The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-25

eve. The morning had been April wealth
er, full of fitful sunshine and soft, flaw!
winds. Now the sky was leaden, thu
wind was northwest: lower, ragged
clouds scudding before it let fall LITTLE
spiteful snow spits. or dashes of hail.
The Murray outfit came wabbling up
There was sort of tremolo even Il
the loud crackings of Sonnqs whip
Lassaphine, ut Sonny's elbow, scrowlet
and shivered impatiently at the noise
Such useless noise, The crack of doom
could not have quickened the patient
amble at which Brandy, the red OK, ano
jimmy, the pale little donkey, drew theil
gathering load.
by gonnys Must be you've fetched
a feather-bed alive" storekeeper Walk
err said, holding out both hands. Lassa-
phine overlooked them. Instead of get
ting out, she writhed down among the
turkeys. They were fine, big fellows
white, and copperas yellow, and glossy
greenish bronze. She had fed and tended
and talked to them since they came out
of the egg. y lump had come in her
throat as she hoppled them in pairs
and laid them upon the scant straw
ut the bottom of the wagon. The lump
very far from sentimental person.
She could have sold her flock to the
turkey drover last week with the light
est heart in the world. 1t was quite
another matter to seize and bind them
treacherously as they fed from her
hand. and deliver them thus to make
sport for an idle holiday crowd.
.'Sa-ay, Jim Walker. Amt you got a
new frock and stick er red-strip-ed can
DIV? They mought tole this yer gal err
mine inside!" Sonny said stamping his
feet hard as he clambered down. "She
wants ter Spite our fun-Lassphine does
been a-beggin' me all the way not to
have the turkey walk-though she
knows i saved them bur-reds jest fer
nothing else in the world"
Come. now, Miss Lassaphine. That
won't do! Not never in the world.'
Walker said. christmas comes but
once year, you know. Come, in! Do!
I've got the very dress for you-told my
wife so last night, when the newest
goods come in"
Lassaphine shook her head decidedly.
81 don't want no dress you've got" she
said. "Nothin' you've got-until the
money to pay for it is in my hand"
.sThat won't be long," Walker said,
rubbing his hands. Look at all them
fine gobblers. I call it jest q great no.
ton of your pa's-havin' 'em walked fci
stand you in twice whit the drovers
is been payin'! Eff you don't wanter
trade though, femme take you up to the
house"
II don't leave this wagin till it starts
for home,'' Lassaphine Interrupted. turn
ing to pick up the rope reins her father
had dropped. He had vanished inside
the log store-house. As the team
crawled little from the steps TO make
room for a. smart new buggy, he came
out wiping his mouth with the back Of
his hand, his eyes CLASSY with satisfac-
ton.
$50 you really did come Jack. Good
boy! Man of his wordv he shouted to
the buggy's driver. Lassaphine did not
turn her head yet slow blush gath
cred in her olive cheeks. She had long
dusky eyes with a spark at the bot
tom, heavy night-black hair, and the
poise and stature of a Greek goddess.
Notwithstanding, most women in the
countryside reckoned her ugly. She was
so unlike their standard of pink and
white prettiness, they could not in the
least comprehend why so many men
of so many minds and fortunes lost
their heads over her.
Jack Chlders, for instance, a con-
CHEESEMAN'S son, rich and fair looking.
though reputed wild; Len Haskell, most
driving and thriving of the young farm
ers round about; Doe Grant. the bach
tab fnp a m
girl. to say nothing of Teeny Walker.
the storekeepers bashful young brother.
1t was certainly aggrayating to good
women with girls of their own to set
tie to have so many daDgle after Las
saphine, who coquetted with all, and
favored none. The Murray place was
poorer than poverty, the bare and I'M
understandable fragment of wide plan
tation. It's starveling acres were either
CALLED and quilted or overgrown with
vagrant briers, and the big weather
stained house ruinous except IN two OF
three south looking rooms.
Still the Murrays managed to live By
it-Lassaphine and Sonny and Grand
pap. Grandpap never forgot, nor al
lowed the other to forget, what was
due to Murray blood. Lassaphine, fol
example, must learn to read, and sigl
her name, must wear shoes upon higl
days and holidays, and go to church III
least once a month. He was the more
strenuous because Lassaphine's mother
had not been a person of quality, but {
hill girl, who had, however, been oblig
ing enough to die while Lassaphine was
yet in arms.
Drive round. We're a-goin' to wall
in the back lot" Sonny called, shaking
hands right and left as he spoke. Al
Lassaphine's worshippers were i'll TIN
crowd on the porch-besides everybod!
liked Sonny in spite Of his weakness
for many glasses when one was TOT
much for his poor head.
That was the secret of Lassaphinc
presence--she could not afford to hay
him royster away the price of he
feathered flock. For one thing Their
were her church dues. Sonny argue'
that the circuit rider, Il wifeless youn;
fellow, well clothed, well mounted, a
no expense for living, had much les
need of the five dollars than them
selves. Lassaphinc listened, smiling oh
stinately. She could put in action, no
words, her feeling that it was due her
self to pay, regardless of anything else
A turkey walk. understand, is a scr