The leader., 1898-03-30
THE MATCHMAKER.
PRISCILLA was rubbing the brasses
and | was sitting oil the back gal
By Josephine II. Nichols.

PRISCILLA was rubbing the brasses
| and | was sitting oil the back gal
.ery watching her.
Priscilla, regret to say, did not live
her life according to the Biblical in
struction, mot with eye-seryice, as men
pleasers," for noticed that most of
her good work was accomplished while
under the spell of my inspiring pres
ence.
AS she rubbed and polished she in
| tcrpolated remarks, some of purely
Indifferent character, others full of
| mysterious and doubtless weighty
meaning.
read calmly on, now CHANGING at the
tenders, now letting my gaze wander
over the grassy yard to where my pet
terrier was quarreling with an old shoe;
his determined and perfectly supcrfiu-
| GUS outlay of activity frctted me, and
instantly recalled a remark of Fred's
to the effect that 'the sight of other
peoples energy always nerved him to-
indolence!"
In an unwary moment | closed my
book, looked at Priscilla. caught her
eye and straightway fell victim to her
condolences.
"Yes'm," she said, pausing to
straighten her head handkerchief,
which was poised rakshly over her left
eye, II amt sayin' nothin' against Mo-
dcste Fowler, but youse 'bleeged to
low, Miss Mary, dat dem gals of hern
amt half so good lookin' as my Sally
| or Dicey Jones Lucy"
l acquiesced, for there was no deny
ing the truth of her statement.
well, | reckon, Miss Mary, we amt
de onliest ones what think so, but Mo-
deste Fowler has done married dem two
| gals of hern ter de best matches on de
place. Jeems Hewett, Mattie's hus-
ban, s a settled man, wild 5000 in de
| bank, an Frank Barnes, what married
Cynthy. gets a dollar and a quarter Il
day, an Mr.. Fred low him ter keep Il
cow an horse in de plantation pars-
lures"
Because Frank stuck to him during
the strike" said, impressively.
what | wants ter know is what
Modesto Fowler duz," she went on;
hits jest like ksnjurin', Miss Mary,
hit sholy is"
"They were very nice girls" I VEN
| tured.
Priscilla shifted. "Twarn't dat, Miss
Mary; dey didn' hev nothn' ter do wild
hit Modesto done hit all herself; she's
already kotched de two best matches
| on de place, an now she's done sot her
eye on Dayy Masters for jimmy"
"Davy." | exclaimed, scarcely Won
was the most eligible bachelor on the
plantation.
"Yes'm, Davy. an Jinny's little no
| account yaller gal what amt fifteen fur
nothin'. | reckon" with whitening sar-
casm, ''he amt waited all desc years
fur her"
1T often happens like that" | re-
marked, not very consolingly. by the
way" looking in the direction of the
yard gate, ''yonder comes Modesto
now"
Priscilla gathered up her brasses.
Use gwine ter put desc back" she said,
and she disappeared just as Modesto
| came numbering up the steps.
She was tall, ungainly woman, as
black as the ace of spades, slow of
speech and usually accounted slow of
intellect, with a cheerful smile and a
confidng manner that was exceeding
ly gratifying to your self-esteem. She
gave you the impression of standing
mentally in awe of you and by her at
ttude disposed you favorably towards
her at once. AS she sat down on the
top step and proceeded to mop her face
with her blue checked apron, Priscilla S
suspicious of ''kunjerin' seemed sin
gularly inappropriate.
Flows your garden, Modeste?" l
asked, by way of opening the conversa-
ton.
Right smart, thank you, Miss Mary;
fotched you mess of green peas, re-
moving the cover from small tin buck
ct, IAN by next week lows to fetch you
some butter beans"
(Modeste knew my weakness.)
Thank you very much" | said.
Priscilla" as that worthy appeared,
take these peas to the pantry, and fill
Modeste's bucket with sugar; the key
is on the post"
Priscilla swept up and the "Evenin',
Sister Fowler" and "Evenin', Sister
Smith" that followed, reminded me for
chilly of the greeting between two pu-
gilists.
When Priscilla had gone remarked
tentatively: Il hear jimmy is going to
be- married"
Modeste's Indifferent manner would
have done credit to any society dame.
"Yes'm," she said, without any express
sion of satisfaction even momentarily
lighting up her features.
rs it true that Davy is to be the bride
groom2"
"Yes'm," with even less animation.
The monosyllabic reply tried my pa
thence sorely. ! longed to hear some
more of the affair; 10 see some sign of
qualification from Modesto; to know
that she felt triumphant even though
she did not show it; but dignity forbade
my asking more. Perhaps she felt this,
for she turned slowly around. "Davy
lowed as he warnt never gwine ter
marry" she observed.
HE reckoned without you" replied.
cautiously.
She nodded. II never sets eyes on a
man fur nothin'." she said. Oar wuz