The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-05-07
THE RED HEIFER.
BY RUTH CHESTERFIELD.

Marry? No, nevcr--not il the king
should come and beseech me on hi:
bendcd knees said l.
"Wait till the king cOmes," said my
aunt, with Il knowing smile. A very
aggravating smile it was, too, for i,
seemed to signify that my grapes were
sour, but wasn't one to publish m!
private affairs on the guide.pOs,
where four roads meet, so | let II
pass. The truth was l held some ad
vanced notions about woman's rights
and to give up my independence, and
even my name, and receive nothing iI
return but my board and clothing
seemed to me very much like Esau
selling his birthright for mess OF
pottage.
No one ever had a better oppor
tunity to carry out her views than
had, for, before | was twenty-five, my
parents died, and left me in possession
Of a good farm, and few thousand
dollars well invested. / determined
to remain on the homestead and carry
on the farm myself, although there
were plenty ready to lend a helping
hand. There was Squire Billings for
one.
l remember | was sitting on the
south piazza, shelling beans, when !
saw the Squire comiug up the steps,
hat in hand. his bald head shining in
its fringe OF hair like gooscs egg 10
its nest,
| was somewhat surprised, because,
although l had always had bowling
acquaintance with him, he had never
called upon me; but then l had never
been an heiress before, fact which |
did not take into consideration at the
time.
l jumped up, and invited him into
the parlor, but he begged to be allow
ed to stay on the piazza, and actually
sat down on the seat beside me, and
began helping me shell beans with his
two fat, white hands. At first he
talked about the weather and the
crops, and from that he led of to my
affairs, and had put me through a
pretty thorough catechism, almost be-
fore knew II. In general, l was shy
OF answering questions, but the Squire
had smooth, plausible way with him
that put folks of their guard. When
he had found out all he wanted to
know, he heaved sigh and remarked;
"You have a fine place here, Miss
Thankful, but it must be great task
upon you to carry it on"
20, as to that, Shillebah manages
everything l can't do myself. He's
my right hand man"
"O-ah! And this Mr.. Shil.la-lah"-
Shillebah," said l.
"Certainly. And this lrishman"-
"But he isn't an Irishman--never
saw the old country 10 his life. He's
a born and bred Yankee"
"This person, then-this very ex'
cellent and responsible personalities
here with you, and carries on the
place, you say"
81 said nothing OF the kind, sir.
lie lives in that small, red house yOn'
der, with his wife aud children, and
works for me when l want him. I'm
my own oversecr."
"And a very capable one, no doubt
You never feel afraid, l suppose?
"What OF, thieves? Thieves gener
ally 20 where there's something tt
steal, and | don't keep much none,
about me. As to silver, I've got jus,
half a dozen tablespoons and d0zer
teaspoons, and il anybody wants those
more than | do, they're welcome Il
them"
81 admire your courage" said tht
SQUIRE, "but we're all liable to sudder
Illness"
"That's true, but enjoy goot
health for the most part, thank
Heaven; and when my time comes,
suppose l shall die, whether there's
house full OF people round or not"
miss Thankful, said the Squire
holding a bean.pod in one hand, ane
laying the other on the back OF m!
chair, while he gazed in my face like