The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-01-20
CHAPTER Y.

CHAPTER V.
At nearly the same minute Mrs An
mis-, riding home through the deepening
dusk, met q horseman, at sight of whom
she turned her own beast square across
the narrow road, barring his progress
until she had questioned him to her
hearts content. Evidently the answers
pleased her. Very shortly she rode on,
chuckling aloud. She got down at her
own stile in tempestuous good humor,
patted the head of lank hound which
came to greet her and strobe within the
squat log house, which had one door
ajar.
1t was mean and squalid, forlornly
weather beaten and full Of slatternly
discomfort. The open passway between
the two pens was like muck heap.
Racks had been set upon the log walls
either side for holding guns and sad
dies. Mrs. Annis noted with pleasure
that all of them were empty. She slung
her own riding gear in place, saying
half under breath: "Ef that thar fool
Noch jest will keep erway! He shorely
had better. Some er his gang has got
faces ter hang 'em anywhar's. He's er
plumb fool Of he don't stay way one
while. l kin manage Magnolyer by her
self, an onless I'm reckonin mighty
wrong I'll manage it so he kin change
his business fer better, and that right
soon. "
Magnolia stood listlessly in front of
the fireplace, with yet spark at bot
tom of her velvety eyes. 1t had been
kindled by sight of gorgeous silk
handkerchief and some lengths of broad
red ribbon which lay across her arm.
Without word she held them toward
the old woman, who said. with harsh
laugh, lingering them eagerly:
$50 he's fetchin things ter you err
ready, agh? / met him in the road had
err nice dish er chat with him, too,
though he was i'll sech er hurry Now.
you listen at me, Magnolyer, jest you
mind me, an you kin marry Ben Top
mark an be as big er dog as any er the
big dogs"
Magnolia flung her arms above her
head, with quick shiver.
81 wont have heem, she said duly.
II woouldn't-no, not for nurthin
All | wants er heem is-murney. l
wouldn't stand heem er ya.air fer all
hee's got IL hate heem, l do-ef-
eff he stays Jest er leetle while"
lyon air er big fool" Mrs Annis
said roughly, call on account er Noch,
au, though he is all the child I've got,
I'm bound ter say he is no account
wusser' n 10 account. Besides you jest
as well see. fust as last, he wont new
err marry you, not eff you git your full
rights an money besides. "
rt--the-chile--th leetle
unp' Magnolia gasped, her mouth gath
ering whiteness. "IIe-he CANT deny
1.-THE pore leetle un. It's 8 year ole
now. Eff l jest had it an Noch-an--
an we had er place whar nobody know
ed''-
"Shet upp' Mrs. Annis commanded.
"Gal, femme tell you somethin. Noch's
like all the rest er men--crazy fer what
he amt got Now he's plumb distracted
arfter Betty Hinsley. He'll git her too.
Now Hinsley's done gone ter Jail, Bet
tvs free as any ON us.
81 mought us well be dead, then"
Magnolia said passionately, dropping
into chair and breaking into dry sobs.
But in little her eyes went back to the
gay ribbon. She got up and began to tie
it about her round waist. Then she
draped the kerihief over her shoulders
and smiled to see how ivory fair her
long throat showed in contrast. When
her dnsky hair had been piled high on
her head, she surveyed herself in the old
clocks looking glass face and said, still
smiling:
81 would look right fine Of had fine
clothes all the time.
Eyes, an mean ter SEQ that you git
um, " Mrs. Annis, added with her most
energetic nod.
A very wise man has said there is no
such thing as trifie. And myriad hui
man beings will echo the saying when
they cast back to crucial minutes and
note whereupon they hinged. II only
Nam Liza had not been at perpetual
feud with Luce Allen, Miss Winfield and
her mother might have postponed II not
wholly escaped very bad quarter OF an
hour. Luce was the foremost of the
black passersby who came upon Jack
and Rob. She had seen enough to make
her smile, thrust her tongue in the cheek
and resolve to go to Mrs Winfold's
bright and early next morning. Besides
q born gossip's relish for things OF ao-
count she knew she could give herself
the double satisfaction of revenge upon
Nam Liza and of getting even with
Mrs. Winfield for more than one grudge
kept this long time in mind.
Yet her face was pattern of demure
and ebon innocence when she came ask
ing II Miss Alice and Miss Sairey could
not be persuaded to undertake making
her new black calico against an occa-
sion of combined funerals soon to come
of at Boiling Spripg church. They