dicks elbow. Bill was an old admirer
of Nannie's, and had a grudge against
Dick for "cutting him out" there. In
consequence of this bad feeling on his
part, which had settled into bitter
emnity of the dogged kind, which is
always ready to avail itself Of any op-
portunity for revenge, he enjoyed
Dicks evident discontinue with keen
relish.
Dick was too busy with his own hard
thoughts to pay any attention to the
remark, and started off home through
the woods, not being in the mood for
company.
When he came in sight of Mr..
Boone's, an hour later, he saw Mamie
and the singing-teacher standing at
the gate together.
Rather than pass them he made q
detour around the house, in the shadow
of the woods, and reached his room by
climbing over the kitchen roof. Just
as he was ready to step into bed he
looked out and saw that they were still
standing there.
'I do think, Mamie Boone, that
you ought to be ashamed of yourself, "
he said, with one wrathful glance at
the girl who had Tilted him. ''If you
think I'm the kind of fellow that call
be twisted round your finger, you're
greatly mistaken as you'll find out. ]
don't play second-fddle. Ifyou prefer
the singing-teacher to me, it's all right
that's your privilege-but you can't
throw me by one day and pick me up
the next"
He lay awake long time that night
thinking over Nannie's treatment o.
him. He resented it bitterly, because
he cared so much for the girl, and ha6
been sure that his regard for her was
returned.
"That fellows got to keep out of my
path, ;" he said, the last thing before ht
went to sleep. 'Ifhe thinks he's going
to boss me round he'll find that he!
got hold of the wrong man. If he
isn't rascal I miss my guess, and III
nrove him to be one vet"