The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-05-31


Priscilla climbed down and moved
he ladder before q portrait 0f my
mother.
'Lor." che said, passing the brush
carefully over the lovely young face.
'1or, Miss Mary, II members yora mas
Weddin' day jist like hit Wuz yistidday;
she sholy WuH abeauty, an'young, too.
only ~ when she marriedS Marse
Ralph" She paused and looked over
&C me-.
"Miss Mary, huccomeyou ain'tnever
married."
"That ia my own affair, , + replied
sternly.
81 lows you had lots Of chances.
Modesto Fowler Sex Betty Green (Bet
~ vas my maid) tole her you done
los dc count OF de gemman what axde
you ter marry EN-" OF course e
was despicably weak Of me, but I felt
my heart warm towards Betty. ''6he
sen en- how You WuE q jinuine belle
when you lived in de city"
ibid she. indeedl" I said, feigning
an indifference that I was far
from feeling; 'that was certainly kind
OF her"
But ct yon amt never sels no lean
in todes marryin', Miss Mary, you
done right ter stay single, en- r reckon
when you count hit all us, you hez
done choosed de better part.n
laughed. THAT is rather hard on.
Henry, Priscilla
"Hinery is q good husban' e7 hus-
bands &c, Miss Mary she said, ssbut
when q CONAN marries she amt free
no longer; she's bleeged ter insult
anoder pusson about everything, an
deres times when dat gifts kinder tire.
some like"
did not ten Priscilla 90. but i'm a.
crude way che had expressed my own
objections to matrimony. =
II Wuz young an foolish in them
days Ahe went on, tam he WuE de
bes' dancer an de bes' fiddler ON de
plantation, an'de oder nigger gals Wu1
fairly Wild ter ketch him, an / lowed
en- I Warn't gWine Ger Let 'em git ahead
OF me. 90 when HinerY axed me, I ups
an SEE yes fore knoWed what / wuz
doin,."
well, he has made you good hus-
band" I said "Mr. Fred thinks o
great deal OF Henry"
Priscilla pursed up her lips; her !.
precision conveyed the idea that she
could tell much, and ahe would, bat
she only said:
''Ise got money laid up, Miss Mary;
I recksOn hits with while fur Hinery
Ger be conaartin' hia9alf karreCt wild
me; my ole mother (bless her) sex ter
me de night / Wuz married, ssSyIla"
sen she, don you never let Hinery git
hold OF what you earns; he'll RESPECT
you ef you her money Of you( oWn,'
an Miss Mary, chile, I amt never for.
got dem words Of advice; she WE a
good CONAN, my mother WuR
Poor Henry, thought I.
"Dere's no use talkin', Miss Mary, ef
you wants ter hev peace youse bleeged
Ger take q STAN frum de fust. Now
deres Hinery you Wouldn't think it
now, but he wu1 & skittish e8 q colt
wien / married him"
IT certainly wouldn't have thought
90" Ireplied devoutly, remembering
the meek faced little man who callea
Priscilla wife.
"HinerY eholy wuE mannish, Miss
Mary, but / TUX hit all out or him de
fust year We WuE married" and she
chuckled appreciativsly.
Az I betrayed no wild interest i'm
Prigcilla's matrimonial difficulties, she
proceeded 70 change the subject with
an abruptness that was startling.
Miss Mary" said she, with the
frank impertinenee OF Rn old servant,
.'is Mr.. Hugh Raney your beauG"
"0t course notID I replied; 'she's q.
friend Of Mr. Fredia."
"a frfen' OF Mr.. Fred'eQ" she repeated
thoughtfully; "a mighty good fren',
sence he comes ter see him twice q
week an sometimes oftener."
did not answer.
ST members Nh. Hugh when he
warn,t much bigger'n my BeDjie. Hes
downright hanson. ar, Hugh is, but
he amt much of a talker, ia heG Ter
tell you de trufe. Miss Mary, I lows ez
you talks too much ter Mr. Hugh; you
gifts him kinder flop dazzled, an you
don't give him q chance ter eit O word
in idgewise."
Istared ct Priscilla in speechIess in
-.Aso-