New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28


that kind of look in her eyes can say no more e.
we passed Yarmouth station The trains are
few down here, ard there was no trsiIl ans
where within sight or hearing when we 80 ~
the place No train and no nun ,;r,n for n
child visible. 1t was ,x,ell. mi tliie Io' -
reformcr to choose I still believe tnat Ana
dreaded this station. ana that sne drew " w."
Of relief when she saw its soltary s."'e. -,
went briskly by, and then we began W s"p
TO see n house standing end TO the roao' anu
that had been painted yeller hout 'e" ''"'
ago
| don't know what were Amabels feehnss d,
the prospect Of meeting she mat was Eu'''oc
Calkins: | know that mine were not pieaSa''
but they were exciting. 80 -.
In ten minutes came Wlthln ssh' vi
house 1t was end to the road and there were
signs OF yellow paint upon II. II STOOD III
large yard from which every blade of grass nad
been plucked by the hens that were roaming
about A ath fence incosed the whole need
not say that there is no power yet discovered
that can make & spot desolate TO look at as
hens Even upon a June day this spot was
'Ionesome."
Our horses walked we gazed.
This Is it," said my friend. There were TWO
half-grown cockerels in the foreground engastn
In a fight The gravel flew from under thelr
feet: one Of thcrl was already bloody about the
head The hens and pullets placidly stepped
around them. pecking diligently suddenly .mrre
was a Tapping and 'shooing.' large woman
came hurriedy down the steps from the 'front.'
door She was waving an apron up and down
Nov you stop it-you stop that, tell YOU
ShOOi Shoe | declare there never WAS HotHh
s. fiat S a rooster ',hout it's man! Here you
be bout big nough for br'ilers n carryin' on
like this. Shoe. ] say"
She had unfastened her apron by this time and
ran,up to the lighting birds who slid away from
her but who continued to make dives at each
other She tried to flap her apron between them
She suddenly stopped and caught one by It's leg
and swung it. shrieking. in the air.
There, YOU" she shouted. ii was AT tniS
moment that her eye caught us as we sat on the
horses the other side Of the laths.
hn,, pith h.
and he hung gurgng and gasping by her sbie
as she came forward.
How do you do?' asked Amabel.
"Torrable." was the answer
did you come for fowls or eggs? We've got
settns Of pure Plymouth Rocks n Braymys
There amt nothin better: I've. ben in the busl-
ness fifteen year n ! ought to know. plymouth
Rock s a good all round fowl. but If you want
meat. take Braymy; though you've got to wait
for n Braymy t. grow. You can't have n lot OF
meat thou; waitin' for 1t to grow
The woman was now standing Just the other
side of the fence.
we didn't come for fowls or eggs" Amabel
made answer. I'VE came'-here she hesitated
and blushed.
DO You like that way of ridin'?" inquired the
~ think shall like it," humbly responded my
friend but I've only tried it for about an hour
Il always did say" said the woman the other
side OF the fence. that if ever rode horse
back I'd ride that way. There amt no sort
of reason sense in any other way.
Amabel blushed again. but this time with
pleasure.
shake hands with you' she explained.
Wall why can't We come in n rest ye?"'
cordially. There amt no law aginst It, /
guess. I'll open the gate. We keep 1t locked
cause somebody'd be sure to open 1t n let
half the fowls out. shouldn't have minutes
peace If l didn't keep it locked. Come in. I've
got some fresh buttermilk Some folks think
a lot of buttermilk. but call it hog wash my
self Tom likes 1t. though He's ben helpin'
me churn. n he's ben drinkin' the buttermk"
She swung open a gate wide enough for
carriage The wicked rooster still dangling
from her" hand and occasionally making Its
gurgling sound.
We rode in the hens hustled away before us;
from somewhere in the rear we heard the
startled quackng Of ducks. flock OF fam
tailed pigeons flew up into sight from the gable
end of barn that was visible as we followed
our hostess.
Amabel turned her head toward me.
IT'S all so different from what expected"
she said hurriedy do you think she is
Come right into the barn." called the woman.
d" n git off"
She opened the door of a small coop, thrust
IN the rooster slammed the door and hooked
IT, lea>-inr the bird In solitary confinement.
Before the door really shut we heard him
Growing, hoarsely and immaturey The woman
laughed.
Hes regular fighter" she remarked, "but
fighters amt good for much either for meat nor
eggs. You wait minute to us. n III bring
a stool-or here's a carpenters boss; do con-
sidera BILE carpent'rin' myself-my husban's one
Of them kind that can't drive rail-takes hold
OF the hammer way up on the handle, you know.
Il lest makes me sick 10 see him with a ham,
mer."
While she was speaking she had placed the
wooden horse by Amabels horse and Amabel
alighted: she said afterward that she didn't
know how she ever did it. bur she thought that
having done il she could do II again.
Il tell you what It's said the woman. I'm
mighty glad that somebody's got grain Of COM
mon sense" looking pointedly away from me
and at Amabel. Now come in. You look hot.
It's n dretful pleasant time Of year. amt 1t?
If 'twa'n't for my hens. n ducks, n things
I'd like to 60 off somewhere myself. Sc down.
do" We were in the kitchen. IT'S cooler here
this time Of day Tom" raising her voice.
cant you bring in a pitcher Of buttermilk
n some tumblers?
We heard sound In what seemed to he
shed Then there entered. not a boy, as we had
expected hut tall young man in sweater. and
long stockings and wheeling shoes He bore
n board on which stood pitcher and glasses.
His closely shorn head was bare: from his
tremely brown face his eyes twinkled greatly.
He laughed as he saw u.s. He scraped one foot
behind him and said:
Servant. ladies'.
We stared and then we also laughed. Reader,
we have met this young man before. for his
name is Thomas J. Riddle.