Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-07-31

walked on. I went back into the
house feelin' pretty mad, but more
f than ever convinced that I was doin'
right in gettin' rid of such poor
spirited mortal.
!; began to hunt up the few things.
We had been engaged eighteen years,
an durin' that time he had made me
thirteen presents. For the first few
years he used to remember my birth
day, but that had dropped of, an I'd
never had a pennworth off him for
long enough.
1 put the the things all together in
little heap on the parlor table, an
about eight o'clock that night in he
walked. I thought should ha' drop
ped when saw him, for I'm blessed
if he hadn't got a great butter basket
on his arm ready for carryn' home
J the presents in.
"Good evenin," says I, careless like,
an he gave sort of sullen growl in
response.
"There's the things" says I. An
when looked at the little heap on
the table an then at the great basket
on his arm, I thought l must ha'
laughed right out.
He never spoke, but walked to the
table an began turnin' the things over,
then he looked at paper in his hand.
I couldn't think what on earth he was
doin' till I stepped up to him. An
what do you think, miss? He'd got
everything he'd ever given me set on
la piece O. paper, an was checkin' OF
the list as he found the articles.
My temper began to get up, but l
didn't speak for minute or two. At
last he turned round to me, an he
says:
II once gave you silk umbrella.
Where's that ?"
"Worn out, years ago." answers /.
"Leastways, the silk wore out, an l
had new cover put on the frame.
But I'll take jolly good care you never
get that"
He looked bit soft, an didn'tspeak.
In while, however, he says:
II once gave you a lion shillin'
Where's that ?"
can where's ali the money I've
spent on you ?" retorts ], beginnin' to
get fiery. "Look at the neckties I've
bought you; an cigars-over an over
again." -,
"Oh, they're all gone in smoke" he
answers, jeerin'.
"Well, you'll never see your lion
shillin' again l' says I $50 you may
make up your mind to that"
For to tell you the truth, miss, I'd
had it mounted and made into little
brooch, an didn't see the fun O. let
tim him have the benefit O. the money
I'd spent on it. ,
I We went on lookin' at the list, and
he says, "There's two gold an white
bread-and-butter plates. Where are
they P'
"Gold an white bread-an'- butter
plates ?" repeats, reg'lar puzzled for
the minute then all at once l remem-
bered. Years an years before, a
, whole party of US young folks-we
were young tben-went to the fair,
and just by way of a joke, puts down
our pennies at one O. those spinnin'
wheels-a sort of lottery it is, you
know, NISSAN Sam won this identi-
cal pair O. plates. When he came
home at night, he said to me:
"Here, Janet, I don't want to carry
these plates all the way down to our
house, you may as well take 'em in
with you" So I did, an all those
; years after the greedy mortal remem-
bered 'em an wanted 'em back.
"Oh, I'll fetch 'em," says I, for as
luck have it, they hadn't got broke.
So l reached 'em out O. the cupboard,
an when Sam saw 'em, his mind
seemed wonderful relieved. I think
he had been afraid he shouldn't get
} 'em.
"Can you think of anything else ?"
says l. :,
"No," he answers. "There isn't
anything else on the paper, an 1 think
| I put 'em all down."
"Put the things in your basket, an
take 'em out O. my house." says 1.
r "I've thought lot O. you, Sam Hens
ley, but my loves been coolin' long
, while, an tonight you've put on the
, finishin' touch. We've been courtin'
OR reckonin' to be courtin'-these
, eighteen years, an now you can give
, me up easier than you can part with
5 the few trumpery things your money
bought. You haven't got the heart OF
mouse ]" says I, ''an' thankful am
4 TO he done with you"
e He lifted up his basket an walked
l out, lookin' as sneakin' as whipped
, dog. can't deny that sat down an
had a regular good cry, but 1 soon
, cheercd up when John came in an
D begged o. me to fix the weddin' day
/ there an then.
t We were married in six weeks, miss,
an happy woman I've been ever
> since. AS for Sam, he's still going on
e in the same old way, an 1 often won
0 der why his mother doesn't put him
o in pinafores again.
Il (Sr