Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-04-16

clean flannel shirt and even trlmm
ed bis rough beard.
Alter his cargo was disposed OF
he again raped at'the little door.
Susie opened it to him and qmcklS
brought him his drink, with a
A smile of recognition. This was
AL, yet somehow Abner felt that
his acquaintance had advanced a
step.
After this 1t became an accus-
toned thing for Abner TO 90 to
Ba, port to 10 bis trailing, and he
never failed to stop at the house
by the hart to quench his thir.t.
Size was always NuSy aOOutt ne
kitchen brisk aud deft with a
CHEEKY word of welcome. Once she
was frying do1ghnuts and she
gave him one; delicious circle oil
crlspness which he ate apprecIa'
lively and with pleased anticlpa'
ton o. the future
He never crossed the threshold ,
/ but sometimes he leaned against
the Goorfrane, watching the
swift movements of Susie and IN
dalglng IN little labored con
versatlon; or he would linger as If
about to say something, then sud-
denly tun aud hurried down the
street as If in great haste
'Te must bea steady man. SAID
Susie to herself one day as she
watched the retreatlng figure, 'OI
# wouldn't be water he'd wanted
so much of. But be does look Ike
an ouraugoutang or a Wild mau
with all tha, beard, aud he ANT
got much use OF his tongue!
Ar last came a morning when
Abner spoke. Susie vas unsusally
bewi,ching that day, IN a fresh
print gown aud distrac ine
little sweeping.cap.
Susie he SAID, swallowing hard
IT, his rfioris TO speak naturally.
Susie Iwnt you TO marry mel
Susie dropped her broom and
started.
Don't say a wordr said Abnel
in great haste. ''ye got thous
and dollars lild mp, ami III be a
good husband 10 You. You won't
hnd the work hard; and I'll tit yot
out we'll. Tnuk 4 over, aud III b'
around day after tomorrow.
Abner was of before Susie con
fused and blushing, could utter a
word.
That evening AOner sat on his
doorstep and looked out over th'
bay. Il expect III miss being
. alone, he sail. 'But reckon ltl
be smooth sailing. I'll keep tb'
ulleIp
The next day he began 20 clear
t house. us only tair to give her
clear start, as be scrubbed vlgoI
ously.
} He was down on his hands ant
E knees mopping up the Hoor whel
t A shadow fell before him. II
5 looked up. His doorway was file
: by the figure OF a middle-age
woman, very stont aud very muc
i out of breath.
g WellY she painted. its a pu
a up this hill of yours, but it's
y lightly place when you're once uI
e You Abner MullensP
I yes, stammerel ! bner,too muc
+ ast,nished by this invasion to &c
d up from the floor,
1--WE GENE over from Bayport 0
G purpose to see YOU continued b
e visitor. Pun Mrs. Brown. You''
D. been courting my SusieP
V There was note of interTogatio
r in this last sentence which seer
ed to demand of Abner some r
n. spouse. lie slowly gathered hir
is sell us, and once on his feet We
tured to look at Mrs. Brown. 81
,e was a comely, wholesome woma
r. With bright black eyes bet
which Abners wavered al
IN fell.
a IL asked her 30 marry mep
=; managed TO utter.
is well, now, that's all uOnsens'
continued Mrs, Brown, steppil
10 in and looking abOut.'Mercy aske
g. What holel You see, Susie
if only nineteen and you must
D., full onto forty FIVE. Besides, she
nd going up TO Lewiston to work in
ly factory-sLe's only been at hon
lv while | was visiting my sist'
ng and there's young fellow the
sho's paying her attentions.
Sc don't wonder you want to get m
Iat ried, though, living in tn is mess
ne Mrs. Brown picked rag